or annoyance causes a dilation of the vaso motor nerves and the blood rushes to the superficial capillaries. The skin of the face being thin, the blush is noted more definitely here, though the same condition prevails over the body; it is often perceptible down into the neck and chest.

A blush illustrates also the slowness of the action of the sympathetic nervous system. It is never instantaneous with the thought of anger or annoyance which causes it,-it gradually increases and then gradually disappears. The only possibility of controlling the blush is in schooling the mind so that it may not be affected by thoughts of shame,-but who would wish to train the mind to be so callous? When one loses the sensation of being ashamed of a wrong action, much of the sweetness and affability of the character has been destroyed.

Owing to the fact that the nourishment to every tissue and vital organ must be carried to it through the circulation, and that all of the waste constantly being torn down and the poisons constantly being

freed, must be eliminated through the circulation, no subject interests physiologists more than the regulation of this function.

While recognizing the fact that the circulation is definitely affected by the vaso motor nerves, and that these nerves are definitely affected by thought, little has been done to regulate the thoughts of a patient "out of time" or to quicken the circulation through exercise; the attention of medical science has been toward medicine to regulation of the circulation through heart stimulants and drugs.

The effect of thought upon a patient is recognized in the selection of a nurse or a physician who is agreeable and in whom the patient has confidence. A nurse who is not congenial or a physician in whom one lacks confidence can defeat the results of medicine. Harmonious surroundings and thoughts play a vital part in the treatment of all diseases affected by the nerves -and what diseases are not?

Confidence in one's advisor is half the

battle.

It was formerly believed that the circulation depended upon the elasticity of the blood vessels, but Claude Bernard, in 1851 demonstrated beyond a doubt, the vaso motor theory of regulation.

It is now known that the nerve fibres control the circulation in all blood vessels, with the exception of those of the brain, the lungs and the heart;-it has not been demonstrated that the vaso motor nerves control the circulation in these organs.

The importance of the nervous system in the regulation of nutrition, digestion, absorption and elimination, cannot be too fully emphasized, for the nerves direct the normal functioning of all bodily activity. The fact that a thought can so act upon the vaso motor nerves as to cause a constriction of the capillaries, forcing the blood out, so that it is noticeable in the blanched cheek, or flushing the capillaries as noticed in the blush of the cheek, shows the vital importance of the regulation of thoughts as a means in the control of health.*

*Publishers' Note:-See "Aids to Beauty," by Susanna Co

croft.

The fact that the process of digestion is presided over and regulated, mainly by the sympathetic nerves, which are so directly controlled by thought and emotions, illustrates just how the mental poise and the character of thoughts influence bodily nutrition.

The same class of nerves which cause a constriction of the capillaries of the face cause a like constriction of the capillaries in the digestive organs,-or, in fact, throughout the entire body, interfering with nutrition, circulation and digestion. It is through this effect upon stomach and intestines that disagreeable or unkind thoughts restricting digestion, absorption and nutrition, make one actually ill. The true physician directs the thought as well as the body, often recommending an entire change of scene. Where the change of scene to induce change of thought is not practical, a definite change of reading along helpful, cheerful themes is desirable.

All beliefs, therefore, religious or otherwise, which keep the nerves well poised, and the thoughts upon themes of happi

ness and love, have a sound physiological basis in their effect upon the health.

Thoughts and emotions have also a very decided effect upon the pelvic organs;the sympathetic plexuses controlling the stomach and the pelvic organs being so closely connected, (See Fig. 12),-disturbance in one organ is almost sure to affect another.

Anger, fear or strong, depressing emotions of any nature, may so over-stimulate and then exhaust the nerve cells as to cause nervous indigestion, resulting in innumerable ills which follow weakened nerves and impoverished tissues,-consequent upon the failure of the digestive organs to absorb proper nourishment.

Nervous indigestion is particularly difficult of correction because of its dependence upon both nerve and poise, affected by thought, and upon food.

Instances are numerous where extreme emotion so affects the nerves of the stomach as to cause it to refuse food for many days.