Not long ago I had a conversation with the proprietor of a bath cabinet company, who had given some thought to hygienic measures, and he considered it essential to flush the bowels with water once a month to secure "proper cleanliness." This opinion is quite in advance of the annual cathartic cleansing. Some people may have acquired the habit of a monthly cathartic "cleansing"; others wash out once a week, and a few once a day: all of them act from their idea of cleanliness, as they would perform the ablution of their hands, face and body. There are some hygienic students who have adopted the idea of "cleansing" the bowels with warm water once or twice a week, which practice is quite in advance of the annual or monthly attention. All have reasons for the manner and time they adopt to "cleanse" the bowels; and yet they find that they are not cleansed properly, as they still have spells of biliousness and misery. They wonder at themselves for being so rash and bold as to take an enema twice a week, and begin to feel that they have reached a point of positive danger. One anxiety is that they will weaken the bowels by the use of a pint or a quart of water once a month, or once or twice a week. Another is that they will wash away the mucus, leaving the membrane of the bowels as dry as an oven. Another is that they will form the dreadful habit of using the enemata. What a pity to form such a cleanly habit! Sorry for them! Another stubborn objection is, that flushing of the bowels is not natural. These foolish objections and fears can be attributed to medical authors who belong to medical societies. It is very strange how these authors adopt so many wrong notions about the physiology and pathology of the bowels. What an erroneous and absurd idea that the enema should weaken the bowels! Why should it? Exercise ought to strengthen muscular tissue; and what could give the bowels more gentle muscular exercise than the proper use of them? Has the reader any idea of the amount of water requisite for the distention of an elastic muscular tube, about five feet in length and two and a half inches in diameter in the widest part? The large intestine is capable of great distention, as is frequently demonstrated in fecal impaction described in previous chapters. The quantity is named in gallons. The amount of water usually injected at one time--from one pint to two quarts--can hardly be said to distend the bowels at all. I wish the enemata did have power to weaken that part of the bowel involved in disease. I am very sorry it does not weaken it. For twenty years it has been demonstrated to my mind that almost every case of chronic constipation, biliousness, intestinal foulness, diarrhea, indigestion, self-poisoning (auto-infection or auto-intoxication) was due to too much activity and vigor of the lower bowels, this excessive activity and vigor being the result of chronic proctitis, colitis, etc. To lessen this muscular