Of the strong mineral waters with drastic action, there are several excellent springs in America, some of them surpassing many of the European mineral waters. In Europe there are in Hungary: Hunyadi-Janos, Ferencz-Jozsefforrás, etc.; Spain: Rubinat, Villacabra-Loeches, etc.; and elsewhere a number of such springs. As all are natural remedies they should be used in preference to drugs when the intestine does not respond to mild laxatives and a strong whip is needed. In my opinion they are less fitted for every day treatment, though well adapted for a thorough cleaning out of the intestine to get rid of stagnant matter (see Chapter XIX). These strong, drastic, natural waters act by causing a transudation into the intestine, creating a condition somewhat similar to a catarrh, but in a more benign way. Briefly, the best and most rational treatment of sluggish bowels is by stimulating the intestine by means of an appropriate diet which, at the same time, tends to ward off old age. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XIX. HYGIENE OF THE INTESTINES. AS the means by which we are able to keep the intestines in good working order are of the same efficacy also for the stomach, all that is necessary to mention in this chapter about the intestines will apply equally to the hygiene of the stomach. The same applies also to the pancreas, so that it is unnecessary to treat of its hygiene separately. It is also our intention in this book to mention only the hygiene of those organs which are able to rid the body of toxic products, as it is mainly by their degeneration that premature old age is brought about. There is scarcely a serious disorder of the stomach without an attendant alteration of the intestinal functions. All the different agencies that are dangerous to the stomach will also prove dangerous to the intestines. We have mentioned several of these in the chapter on food and the hygiene of eating, where we have pointed out that defective mastication is very deleterious. Food introduced into the stomach passes into the intestines, and if it reaches these insufficiently masticated it will present great difficulties for the penetration of the intestinal ferments. Not only will it not be well digested, but as the different ferments cannot well penetrate these compact masses they will putrefy, thus considerably increasing the natural fermentation, in consequence of which a great amount of toxic products and a considerable irritation of the intestinal mucous membrane will result, which may subsequently cause disease. By thoroughly masticating everything we eat, we are not only safeguarding the condition of the stomach, but also that of the intestine.