to assimilate these. It also has much to do with
bringing about certain chemical changes in sugar or dextrose.
Furthermore, the liver has an important function in connection with
the excretion of broken-down bodily tissue, converting this dead matter
into a form in which it can be filtered out of the blood by the
kidneys. Failure of the liver to perform its work satisfactorily will
upset the digestive and functional system, or may lead to an
accumulation of uric acid in the body, possibly resulting in rheumatism,
gout, neuralgia, disturbances of circulation and other evils. When your
liver "goes on strike" you may expect trouble in general. A normal
condition of the entire body depends upon perfect and continuous
functioning of the liver in cooperation with all the other vital organs.
The same may be said of the pancreas, spleen, the thyroid gland
and other organs which have a special function to perform. The body is
really a combination of all these various parts and functions,
and without strength and activity in all of them, simultaneous and
harmonious, not one of these interdependent parts could do its work,
and the body as a whole would be thrown into a state of disease.
Strength of the internal organs is infinitely more important than
mere muscular strength, if one could properly make a comparison.

How, therefore, shall we build this internal, functional strength? Can
our organs be made to function more satisfactorily? How may we
promote their greater activity?

It will be the purpose of the succeeding chapters in this volume to
point out how the vital organs may be strengthened and the sum total
of one's vitality thereby increased. It is true that internal strength
is more important than external muscular strength, but the fact is that
they go together. As a general thing, by building muscular strength one
is able at the same time to develop internal strength. The
influence of exercise in purifying the blood and in promoting activity
in all the internal organs really strengthens the "department of the
interior" at the same time that it develops the muscles concerned.
Muscular stagnation means organic stagnation, to a very large degree. To
be thoroughly alive and to enjoy the possession of unlimited vitality
it is necessary to be both muscularly and functionally active. The
requirements of Nature, or what are more commonly termed the "laws of
Nature," in ref