The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1909-03-26
copyright, by Joseph b. BoWles.)


4 1SS0006O00ooo
copyright. by Joseph b. Bowles.)
TOO FAT OR TOO THIN
Half of the men you meet on the
street are too fat or too thin, but the
average man is not so painfully con-
scious of his defect as is the average
woman.
The insurance company is suspicious
of the man who is 20 pounds over
or under the standard weight, but the
average woman who varies so much
Is more concerned about her appear
ance than about the opinion of the
medical examiner, which is altogether
natural, though not wise.
The model figures we see in the art
galleries excite our admiration, but it
is not to be supposed that the Apollo
Belvidere, or the Venus de Milo rep
resents the average citizen of Athens
or Sparta; those are the Greek ideals
of physical beauty and they have
never been surpassed.
Experience has shown that when
there is variation of more than ten
pounds in weight from the standard
tables, defective nutrition is present,
which may lead to serious results.
Whether it is more serious to be 20
pounds under than 20 pounds over
weight, depends upon age and tempera-
ment and work. 1t is better, as a rule,
that woman of nervous temperament
at 40, should be over than under
weight, but farmer of bilious tenn
permanent would be better a little un-
der weight than over and teacher or
a physician of nervous temperament
would be better a little over weight
Unfortunately, however, it is the nerv
GUS teacher who is usually under
weight, and the slow-going clerk or
the gentleman of leisure who has
.adispose tissue to spare.
But what are the injurious effects
of abnormal weight?
Several times during experimental
food tests and in fasting from five to
20 days, have been 20 pounds below
aormal weight and have had q. good
opportunity to observe the abnormal
condition of the nervous system that
results from insufficient sheathing of
the delicate conductors of nervous en-
ergy. We see and hear, and feel by
the vibrations of light, sound, heat,
etc., that strike our nerves, and If
these nerves of sensation are not
fully sheathed in tissue there is a
rasping, and consequent waste of
vitality. and the intolerable noises, un-
fortunately still tolerated In our
cfties-screeching whistles, changing
bells, rafting cars-magnify the un.
conscious Irritation. OF course one in
this condition is much more suscept-
ible to the finer forces, but the
coarser vibrations CRATE upon one con-
stantly. Hence in a protracted fast
one should be in a quiet place, to avoid
Injurious physiological effects. A
person much under weight is wasting
nervous energy by defective insula-
tton. The nerves need more sheath
Ing as conducting wires need insulat-
ing. And in the event of protracted
illness he has no reserve.
All the great poets, Shakespeare,
Milton, Browning, Emerson, Whittier,
have been of slight build, Of suscept-
ible nervous organization, and lean,
while great orators, like Phillips,
O'Connell, Beecher, Bryan, are of the
more vital type. sleek and sympathet-
&c. The ideal temperament is the bal
ance of these, with strong nutritive
powers, as represented In the Greek
models. ~
The negative condition., fear, ex-
pressed as worry, envy, jealousy,
hatred, is destructive of vitality. Fear
produces a poison in the blood which
interferes with normal nutrition.
Worry wastes. It is the placid mind
who laughs and grows fat"
The worried woman who leaves her
household cares behind to spend a
month at the old homestead in the
country gains in flesh not so much be-
cause she drinks country milk and
breathes country air, and eats
strictly fresh" eggs, as because her
mind is diverted. And so when l am
asked for diet prescription that will
increase the weight, feel disposed to
advise the patient. to eat the same
diet in another state (of mind) and
be happy-and that without any In.
clinatfon to indorse the pernicious ad-
vice. Eat anything
When all the nutritive functions are
performing their part naturally, and
the proper food is supplied, in proper
amount. weight will not vary much
from the figures which long expert
ence of insurance companies has
proved to accompany average health
conditions.
Over-eating is the commonest
cause of starvation. It is not what we
eat but what we assimilate that keeps
US In condition. The bony horse eats
as much as the sleek one, but his teeth
are bad and his oats are not properly
cheWed, and his arteries are becoming
ossif1ed-or he may be worried by a
driver who lacks horse sense, for a
good horse is sensitive. The cattle
coming from Montana to Chicago