The Elbert County tribune., 1915-03-19
PREVENTION.

IL is easy to live in good health, and
TO be happy il one gets the right
start. because il then becomes simply
a matter of continuing fixed habit.
which is the very easiest thing one
cEn do: for We consist essentially of
an organism built up around a group
of fixed habits. all our fundamental
vital functions being fixed habits. But
If you fail to secure the right start.
never having experienced it, you find
the pursuit OF health. like the pursuit
of happiness. vague, strenuous and
exceedingly unsatisfactory occupa-
ton, because you do not always know
when you have either. The desired
goal ever appears to be something just
few PAGES ahead and seems always
to dissolve and vanish like the will-o-
the wisp just as We would grasp it.
1t is perfectly obvious that any ma
terial change for the worse in ones
average state of health implies the
necessity for a change OF ones hab-
its. But so completely are we subject
to natural laws that the first time any
new point OF view is affirmed there
inevitably must be opposition to 1t.
1t is the normal inertia of the mind
which opposes such resistance just as
all matter in nature is opposed to
every change in the direction of its
forces. But, notwithstanding the
psychological phenomena which in
fluence us all, the forces of fact are
superior to every inertia and sooner
or later must conquer. But always
the pressure of material facts is re-
quired to drive us forward to change
and improvement. No real advance
can be made. except such as may be
related to some tangible and material
evidence whereby 1t is removed from
the domain of opinion into that of
fact. changed from subjective into OBJ
jective To array facts. then. in their
most comprehensive form is without
doubt the most direct road to the at
tainnent of good health. And of all
facts the most concrete and convincing
are those founded on the common
familiar measurements.
We know that from the instant Of
impregnation to complete develop
ment the human organism responds
to definite rhythmic growing impulses.
each of which has It's specific reason
and results both physical and chem
ical. 1t should not be deemed at all
strange. then, that certain types
should evidence definite tendencies all
through life.
Measurements of human infant
viii snow that the essential stature
that is. the length of the trunk and
head compared with the total length
from the heels to the top of the head
exceeds the length of the legs. and
the human infant is essentially a feed
ing animal. The first year tends to
maximum development of the diges-
tive organs with a corresponding in
crease in body bulk and fat. but where
the subsequent development is normal
maturity finds that a balance has
taken place between these two gee
tions. and they have become relative
ly equal. However. where this condi-
tion of balanced development is not
found to exist we find an individual
that either is robust or one that has
been arrested in morphological devel
opment and retains the type and all
the tendencies of younger age. with
all its penalties, condition which
makes 1t essential that these unfor-
tunate individuals, to maintain a rela-
tive healthy state of body. are COM
PEELED to submit themselves to
severe hygienic regime throughout
their entire lives. Unfortunately.
our knowledge is not of a character
that such steps are generally per-
ceiyed to be necessary, and the ineyi.
table end is not recognized until IT has
become a fact. These are the vic
tins of gout, chronic rheumatism"
hemorrhoids and chronic liver, stom-
ach and bronchial difficulties. All the
vast array of difficulties falling under
the head of lithemia an excess OF
uric acid in the system. and supposed
to be due to defective elimination, are
without doubt to be attributed rather
to an excessive formation of these
elements in the system because OF
constitutional slowing down in the
metabolic reactions from defective
construction In the beginning, grossly
aggravated by an imperfect and i'm
properly balanced diet thereafter,
rather than the result of something
caught"
The early recognition of these ten
denotes is the certain prevention OF
the development of vast number of
distressing conditions later in life and
strong argument for sane regime
in handling those already suffering
from the natural results of prior con
dition. This would appear to be the
reasonable explanation of the number
less bitter disappointments that have
followed every alleged cure for these
conditions since the very dawn OF his
tory. and a strong reason why an ear.
nest effort should be made for a solu.