Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-04-09
PREVENTION.

PREVENTION.
II Is easy to live in good health, and
to he happy IL one gets the right
start. because 1t then becomes simply
a matter of continuing a fixed habit.
which is the very easiest thing one
can 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
a few PAGES ahead and seems always
to dissolve and vanish like the will-o'-
the wisp just as we would grasp Il.
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-
it's. 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
fiuence 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
tainment of good health.
We know that from the instant Of
to complete develop
ment the human organism responds
to definite rhythmic growing impulses.
each of which has its specific reason
and results both physical and chem
ical It should not be deemed at all
strange. then, that certain types
should evidence definite tendencies all
life.
Measurements Of q human infant
will show 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 feed
Ing animal. The first year tends to
= maximum development Of the diges-
tive organs with q corresponding in
crease in body bulk and fat, but where
the subsequent development is normal
finds that q balance has
taken place between these two sec
lions. and they have become relative
ly equal. However, where this condi-
ton of balanced development 10 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, q condition which
makes 1t essential that these unfor.
innate individuals, to maintain a rela-
i've healthy state Of body. are COM
PEELED to submit themselves to q
severe hygienic regime throughout
heir entire lives. Unfortunately.
our knowledge is not of a character
hat such steps are generally per. |
,eived to be necessary, and the inevi |
able end is not recognized until 1t has |
become fact. These are the vic
inns of govt, Chronic rheumatism"
and chronic liver. stom-
lch and bronchial difficulties. All the
yast array of difficulties falling under
he head of Iithemia. an excess of
lric acid in the system. and supposed
o be due to defective elimination. are
without doubt to be attributed rather
o an excessive formation of these
dement's in the system because of a
slowing down in the
netabolic reactions from defective
in the beginning. grossly
aggravated by an imperfect and i'm
balanced diet thereafter.
ather than the result Of something
caught"
The early recognition Of these ten
encies is the certain prevention of
he development of vast number of
distressing conditions later in life and
strong argument for sane regime
q handling those already suffering
rom the natural results of prior con-
ition. This would appear to be the
explanation of the number
,ss bitter disappointments that have
,llowed every alleged cure for these
onditions since the very dawn Of his
Dry. and a strong reason why an ear
est effort should be made for a solu.
on of the problem along the lines
uggested by the work of our many
rilliant scientists.
And the startled forest creature.