Evening journal., 1917-01-03
MENTAL ENGINE IDLE
While MAN WORRIES
Health Bulletin Urges Con-
Sideration of Automobile
in Conserving Resources
PROTECTIVE INSTINCT
IN HUMAN MIND

WASHINGTON. D. c., Jan. 3-If
the people Of the United States are
to remain well, live long and know
happiness, there are many things to
be considered. And among those
things, in the opinion of the United
States Public Health Service officials.
is the automobile. And II the inhab-
itants, after long contemplation Of the
automobile and its ways. find no
means of definitely improving their
own health, II is time for them to
consider the squirrel, the contented
dog and the birds OF the air.
So great an interest was shown in
an article describing the advantages
OF the Governments Don't Worry"
propaganda, that the full message OF
counsel. as sent from the Health Ser
vice offices. is here pubished:-
'NOnEider the automobile. When
the car is going to stand still for
more than a few minutes. the driver
stops the engine BY doing this he
saves gasolene. oil, and, above all.
useless wear and tear on the ma
chinery II he lets the engine run
/ idle he has wasted a lot Of valuable
material and shortened the life Of the
engine, and in the meantime the auto
mobile has not budged an inch.
THE birds build nests for the pro-
lection of their young against the
weather; the foxes dig holes for Sc
curity against foes; the squirrels lay
| by stores OF nuts against the coming
OF winter, and dogs bury. bones
against the day when bones Will be
scarce. These are the manifestations
OF a normal protective instinct arts
ing from an experience OF many
many generations So far as IS known,
though, no bird ever tried TO build
more nests than his neighbor: no fox
ever fretted because he had only one
hole in which to hide; no squirrel
ever died OF anxiety lest he should
not lay by enough nuts for two win
ters instead Of for one. and no dog
ever lost any sleep over the fact that
he didn't have enough bones laid
aside TO provide for his declining
years.
This protective instinct is also
present in the human mind. and when
properly directed is a great source Of
prosperity both to the individual and
up and lay BY, to gan advancement
either in honor or material things. II
is necessary that he takes some fore
thought OF the morrow, hut just so
soon rs he carries this beyond the
normal point the mental process he
comes an exaggerated and abnormal
one. The normal protective instinc.
IS stimulated by q normal fear Of
those events which arc reasonably
sure TO happen in the future unless
means are adopted against them The
moment that this fear becomes alb
, normal or exaggerated it overstimu-
Z ia,es this protective instinct and to
no good purpose because il results in
worry.
"Th'- worry continues long after
, the necessity for the normal stimu-
lus Of fear has PASSED. with the re-
I suit that There IS an impairment in
, mental lower and a dissipation OF
the revore forces IN other words
, he 1ental eaWrc has been running
, ii6'S. ard 81 tho same tine delivering
, ~ pIopulaive power. In fact, worry
ls GO abnormal state.
n mot all worry Is preven'able. bu
FOR the most part IL can be avoided
y Most Of our fears are never realized
and, as rule. n we meet our trouble
r day by day as they come without wor
y ryinr abou, them before they arrive
n or fretting over them after they hav
q passed. we will find that we have tn
a strength to rise above them Worr.
= undermines the health 10 a certain
n extent Il really weakens the men
n tai forces by firing them out by do
i ing nothing. Usually the relief iron
"a worry rests with the victim of thi
= unhappy habit himself. but sometime
/, the real causes are not the one
F, which seem TO explain the condition
and we must go deep into our live
or have the assistance Of those VIII
are skilled in unravelng mental pre-
cesses.
"a 1.-THE best antidote for worry is
change of mental occupation. gel
ting away from the scenes whic
provoke worry. exercise i'm the ope
air. a good book. a pleasant recre5
+, ton. or a temporary change Of occl
patton AS n matter OF mental healt
y every sufferer from this unfortunai
- condition owes II to himself TO dii
% cover some simple means Of gettin
------------