Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-24
PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICE
BY WILLIAM BRADY, Nj. D.
No and Auhor
A Matter of Time.
Noted Physician and Author.

An old excuse PLEADED by the down.
right lazy mortal who neglects daily
exercise although he knows very we'll
he needs it is that he hasn't time.
That excuse is invalid. Would any
man or woman dare to plead lack of
time as an excuse for neglecting to
take the regular Saturday night bath?
Not right out loud, I know. But II
I had time for only the one punish
ment on a Saturday night I'd make
no bones of passing up the bath in
favor of the exercise, for to my mind
the latter torture has the greater
hygienic Importance or health value
of the twoevils. I'd choose the
exercise, provided I could take 1t In
natures garb, thus compromising on
an air bath. which, after all. is about
all one would need anyhow II it were
not for the dirty influence Of cloth
ing.
It takes no moro time to get the
minimum essential amount OF general
exercise every day than it does to
take a bath. Therefore the lazy TEL
lows excuse Is invalid.
The next excuse is lack OF suit
able place-no gymnasium or any
thing convenient. That might be
valid enough in the case OF poor
geek who depends on such an uncer-
tain vehicle as golf for his exercise.
Seldom can a man or woman get out
on the links every day. rain or shine,
snow or blow. But very few men
or women live under such unhygienic
environment that they cannot md or
make room somewhere about the
house or nat for bit OF morning or
evening exercise in the costume
oH
A small or trial size person might
even use a clothes press or a cor
ner Of the bedroom. A large or hos
pital size man needs a III gym room
affording at least 100 square feet OF
floor space unincumbered. indeed,
there is no good reason In the world
why the average comfortable house,
hold should not have regular gym
nasium, not necessarily any fancy ap-
paratus or expensive fittings, but a
room where folks could take some
exercise in comfort and perhaps
a room for bathing. There Is many
a home with enough unused space
in the attic, or with some unheated
back room, which would serve admir-
ably, Besides a cushion or mat at
least two by six feet (for somesauft-
ing and other stunts) such a room
might include a punching bag and a
set of gloves. Having the home thus
equipped, however modestly, Is
stimulus to exercising. just as having
a shower equipment is stimulus
to bathing, The Inclusion Of such a
room in building plans would make 9
distinct step upward and forward
in human progress. for it would carry
a wholesome influence in family life.
I am not nut" about exercise
there are many semi-invalids who
should never indulge in any exercise
whatever unless by direction Of their
own physician-but I know that q
great deal Of domestic unhappiness
and discord and bleakness and worry
might be prevented II the people at
large could learn to think Of e1er-
else as they have been taught to
think Of bathing. Some philosopher,
drawing on Bacon. said. Cleanliness
is indeed next to goodness" He re-
ferred to surface cleanliness only.
Lets go deeper and have q genuine
internal bath every day: That you
get only by taking sufficient exercise
to insure absorption OF more oxygen