CONSERVATION OF HUMAN ENERGY. 407 



erectness of the head may appear merely stilted and arrogant, and little 

 is gained. 



To tell a person of slouching figure, stiffened by advancing age, 

 warped by ligaments in faulty poise, to stand up straight and throw 

 back the shoulders, etc., will accomplish little or no good. It is neces- 

 sary to point out specific faults of structure, correct weakened or con- 

 tractured tissues, to teach just what precise movements can strengthen 

 the one and elasticize the other. Where contractures are noted (and 

 they are always present, less or more) the parts must be sedulously 

 overstretched. This will be somewhat painful, but only at first. For 

 daily or bi-weekly systematic teaching a skilled masseur or physical 

 trainer can and will take more time and give more constant attention 

 than the physician could afford, but it is impossible to expect these 

 trainers to estimate individual needs scientifically or carefully, espe- 

 cially as progress must be made, if at all, in a consistent direction. 

 Movements for acquiring elasticity should by no means be confined to 

 the limbs ; the largest gains are to be secured in the deeper structures of 

 the thorax, shoulders, back and loins. Here the expert eye of an anat- 

 omist is needed. Even more so in those most important structures of 

 all, the abdominal organs. Large knowledge and experience are required 

 to permit or encourage accurate adjustments of these parts. All move- 

 ments, active or passive, of an educational character, should be made 

 with the utmost accuracy of direction, or they fail in some measure of 

 utility. Furthermore, a fundamental principle is to make each move- 

 ment with increasing forcefulness, till at the end of the act the fullest 

 tension is secured. In this way alone can strength, elasticity and full 

 coordinative power be attained. 



Time also is a potent factor, along with persistence. There is 

 always more or less rigidity to be overcome in the tissues, often unrecog- 

 nized minor deformities and limitations which mar both attitude and 

 freedom of action. It has taken the writer years to rid himself of 

 some such rigidities, and most folk are similarly circumstanced. Espe- 

 cially is this true of the thorax, which, even in late middle life or ad- 

 vanced age, is yet capable of large emendation and increased efficiency 

 well worth the effort. Much indeed can be effected here by right 

 breathing accurately taught ; full forcible inspiration followed by com- 

 plete expiratory expulsion, always with careful rhythm and judicious 

 variations in rate. 



It must be remembered that voluntary movements of the muscles 

 are always valuable and often necessary to maintain the powers of 

 oxygenation by which cellular interchanges are carried on, so that nutri- 

 tion may progress, the organs kept to their normal activity and restful 

 sleep obtained. It is possible that the nutritive balance may continue 

 more or less well in some people under certain circumstances and for 



