4 o8 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



a long time with very little bodily activity, but the omission is a grave 

 peril. 



This capacity for passive circulatory equipoise varies widely, but 

 can not be relied upon to carry any one far unless supplemented by a 

 moderate amount of voluntary action. Some folk claim to obtain 

 enough physical stimulus from mental activity, especially when ener- 

 getically directed, to suffice for their apparent needs. By intense cer- 

 ebral energizing undoubtedly metabolism is stimulated, more food de- 

 manded and waste disposed of, than when thought is lowered to musings. 

 Some can do with active conversations and laughing. Also music acts 

 wholesomely in the same way. Hence it is compatible with fair health 

 to live a sedentary life, but only if the circumstances of life be, and 

 remain, uniform and wholesome, and the bodily functions so symmet- 

 rically carried on that no great strains come and no nutritive nor 

 degenerative disorders arise. 



For all, young and old, it is important, in order that full mental 

 and physical health be maintained, that systematized bodily activities 

 shall be practised with some regularity. From this conclusion there 

 is no escape save by self-deception. Assuming then that we have a 

 perfectly normal body upon which to reckon influences for good or evil, 

 we will proceed to analyze the effect of voluntary movement. If a 

 person is entirely oblivious to his own consciousness, that is, entirely 

 free from hyperconsciousness, movements will be made easily and in 

 accordance with instinctive impulses. If the mechanism be perfect or 

 nearly so, the movements made in the ordinary activities of daily life 

 will be entirely natural and consistent with the special structure and 

 abilities of the individual. Provided also that the opportunities for 

 these movements be natural, and sufficiently varied, and if there be 

 adequate stimulus to move, and continue to move, throughout the 

 ordinary exigencies of a working day, and further, if nothing interferes 

 with the normality of these movements, the result should be perfect 

 action and development. 



It rarely happens, however, that such a status is maintained. 

 Several influences creep in more or less forcefully to interfere with 

 the symmetry and naturalness of bodily movements. The first factors 

 which should be reckoned with in altering the symmetry of the body 

 are minor inherent defects of development in the skeletal structures 

 by which a tendency is early established for the stronger side to 

 overwork the weaker one. This will be better understood in the brief 

 anatomical description which will be given later. The second thing 

 is dress. In proportion as dress exercises undue pressure on one or 

 another part, it is capable of modifying structure and altering growth. 

 What these influences are we shall mention in detail later. Next 

 such influences as environment, habits, fashion and energy or indolence 



