CHAPTER XL 



HEALTH 



Ewing Galloway 

 Push ball. 



Ewing Galloway 

 Outdoor swimming pool. 



Should people learn about diseases? Is longevity more or less con- 

 trollable f Has community or individual control of disease been more 

 successfidf 



Some people object to studying disease because they worry about 

 each disease studied, fearing that they have it or may contract it. 

 Education in health and disease should enable people to exercise 

 an intelligent attitude toward disease, to practice ways of prevent- 

 ing disease, and to learn how to conquer and control disease. 



Disease and health. The best way of preventing disease is to 

 stay in good health. Some people feel that they are in a healthy 

 condition if no disease is present. Even though there is no actual 

 impairment of bodily functions, certain organs may not be in nor- 

 mal condition, consequently, health is not necessarily a lack of dis- 

 ease. Nor is the feeling of being well an infallible measure of the 

 degree of health. Frequently people feel very ill when the actual 

 illnes3 is slight ; on the other hand, people may have only a slight 

 feeling of discomfort and yet have a serious organic disorder. An 

 adequate measure of health is an annual physical examination. 

 If people are examined thoroughly every year, beginning symptoms 

 mav often be detected before a disease has advanced to a serious 

 degree. Health examinations are just as important for well as for 

 sick people. In disease-control, prevention is far more important 



413 



