THE MEANING OF HEALTH 269 



just as far as it is controlled by a single purpose or desire, and 

 just in proportion to the strength of the purpose. 



Habits of concentration, orderliness, and perseverance make 

 for unity and for strength. On the other hand, habits of mind- 

 wandering and day-dreaming, of indecision and worry, of sus- 

 picion and jealousy, of concealment and shyness, indicate a 

 lack of unity or wholeness ; and at the same time they interfere 

 with the satisfactory cooperation of all the powers of the body 

 in fulfilHng the heart's desire. A strong will may mean the 

 habit of holding fast to a clear picture of a definite purpose. 



THE MEANING OF HEALTH 



1. Ideas about sickness 



Evil spirits get into the body 



The humors, or juices, are out of balance 



Something is lacking that can be supplied from a corresponding 



object in nature (doctrine of signatures) 

 Some part or organ is overworked or strained 

 Some part is injured 



Mechanicallv 



Chemically 

 Some part functions below or above normal 

 E\il thoughts cause sickness 



Thoughts of the patient himself 



Thoughts of others against the patient 

 (Parasites destroy or poison) 



2. Truth fragmentary 



Even false notions may have a trace of truth in them 

 The best knowledge that we have is never complete 

 The most useful ideas are those that lend themselves to tr\'ing 

 out. or experimenting 



3. Relations between mental and physical processes in an organism 



Physical conditions intluence mental processes 

 Pain interferes with calm thinking 

 Disordered liver prevents cheerful mood 

 Chemicals (alcohol, drugs) modify mental operations 

 Physiological conditions (hunger, fatigue) may prevent con- 

 trolled conduct or thought 

 Disease may upset the mental balance 



