108 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL., 



E MlETS. 



By F. L. PEIRO, M. D. 



McVicker's Building, Chicago, III. 



Value of a Happy Disposition. 



Verily, " a contented mind is a continual 

 feast." Of all the delightful sensations 

 that keep trouble and sickness from the 

 door, a happy disposition that is perpetu- 

 ally inspired by deeds of kindness, excels 

 all other factors in dispelling disease. 



One need not be rich to enjoy the bless- 

 ings of a joyous mind; indeed, the rich 

 seldom are so blessed ! The infallible pre- 

 scription for this extolled condition is, " Do 

 unto others as ye wish that others should 

 do unto you." If we would but be guided 

 by this grand precept, selfishness — that curse 

 to humanity — would be removed, and our 

 actions and circumstances so changed as to 

 make of this earth a very Paradise ! Our 

 worries come principally from this one 

 vicious source. And it is safe to say that 

 fretting begets more sickness of a danger- 

 ous degree than perhaps any and all other 

 causes combined. Call the engendered ail- 

 ment what you may, sooner or later it de- 

 velops into the condition that kills ! 



Doctors have some very euphonious 

 names for diseases that if honestly ex- 

 plained would not be pleasing or flattering. 

 "Jjtsomm'a," for instance, sounds very dis- 

 tinguished. Plain "can't sleep " would not 

 be considered half so aristocratic, and if 

 the cause of it were known, the verdict 

 might be still more uncomplimentary! 

 When a person cannot enjoy good rest 

 there is usually something the matter not 

 exactly to his credit. He, or she, who 

 properly respects the rights of others, and 

 tries to smooth the pathway of as many 

 less fortunate as naturally come in his way, 

 will have little trouble with digestion or 

 sleep. But if as often happens, he lies 

 awake o'nights to plan the discomfiture or 

 ruin of Jhis neighbor, he will quite easily 

 acquire " loss of sleep," and it serves him 

 right! Then, in turn, that begets nervous 

 conditions, his system is enfeebled, his 

 digestion impaired, his temper becomes 

 irascible, children learn early to call him 

 " Old Cross Patch," and all lose respect for 

 and shun him. He has perhaps amassed a 

 fortune, just in time to leave it, be buried, 

 and forgotten ! 



Do you say this is a moral rather than 

 medical topic ? But the duty of the true 

 physician is quite as much to point out 

 causes that lead to sickness as to adminis- 

 ter remedies. Indeed, it is much wiser to 

 indicate the prevention of disease than its 

 cure, and success more often attends the 

 former than medicines insure recovery. 



Then strive after cheerfulness, avoid 

 those actions, of mind or body, that you 

 intuitively know will bring discontent. To 

 this end you must govern your acquisitive 

 desire for that which you cannot yet afford, 

 and in all ways refuse obligations you are 

 not certain to be prepared for when the 

 time of requirement arrives ! 



Boivlegs and Difficult Teetliing. 



I don't wonder you feel so anxious about 

 baby Rob's little bowed legs ! Any loving 

 mother naturally will. But be of good 

 courage, and don't lay to heart all the ad- 

 vice, admonition and fearful foreboding of 

 your good friends, who all mmn well 

 enough, but are not quite competent to 

 give you safe counsel. I can imagine how 

 their look of horror can make a young 

 mother feel terribly apprehensive, but just 

 keep your sensible head on your shoulders 

 and reason a little. 



Rob will be all right and have just as 

 straight and strong legs as any boy, if you 

 will just do what I suggest. No, he don't 

 need any " braces " or other kind of har- 

 ness for his wee legs. Keep all those ex- 

 pensive instruments of tortures off the lit- 

 tle fellow. The reasons that his legs are 

 crooked are mainly that his system is im- 

 properly nourished; and, then, the likeli- 

 hood that in your great desire to see him 

 look " awfully cute," you, or his " Daddy," 

 try to make him stand up and walk. Under 

 such unreasonable treatment it is simply a 

 wonder his legs are not bent double ! 



The bones are hardened and kept so by 

 the phosphate of lime that the necessary 

 food contains to properly nourish us, and 

 when bones in little ones are .soft and yield- 

 ing, it is evidence that Nature's laws have 

 been disregarded in this respect, and the 

 result has followed. 



When the child is born, it should become 

 the strictest care of the wise mother to so 

 regulate her diet, that the required amount 

 of lime enter the system to properly harden 

 the bony structure of the child. To this 

 end the mother should eat liberally of oat- 

 meal and cracked wheat porridge, bread, 



