SOME MATTERS OF HYGIENE 403 



affirmed that each system succeeds, so far as it is found 

 to do so, by reason of the merit that is in it. This is 

 equally true whether the practice is mental, mechanical, 

 or pharmacological. Each is wrong in denying virtue 

 to its competitors. The regular practitioner stands 

 superior to all who have allied themselves to peculiar 

 and exclusive systems, recognizing well the elements of 

 good in each though regretting the bigotry which their 

 exponents display. He is constantly blamed for with- 

 holding his endorsement of measures which have proved 

 valuable. Such measures he might be ready to com- 

 mend if he were not thereby committed to the denials 

 as well as the affirmations of his rival. 



The old trust in drugs is not widely prevalent to-day 

 unless among rather ignorant people who form the clien- 

 tele of the makers of patent medicines. A good many 

 people underestimate the occasional utility of drugs. 

 But it is a sound principle that a drug is for a definite 

 emergency, or for an incurable condition, and that it is 

 not to be substituted for hygienic living. As was said 

 of cathartics, so it may be said of headache cures, cough 

 syrups, "tonics," and other preparations that the oc- 

 casion for their use should likewise be an occasion for 

 reflecting how a recurrence can be avoided. 



If we attempt to name the great requisites of living in 

 health and efficiency we may make a list somewhat as 

 follows. First of all, the inheritance must be sound. 

 This, unhappily, lies outside the choice of the individual. 

 He has it to consider as he in his turn contemplates 

 becoming a father. Second, we must have successful 

 nutrition; we need not renew our discussion of this sub- 

 ject. Third, the activities must be balanced and rest 

 must be adequate. Fourth, the environment must be 

 wholesome and intellectually stimulating. 



Exercise. We must enlarge upon the third require- 

 ment of the series. It introduces at once the topic of 

 muscular exercise which could not be properly handled 

 until we had outlined all the physiologic functions. It 

 is related to all of them. The skeletal muscles are given 



