356 BODY CONTROL AND HABIT FORMATION 



Some Rules for Forming Good Habits. Professor Home gives 

 several rules for making good or breaking bad habits. They are : 

 " First, act on every opportunity. Second, make a strong start. 

 Third, allow no exception. Fourth, for the bad habit establish a good 

 one. Fifth, summoning all the man within, use effort of will." 

 Why not try these out in forming some good habit ? You will 

 find them effective. 



Necessity of Food, Fresh Air, and Rest. The nerve cells, like 

 all other cells in the body, are continually wasting away and being 

 rebuilt. Oxidation of food material is more rapid when we do 

 mental work. The cells of the brain, like muscle cells, are not 

 only capable of fatigue, but show this in changes of form and of 



contents. Food brought to them in the 

 blood, plenty of fresh air, especially when 

 engaged in active brain work, and rest 

 at proper times, are essential in keeping 

 the nervous system in condition. One 

 of the best methods of resting the brain 

 cells is a change of occupation. Tennis, 

 jf \ 9 \ golf, baseball, and other outdoor sports 



b combine muscular exercise with brain 



The effect of fatigue on nerve activity of a different sort from that of 



business or school work. But change 

 of occupation will not rest exhausted 

 neurones. For this, sleep is necessary. Especially is sleep an 

 important factor in the health of the nervous system of growing 

 children. 



Necessity of Sleep. Most brain cells attain their growth 

 early in life. Changes occur, however, until some time after the 

 school age. Ten hours of sleep should be allowed for a child, and 

 at least eight hours for an adult. At this time, only, do the brain 

 cells have opportunity to rest and store food and energy for their 

 working period. 



Sleep is one way in which all cells in the body, and particularly 

 those of the nervous system, get their rest. The nervous system, 

 by far the most delicate and hardest-worked set of tissues in the 

 body, needs rest more than do other tissues, for its work directing 



