PAIN 245 



get as much blood, the breathing is not so deep, the cells 

 are not so well able to work, and the work done is usually 

 less in amount and poorer in quality, while the nervous 

 system is exhausted rather than strengthened by the 

 exercise. 



Meaning of pain. When the body is not receiving 

 proper care, the nervous system gives danger signals 

 in the form of pain. The pain may come from a defi- 

 nite point, as in earache, and its cause be easily deter- 

 mined. At other times, as in a headache, it may be due 

 to one or more of a number of causes, as eye strain, 

 stomach upset, sleeplessness, or fever. In any case, it is 

 a most important means of guiding us in our care of 

 our bodies and should never be ignored. It indicates 

 that something is out of order, and it is fortunate for 

 us that we are made increasingly uncomfortable until 

 we are forced to remedy it. If pain, or fear of pain, had 

 not tended to keep the human race in the straight and 

 narrow path of health, we should probably not be in 

 existence to-day. 



