HEALTH AS A DUTY 



women who are capable of health, yet rarely 

 possess it for any length of time, apparently 

 to a great extent because they never think 

 of health as obligatory. Our words are for 

 such. Many of the persons meant are in 

 most matters highly conscientious, but in 

 this particular their consciences are asleep, 

 untrained, or seared. We would reason 

 with those sinners, reinforcing whatever 

 merely vital desire for health they may pos- 

 sess with appeals to their sense of right and 

 wrong. Particularly would we attack the 

 medieval vice, which still affects many who 

 do not avow or perhaps suspect it, of sup- 

 posing that we somehow elevate the spirit 

 by snubbing and flogging the flesh. 



It is our duty to possess physical vigor if 

 we can, whether we delight in it or not. 

 Unless that is a duty there is no such thing 

 as duty. Health is within our power to a 

 much greater extent than most suppose. 

 Even congenital complaints can often be 

 cured. Other troubles of the kind born 

 with us, though not curable, can be greatly 

 alleviated. In persons not diseased at all, 



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