PHYSIOLOGY, 



EXPERIMENTAL AND DESCRIPTIVE. 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Is it not a splendid thing to be well and strong ? To be 

 full of bounding health ? To " feel one's life in every limb " ? 



Who does not desire to prolong, so far as possible, this 

 condition characteristic of youth ? 



Is it not a pity that in so many persons health begins to 

 break down in middle life ? That when the mind is begin- 

 ning to ripen, the body should begin to decay ? Our later 

 years ought to be our better years. Our mental strength and 

 maturity should then enable us to give back to the world 

 something for what it has given us ; for in the earlier years 

 the individual is constantly receiving, and making little re- 

 turn. But bodily strength and vigor are necessary in order 

 that a rich^and ripe mind may exert its influence upon the 

 world. If the days are filled with pain, if there is feeble- 

 ness of body, one is likely to become a burden to the world, 

 instead of a bearer of its burdens. Witness Holmes and Glad- 

 stone as examples of men who took excellent care of them- 

 selves and were able to continue their work in a ripe old age. 



An animal, living in a state of nature, may keep well and 

 live its natural period of life without knowing anything about 

 the laws of health. But as students or indoor workers, many 



1 



