Human Physiology. 151 



science of this life of society national life or life of race, 

 constitutes Social Physiology or Sociology. 



The social life manifests itself as a sustaining force to every 

 individual. Each one radiates his life, as all bodies radiate 

 heat. All give and all receive of the life element ; therefore no 

 one can do anything to injure his health, and diminish the 

 force of his own vitality without, at the same time, doing an 

 injury to others. He wastes a portion of the common stock of 

 life. When a weakly child is placed with robust companions, 

 they strengthen him. A healthy child who sleeps with an aged 

 and infirm person is seriously injured. The weak live upon 

 the strong. In hospitals, where nearly all are weak, the whole 

 life becomes feeble and exhausted, and there is often great 

 mortality. This is one reason why small hospitals are better 

 for patients than large ones ; and why, even under great dis- 

 advantages, it is better still to treat the poor in their own 

 dwellings, where they are not subject to the drafts of the 

 weaker patients around them, and where they have the benefit 

 of a larger proportion of strong and healthy persons about them. 

 There is also, no doubt, in hospitals an accumulation of the 

 matter of disease. The emanations of diseased bodies adhere 

 to the walls and are absorbed by other patients. Hospitals 

 should be built with walls, floors, and ceilings as little porous as 

 possible, and with facilities for perfect ventilation and purification. 



A strong healthy man, full of the vigour of life, diffuses an 

 atmosphere of health around him. His presence is a spring of 

 life. The touch of his hand has an invigorating power. If he 

 is friendly and sympathetic, and has the will as well as the 

 power to help others, his influence is very marked. Physicians 

 who have a vocation to heal the sick are successful, whatever 

 their mode of practice. Allopathy or homoeopathy, large doses 

 or small doses, benefit the patient if only administered by a 

 doctor in whom he has confidence and this confidence is the 

 perception of relief One doctor can do more with a look, a 



