J26 Human Physiology. 



and live on nuts and fruits of its own gathering. Nature has 

 made no provision for sick animals unless it be water cure in 

 baths and showers, and the use of such plants as instinct may 

 prompt them to eat, as cats eat catnip. But animals have no 

 doctors or surgeons, no chemists or druggists, no dispensaries 

 or hospitals. The whole animal kingdom does not afford the 

 spectacle of a crowd of patients waiting for a doctor with their 

 guinea fees in readiness, or the larger crowd of out-patients to 

 a hospital with no fees to give. 



That health, pure and perfect from the cradle to the grave, is 

 as natural to man as it is to plants and animals is evident from 

 the healthy condition of those who come nearest to living in 

 natural conditions. The natives of many of the South Sea 

 islands were found by their discoverers almost entirely tree 

 from disease and deformity. The ordinary diseases of civilised 

 men were unknown to them. Those who were not killed in 

 battle died of old age. Even in the midst of civilised life we 

 find individuals whose instincts have preserved them from its 

 unnatural habits and diseases men and women who never 

 know a day's illness and die of old age. Such exceptions may 

 become the rule. If one person in ten can escape disease and 

 premature death, more may do so. Like causes produce like 

 effects. All men may become healthy and happy simply by 

 adopting the means and conditions of health and happiness. 



If health be the condition of vigour, activity, usefulness, and 

 happiness the condition of the best performance of all our 

 duties its preservation when we have it, and its attainment as 

 far as possible when it has been lost, becomes a high moral and 

 religious duty. To lose health by neglect of any of its condi- 

 tions ; to waste it by bad habits and vices is a violation of the 

 law which says " thou shalt not kill." To diminish health is to 

 lessen the amount of life, and generally to shorten its duration. 

 To injure one's health, or neglect the means for its preservation, 

 or restoration is, therefore, a sort of suicide. If we would offer 



