THE GENERAL PROBLEM OF KEEPING WELL 407 



ments and vastly increases the chances for recovery. He 

 should be called early and his directions should be care- 

 fully followed. Everything, however, must not be left to 

 the physician, for recovery depends as much upon proper 

 nursing and feeding as upon the drugs that are adminis- 

 tered. Of great importance is the saving of the energy of 

 tJte patient, and to accomplish this visitors should, as a 

 rule, be excluded from the sick room. 



Precautions in Recovery from Disease. Many diseases, 

 if severe, not only leave the body in a weakened condition, 

 but may, through the toxins which the germs deposit, cause 

 untold harm if the patient leaves his bed or resumes his 

 usual activities too soon. Especially is this true of 

 typhoid fever, 1 diphtheria, scarlet fever, and measles. 

 Rheumatism and affections of the heart, lungs, kidneys, 

 and other bodily organs frequently follow these diseases, 

 as the result of slight exposure or exertion before the 

 body has sufficiently recovered from the effects of the 

 toxins. To guard against such results, certain physicians 

 require their patients to keep their beds for a week, or 

 longer, after apparent recovery from diseases like typhoid 

 fever, diphtheria, and scarlet fever. 



Relation of Vocation to Disease. With a few excep- 

 tions, the pursuit of one's vocation, or calling in life, does 

 not supply either the quantity or the kind of activity that is 

 most in harmony with the plan of the body. Especially 

 is this true of work that requires most of the time to be 

 spent indoors, or which exercises but a small portion of the 

 body. The effect of such vocations, if not counteracted, 



lAs typhoid fever is a disease of the small intestine, great care must be 

 exercised in taking food and in the bodily movements. Solids greatly irritate the 

 diseased lining of the intestine, and the weakened walls may actually be broken 

 through by pressure resulting from moving about. 



