THE GENERAL PROBLEM OF KEEPING WELL 409 



Exercise as a Counteractive Agent. In counteracting 

 tendencies to disease and in the maintenance of the func- 

 tional equilibrium of the body, no agent has yet been dis- 

 covered of greater importance than physical exercise, 

 when applied systematically and persistently. This may 

 consist of exercises that call into play all the muscles of 

 the body, or which are concentrated upon special parts. 

 When general tonic effects are desired, the exercise should 

 be well distributed; but when counteractive or remedial 

 effects are wanted, it must be applied chiefly to the parts 

 that are weak or that have not been called into action by 

 the regular work. Unfortunately, health is sometimes 

 confused with physical strength and exercise is directed 

 toward the stronger parts of the body with the effect of 

 making them still stronger. Not only is health riot to be 

 measured by the pounds that one can lift or by some gym- 

 nastic feat that one can perform, but the possession of 

 great muscular power may, if the heart and other vital 

 organs be not proportionally strong, prove a menace to 

 the health. This being true, one having his health pri- 

 marily in view will use physical exercise, in part at least, 

 as a means of building up organs that are weak. Since 

 the body, like a chain, can be no stronger than its weak- 

 est part, this is clearly the logical method of fortifying it 

 against disease. 



Value of Work. Although there may exist in one's 

 vocation certain tendencies to disease, it must not be 

 inferred that work in itself is detrimental to health. 

 Health demands activity, and those forms of activity 

 that provide a regular and systematic outlet for one's 

 surplus energy and compel the formation of correct 

 habits of eating, sleeping, and recreating best serve the 

 purpose. Work furnishes activity 'of this kind and serves 



