PERFECT HEALTH 125 



view, its perspective and sense of symmetry and proportion, its 

 appraisals and appreciations in art, literature and life. But 

 why waste time on Hebrew or Greek thought? We are pure- 

 blood, modern, nordic Aryans. 



Evidently the foundation of perfect sanity or mental health 

 is a high harmonious development of all our mental and 

 physical powers; a well proportioned, beautiful, strong body 

 with a sound mind whose fundamental character is a wisdom 

 which is a sure touchstone of values in ends and means. How 

 this can be attained, what is the source of such wisdom, or the 

 path to her house is another question. 



A shrewd old country doctor used to say to a young mother: 

 ^' Madam, don't forget that Nature has made that baby about 

 right. Don't you spoil it." All babies are not made and 

 born all right. Many fail to measure up to Nature's standards 

 and die, others are killed off during the first year. The con- 

 stitution of the baby is an hereditary endowment and weak or 

 strong accordingly. " Our constitution is an entailed estate 

 which must pass to our heirs with all its worth and encum- 

 brances." If the children are to be healthy, training must 

 begin with the parents. 



What does Nature demand of the baby? If he eats, digests, 

 sleeps, breathes and grows well he is doing his whole duty. 

 We test him mainly by the steadiness of his growth in weight. 

 Soon he begins to sit up and to kick, and his shoulder muscles 

 swing his arms like flails. There is implanted in him a ten- 

 dency to use every organ just as soon as it is mature enough 

 to be stimulated by exercise to further growth. When it has 

 had exercise enough, it and he tire. The early use of the 

 heavy fundamental muscles of trunk, shoulder and thigh 

 stimulates general health and strength. It stimulates also the 

 develoDment of the fundamental nerve-centers, and fortifies 

 the whole nervous system against weakness and collapse. 

 Here the foundations of health and strength are laid deep and 

 strong. The baby and young child are chiefly animal. Let 

 them be healthy animals in a healthy environment. 



