HYGIENE OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 333 



priate stimulus. Animals under natural conditions gratify 

 the appetites as they arise only to that extent which is 

 healthful for the whole body. Man alone, whose highly 

 developed brain is overlord to the rest of his system, per- 

 mits an unwholesome indulgence of appetite to interfere 

 with this general well-being. Alcohol, opium, and their 

 like are far from being the only substances whose excess- 

 ive use injures the organism and degrades character. 

 Children are often allowed to indulge a natural fondness 

 for sweets to an extent which is ruinous to digestion ; 

 for sugar, which is a useful and necessary food in suitable 

 quantities, becomes in larger ones a poison to the system. 

 Boys pampered with dainties from infancy logically infer 

 that a fancy for cigars or beer may be similarly gratified. 

 Appetite for even the most wholesome food may be in 

 excess of bodily needs, and the practice of gluttony is 

 certain to derange nutrition. 



A child should bo early taught that because he " likes " 

 a certain article of food he should not therefore continue 

 to eat it after natural hunger is satisfied, or at times when 

 he does not need food ; while to persist in eating or 

 drinking that which experience, or the advice of those 

 competent to judge, has taught him to be harmful, should 

 be regarded as unworthy a rational being. 



These are but illustrations of the manifold forms of 

 intemperance which work untold harm to the physical 

 and moral natures. There seems no possibility of im- 

 provement to our race except as the young are led to 

 recognize the manliness and dignity of controlling one's 

 appetites. 



483. And it is not in respect to the delights of the 

 palate only that a foolish self-indulgence prevails. The 

 love of selfish pleasure in any form may be developed 

 MACY'S PHYS. 21 



