HEALTH 7 



neutral bath, beginning with the water at 98 F., and 

 allowing it to cool not more than 5 F.; continue this bath 

 for 15 minutes or more. Be sure that the drinking water 

 is free from dangerous germs and impurities. Ice water 

 should be avoided, especially during hot weather. Cool 

 water, about one-half pint taken half an hour before 

 breakfast and when retiring, is a remedy for constipation. 



7. Food and Health. Form the habit of masticating 

 all food until it is swallowed without conscious effort. 

 Give as much attention as possible to the taste rather 

 than to the chewing. Food should simply be chewed 

 and relished, with no thought of swallowing. There 

 should be no more effort to prevent than to force swallow- 

 ing. It will be found that if you attend only to the 

 agreeable task of extracting the flavors of your food, 

 nature will take care of the swallowing, which will become 

 involuntary like breathing. Many people have their 

 habits of eating and appetite perverted by hurry and by 

 the use of " abnormal" foods. The best results from 

 meals can be secured only by not feeling hurried and by 

 taking sufficient time for thorough mastication. Liquid 

 foods should be mixed with saliva before swallowing. 



The stomach, like any other part of the body, needs 

 rest, and so the meals should be far enough apart to grant 

 time for this rest. The stomach can digest with ease 

 thoroughly masticated food. Keep your stomach clean 

 by not allowing anything to go into it except pure food and 

 drink. A healthy stomach means few headaches and 

 very few, if any, diseases. 



QUESTIONS AND EXERCISES 



1. Carefully observe in your school whether the best work is 

 done by the boys and girls who are healthy or by those who are 

 absent often because of sickness. 



