CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION HYGIENE According to mythology, Hygeia was the daughter of Aesculapius, the god of medicine. The story tells us that Aesculapius, being touched by the suffering of mankind, entered upon the life work of curing disease. His daughter Hygeia observed that most of the sickness which plagued the world was brought on by bad living, such as gorging with food, eating unwholesome food, drinking wines, drinking impure water, breathing impure air, and paying insufficient attention to cleanliness. She concluded, therefore, that it was better to prevent disease than to get it and then try to cure it. In this she was far wiser than her father. Ill health, she plainly saw, was largely the result of ignorance and carelessness.
Education in right living, then, is the way to health, and to the enjoyment of abundant life. And this is Hygiene. A knowledge of the subject requires, to some degree, the study of the structure of the body, and, to a considerable degree, the study of physiology, which treats of the organs of the body and the work they perform. Hygiene has two divisions—moral and physical.
Moral Hygiene is of first importance. A healthy mind must lead a healthy body. Without moral health man is, indeed, a failure. Clean thoughts are necessary for clean living. We should reject bad thoughts from our minds as we exclude poison from the stomach. Let the mind contemplate good and beautiful and true things, and the expression of the face and the actions will be those of a real human being. The secret of genuine success and happiness is to do good to others, for the sake of doing good. There should be constant effort to learn and improve the mind, not in order to achieve triumphs over others, but that we may be better able to help others.
Youth is the time to learn and to commence the practice of moral hygiene. The fields, the waving grain and flowers, and the great trees, live pure lives, speak only clean and kind words. Observe them, for they are free from envy, hate, impatience, and moral unhealthfulness.
Cheerfulness is taught by moral hygiene. It is impossible to be a truly good man and not be cheerful, nor can a cheerful countenance naturally accompany evil thoughts and deeds. The commandment to ‘Honor thy father and thy mother’ is followed by a promise of long life, and this implies that there is health and long life in moral actions.
It is moral hygiene to practice temperance and moderation in thought and deed. Happiness can only come from doing good things. Slothfulness, idleness, ignorance, unkindness, impatience, untruthfulness, and dishonesty, bring unhappiness, and unhappiness breaks down the health.
‘Know then this truth (enough for man to know) Virtue alone is happiness below.’
Physical Hygiene—Perfect and complete living should be the desire of every one. It is a duty to keep oneself healthy. The great educator, Horace Mann, was once asked as to his health. He replied: ‘I am ashamed to say I do not feel well to-day.’ He had probably eaten too much the day before, or had been intemperate in his work.
To know what to do to preserve and improve the health of the body, is to have a knowledge of physical hygiene. The first step is to know and to understand as much as possible about our bodies. We must learn how we are made, and of what we are made. The organs of the body, and the work they do, must be familiar to us. The conditions under which they are intended to perform their functions must be known, and lastly, we must be wise and train ourselves to observe the conditions.
In the study of hygiene we must consider the body as a mechanism, for, indeed, it is a mechanism that is endowed with that marvelous force called life. The body is of curious origin and history, and of remarkable complexity. It is the most wonderful of machines, receiving its energy in the form of air and food, and being very sensitive to its surroundings.
A living body is in many ways like a watch. If the watch is in good order, running well, and keeping correct time, we say it is a good and normal timepiece. So also, if the body is in good order, working well, producing good thoughts and good deeds, it is a normal and healthy body. If it is not in good order, if the functions of the various organs are not properly performed, if there is weakness, if there is pain and discomfort, or if the mind is not right, we say there is illness or disease.
Health is a normal condition; disease is an abnormal condition.
The living body, like the watch, may be well or poorly constructed; of good or of mean material; it may be sound and without flaws, or more or less defective. The living body has the power of self-repair, and what we call cure is complying with the conditions under which nature will make repairs. If we learn these conditions, which are taught by hygiene, and are heedful of them, our bodies will be continually renewed, and good health will be the normal condition at all times.
It is the decree of nature that all things shall change. The watch, although excellent in material and workmanship, and although well cared for, will wear out. It is the same with the living mechanism. There is all the more reason, then, why we should take good care of our bodies and secure from them fullness of life and proper performance of duty.
Death is as natural as birth. We should have no fear of death, but, rather, should fear wrong living, fear the possible failure of not performing our duties to God and to man; and then, when we come to die, we shall be—
‘Like one that wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.’
PHYSIOLOGY Physiology treats of the organs of the body and the work they perform. It carefully and accurately studies the details of the construction of the body. It follows, from beginning to end, the minutest nerve, muscle, and artery. Experiments are made; the behavior of organs, as the heart, lungs, and liver, is observed in health and disease, and thus a knowledge of them is gained. By this means we learn how the heart pumps the blood to all parts of the body. We learn, also, the conditions under which an organ does its best work. We learn, moreover, the kind of work done by the lungs, and discover what surroundings and what materials they must have with which to work.
As fast as knowledge and understanding of the mechanism is gained, we should make it practical by applying it. In the following chapters, it is the aim to present enough regarding the structure of the various organs of the body, and of the work done by each to give a view of the field, and to make plain the reasons for the suggestions and directions on how to live. This knowledge will enable us to make our lives more efficient and enjoyable—lives of loving labor and ‘glad sweet song.’
<Callout type='important' title='Important'>Education in right living is crucial for health.</Callout>
<Callout type='tip' title='Tip'>Practice temperance and moderation to avoid unhappiness.</Callout>
<Callout type='warning' title='Warning'>Avoid bad thoughts as they can harm your physical health.</Callout>
Key Takeaways
- Education in right living is crucial for health.
- Moral and physical hygiene are both important aspects of maintaining good health.
- Clean thoughts and actions lead to a healthy body and mind.
Practical Tips
- Practice temperance and moderation in your daily life to avoid unhappiness and maintain good health.
- Educate yourself about the structure and functions of your body to better understand how to care for it.
- Develop clean habits, such as avoiding bad thoughts and practicing cheerfulness.
Warnings & Risks
- Be cautious of bad thoughts as they can harm both your physical and mental health.
- Avoid overindulgence in food or work, which can lead to poor health according to the chapter's teachings.
- Do not neglect moral hygiene, as it is essential for overall well-being.
Modern Application
While many of the specific practices described in this historical text may differ from modern medical knowledge, the core principles of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through proper nutrition, mental discipline, and physical activity remain relevant. Understanding these foundational concepts can help readers apply them to their own survival preparedness plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the importance of moral hygiene according to this chapter?
Moral hygiene is described as essential for health because a healthy mind must lead a healthy body. Clean thoughts are necessary, and rejecting bad thoughts is likened to excluding poison from the stomach.
Q: How does the chapter suggest we can improve our physical hygiene?
The chapter suggests that understanding the structure of the body and its organs, as well as their functions, is key to improving physical hygiene. It emphasizes learning about the body's mechanisms and applying this knowledge practically.
Q: What does the chapter say about the relationship between happiness and health?
The chapter states that happiness can only come from doing good things, while unhappiness results from slothfulness, idleness, ignorance, unkindness, impatience, untruthfulness, and dishonesty. It emphasizes the importance of practicing temperance and moderation to avoid unhappiness.