Health
How to get and keep it. The hygiene
of dress, food, exercise, rest, bathing,
breathing, and
ventilation
by Walter V. Woods, M.D.
Philadelphia
The Penn Publishing Company
1905
COPYRIGHT 1905 BY THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
| Introduction | 3 |
| Air | 6 |
| Water | 20 |
| Food | 28 |
| Clothing | 62 |
| Bathing | 89 |
| Exercise | 112 |
| Rest | 168 |
| Dwellings | 172 |
HEALTH
How to Get, and How to Keep It
INTRODUCTION
The injunction “Know thyself” was inscribed inletters of gold over the portico of the temple ofDelphi. We can know ourselves only by thoughtfulobservation and reflection. General forms of exercisemay be presented, but we must consider whetherour present health and physical condition will notrequire some modification of the prescribed forms.Certain modes of bathing and specific rules for dietand sleep may be good for the multitude and yetunsuited to particular individuals. Any markedchange from our accustomed manner of life shouldbegin gradually. For one who, in winter, has nevertaken any other than a warm or tepid bath, to plungesuddenly and without preparation into a tub of coldwater might be attended with serious results, whileby gradual stages the same point may be reachedwith positive advantage to health and comfort.
The popular error still prevails that a wellequipped gymnasium and costly apparatus are necessaryto healthful physical development. It is an importantpart of the object of this work to show thatwith little or no outlay for apparatus, and with theexpenditure of very little time, both health and vigormay be secured and preserved, and the success andhappiness of life be greatly promoted.
The hindrances to a more general adoption of acourse of physical training as a means of promotinghealth and strength are:
1. Ignorance of the advantages to be secured.
2. Distrust of the efficiency of the methods.
3. Mistaken notions concerning co