ROCKEFELLER'S RULES OF HEALTH

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 12, 13 July 1935, Page 8

ROCKEFELLER'S RULES OF HEALTH

(To the Editor.) Sir, —There is a curious omission from J. D. Rockefeller's rules of health as cabled in connection with his 96th birthday. For the benefit of humanity, on his 85th birthday, he published the 5 rules on which his constitution and health had been re-established. These were the rules for health in old age, for which he paid a huge fee to Dr. Biggan. (1) Keep your waist line down by diet and exercise; (2) avoid alcoholic liquors; (3) drink three quarts of water a day; (4) see that you have fresh air where you sleep; (5) don't worry. The importance of the special direction in rule four is apparent. Deep" breathing of fresh air is essential to health. We recuperate in sleep, and breathe more deeply than in our waking- moments. So we need fresh air in that period. The omission of the second important rule from the cable is strange. It is to be noted that there is not a drug in the rules. Also that they cost nothing, and are as valuable for young people as for the old.

In Australia, the churches celebrate a Health Sunday annually. It is an opportunity for emphasising the value of clean living and right thinking, and care and respect for the body. Also, for reminding people of the hygienic, medical, and healing agencies which have been specially developed in Christian lands; and spread by Christian civilisation, and medical missions. I think the churches in New Zealand should adopt this. They all acknowledge as their Lord, the One Who went about healing all manner of diseases. And even in war-time, the emblem carried by healing and medical agencies was that of the Red Cross.— I am, etc., G. S. COOK. |