HEALTH NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 141, 18 June 1927, Page 17

HEALTH NOTES

GOOD HABITS

BUILDING SOUND BODIES

(Contributed by the.Department of

Health.)

Civic pride and wealth are generally shown by great buildings,; fine bridges, paved streets, and beautiful boulevards and parks. Let us build bodies of flesh and blood as we build structures of steel and stone. Both are needed, but of the two the human structure is the most important, states the Chicago Health Department Bulletin.

Great care is taken to put the best and strongest of materials in tnese things so that they will last indefinitely. The style and beauty of the buildings are such as to please the eye and excite the admiration. istreets are made smooth and straight, free from defects and, wherever possiole, are lined with trees, and shrubs to add a bit of the beauty of Nature. i'arks are kept in order, pro-" tected against defilement, and mads attractive lor the enjoyment of lovers of the outdoors.

Did you ever stop to consider how much thought is put into all these activities?

Ihe foundation of a building is the great essential in the construction of the massive skyscraper, for upon,the firmness of its base depends the life of the superstructure: Then the steel girders are put in place to form solid framework which will withstand the stress and strain of stoim and temperature. Then brick and stona are added to enclose the building and givo protection against the ravages of time and fire. How similar is the building up of the human body! If half as much attention were paid to the building of bodies as <s given to structures of steel.and brick, public health officials would have little to do. . ". •"" " " : FOUNDATION OF HEALTH, j What is the foundation of. health of the human body? ' It lies "deep. in heredity. . . Healthy, parents, furnish a healthy basis to their offspring, barring accidents of birth.- ; The combined health factors of the parents are given to: every cell of the child's body. ■ That is the first essential of.vital resistance or protection against disease. Then, .given the right foundation, we.;can build the superstructure of the child's health. ; The.framework of solid,.strong, growing bones and teeth corresponds to.the steel skeleton of the building. For these, the right kind of food, containing minerals such as ,lime and', phosphorus, is needed. Milk, fruits, vegetables and cod liver oil furnish vitamins to help use these ingredients in building a strong bony framework. . The muscles, fat, and skin, correspond to the stone and brick work of the building. These are the walls of the human building, which give strength and beauty, and also enclose and protect the vital organs. . ' A tall building, no matter how strong and beautiful it may.be, is useless for occupancy without a good heating plant, pump, water pipes, elevators, sewage, and ventilation system, and so forth. So it is also with the human body.The habits of cleanliness, right eating, sufficient rest and sleep, taking plenty of fresh air at work and play, and thinking right, contribute strength, aid growth, and keep the. body in good repair. The well-cared-for body brings efficiency and inspires a smile of health on the face of the owner. There is laughter at his meals and he has ambition to forge ahead and enough contentment to keep him in a happy frame of mind. ■

Beauty is only skin ■ deep. Without properly working lungs, heart, digestive tract, liver, blood vessels, and kidneys, the human body is a poor place to live, in. That building is hot a paying one for there is no' income in rentals. In the case of the human building it's' a loss if it does not give the happiness that only a good, healthy body brings. Loss of the income of happiness or wellbeing spells inefficiency and loss'in money and time off for sickness.- The health building must be built strongly if it is to be safe against the fire hazard of sickness. . ;

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:

Good janitor service also aids in the upkeep of tho building^ and. adds to- its value and length of life. In the case of the body, good health habits are the janitors which keep the human building up to par. . :

Continuous, proper use of the human building, is also necessary to health. If you use a building but a few months in the year and then shut it down^ it soon becomes covered with dust and its running machinery getsf. out of order. It may be a fine, expensive building, . but if not used rightly,' will soon lose its value. It is :.a. common; mistake, to go without exercise for a week or a moutK and then try to make it up in. an after: noon or a week-end. This is harmful; as harmful, in fact^ asr starving - for• a week and then over-eating to niake it' «p- '„ • #:: :

One should lead an active but even life, not trying! to burn' up three-quarters of one's vital energy in the first 35 years; but conserving the vitality; vim; and vigour for the years after seventy:. In the harmonious working of healthy organs, one need .think of ■ nothing except outside matters. The healthy man's inner ortrnns do not exist in his consciousness.. He lives longer arid-becomes more efficient with age, because he improves everything around him, raising" external values to his own standards. .