Atlanta Daily World

Things You Ought to Know
By W A. THOMAS, M. D.

THE NATURE OF HEALTH

By health is meant something more than vitality or vigor or even actual survival. Yet health does not necessarily imply painless adjustment to an environment, for the reason that the individual and his environment are constantly changing. A healthy state is difficult to define precisely. It may be described as a free from physical and mental pains (except that these are the natural aging processes) of the wearing out of the human machine. There are two chief varieties of body activity, physical and mental activity. It is possible to possess a small degree of mental efficiency in the face of a physical weakness but on the whole sound mental health is prerequisite to hale and hearty physical health. Among some of the basic philosophical principles of good mental health are the following: First, a consideration of "wholeness" should be given. By this is meant the total situation, in which we find ourselves, in relation to our friends, relatives and the Deity. Secondly, since all nature consists of extreme opposites held together by a balance between extremes. We do not know the proper equation of what we are saying unless we fully appreciate the opposite. Let us consider for example, a case of tuberculosis. A person in the far advanced state of the disease may exhibit an emaciated body, with flabby muscles, hollow cheeks and a picture of despair. The reason tuberculosis is hated so much as a disease is because it produces such a contrast to the normal physical appearance in its system. Not that it is any less a scourge than some other diseases, a disease usually makes for greater difficulty damage a treatment The natural counterpart to lethargy pulsation, throbbing, verve are indices to vitality In our thinking it is healthy, I think, to vacillate, to be torn for a while between opposites. and then to arrive at a tentative and a unit of final conflict between opposites. The fourth fundamental concept has to do with the particular pattern of pulsations any neuron may develop. The neuron's connection with his relations to thoughts gives them survival meaning. Such a point of vantage means something The fifth and last conception of physical and mental health proper consideration of body hygiene. Proper food, exercise ventilation, the wearing of adequate clothing. the brushing of teeth adequate sleep and rest and other features to have good health. Possibly another thought advice for action. The need for doing something is essential to a wholesome personality. Such a personality requires creative work and purposeful activity which is both constructive and cooperative in its aspect. Work which symbolizes the individual as an important cog in the wheel of the group should be engaged in Note: Much of the above information has been taken from "The Foundations of Human Nature" by Dorsey. be held at the Top Hat. Club Beautiful All club and friends are invited The meeting Is this afternoon January 16 at 49 Main Street SW at 3:30 o'clock Mr Lucius Evans. president Miss Jane Hicks, reporter