Yet man uses this marvellous mechanism but carelessly, and the widespread poverty, the worry and discord in the lives of the happiest, our ignorance, the evil habits we contract, and the vice, miseries, diseases and labours to which most expectant mothers are too often exposed, explain why one baby in every eight never walks; why but four of them live to manhood; why less than 40 years is now man’s average span; and why this brief space is filled with suffering and misery, from which many escape by self-destruction.

Sound children do not come from unclean air, surroundings, habits, pursuits, passions and parents.  Children conceived in unsuitable surroundings by unsuitable parents, die; must die; ought to die.  They are not built for the stern battle of life.

* * * * *

“Where the sun does not enter, the doctor does!”
—­Italian proverb.

Plenty of fresh, clean air is essential to health.

In all rooms a block of wood nine inches high should be inserted beneath the whole length of the bottom sash of the window.  This leaves a space between the top and bottom sashes through which fresh air passes freely, without draught, both night and day, for it should never be closed.  A handy man will fit a simple device to prevent the windows being forced at night, but better let in a burglar than keep out air.

If it be cold or draughty in the bedroom, hang a sheet a foot from the window, put more blankets or an overcoat on the bed, or put layers of brown paper above the sheets, but never close the window.

You can take too much of many good things, but never too much pure air.

Cleanliness.  Keep the body clean by taking at least one hot bath per week; per day if possible.  Much filth is excreted by your sweat-pores; why let it cake on skin and underlinen, and silently silt up your thirty miles of skin canals, thus overworking the other excretory organs, and gradually poisoning yourself?

Neuropaths always suffer from sluggish circulation of the extremities, and to improve this, hot and cold baths, spinal douches and massage are excellent.  A hot bath (98-110 deg.  F.) ensures a thorough cleansing, but it brings the blood to the surface, where its heat is quickly lost, enervating one, and causing a bout of shivering which increases the production of heat by stimulating the heat-regulating centre in the brain.  Baths above 110 deg.  F. induce faintness.  To prevent shivering, take a cold douche after the hot bath, and have a brisk rub down with a coarse towel, when a delightful, warm glow will result.  Do not freeze yourself, or the reaction will not occur; what is wanted is a short, sharp shock, which sends the blood racing from the skin, to which it returns in tingling pulsations, which brace up the whole system.  The douche is over in a few seconds, and may be enjoyed the year round, commencing in late Spring.

The cold bath must not be made a fetish.  If the glow is not felt, give it up, and bathe in tepid (85-92 deg.  F.) or warm (93-98 deg.  F.) water.  When started in the vigour of youth, the cold bath may often be continued through life, but it is unwise to commence in middle life.  Parents should never force their children to take cold baths, to “harden them”.