ric. But we can
help to repair it; we can sometimes influence the color and suggest some
details of the pattern, or assist in the "making over" process; and when
the fabric is substantial and beautiful we may assist in preventing its
marring. So we may help to evolve a body-health and mind-health attitude
from what seemed the wreckage of a disease-accepting mind; or we may
have the great privilege of warding off the disease-accepting attitude.
But always, in all our care of patients, let us not neglect or fail to
use wisely this central fact of psychology; that anything that gains
attention, even for a moment, leaves its impress on the mind; that the
direction of attention determines our general reaction to life.

CHAPTER XI

GETTING THE PATIENT'S POINT OF VIEW

WHAT DETERMINES THE POINT OF VIEW

The point of view of any individual depends upon temperament, present
conditions--mental and physical--and the aim of the life. That is, it
depends upon his inherited tendencies plus a unique personal something,
plus all the facts of his environment and experience, plus what he lives
for.

Richard and Jim both live in Philadelphia, Richard on Walnut Street and
Jim on Sansom Street. Richard's father is of the best Quaker stock, with
hundreds of years of gentle and aristocratic ancestry behind him. He
followed his father and his grandfather into the profession of medicine,
and is a well-known specialist, alert, keen, expert, and deservedly
honored. He is at home in Greek and Latin, French, and the sciences. He
selects at a glance only the conservative best in art and music and
literature. His world is a gentleman's world, a scholar's world, and the
world of a scientist and a humanitarian. And Richard, his son, is true
to type.

Jim's father is the ash man. His world is in the alleys and basements.
His pastime, cheap movies, and the park on Sundays. When he is not
working he is too "dead tired" for anything heavier than the Sunday
Supplement or perhaps the socialist club-rooms, where he talks about the
down-trodden working man and learns to hate the "idle" rich. He spends
his money on food and cheap shows and showy clothes. He talks loudly,
eats ravenously, works hard, is honest, and wants something better for
his children than he and the "old woman" have had. His music is the
street-organ, the movie piano, and the band--some of it excellent
too--but none of your dreamy stuff--good and lively. And his son, Jim,
is