f one is possessed of a normal amount of
vigor.

If one is athletic, jumping one to two hundred times, as when jumping a
rope, just previous to moving the bowels is often of value in inducing a
natural desire that in nearly all cases brings satisfactory results.
Where it is difficult to take the amount of water prescribed, take as
much as you conveniently can, gradually increasing the quantity each
day.

This hot-water-drinking regimen is not necessarily recommended as a
permanent measure to be continued every day for an indefinite period.
When you feel that your physical status is satisfactory in every way,
you can drop the method for a few days, after which it can be
resumed as desired, though it would be of advantage to continue taking
the exercises each day, and if even one or two glasses of hot water
are taken beneficial results would accrue.

CHAPTER VII: Exercise for Vitality Building

Inactivity is non-existence. It means death. Our bodily powers and
organs were given to us for a definite purpose. Failure to use them
brings serious penalties. There can be no real health with physical
stagnation. To be sure, we may point to some men possessing
extraordinary vitality who, apparently, have lived without exercise.
But a study of their habits of life will usually bring to light some
form of muscular activity, even if it be nothing more than a moderate
amount of walking. In some cases, such extraordinary vitality may be
possessed that health laws can be broken with apparent impunity, but
it will usually be found that a vigorous constitution was developed
in early youth from plenty of exercise. However, the failure to
observe these important bodily requirements invariably means trouble
before reaching the period at which old age begins.

Though the average of human life has been greatly increased through the
decline in infant mortality, the death rate among men of middle age has
more than doubled in the past thirty years. And even if those of
exceptional vitality can neglect their physical requirements without
suffering, the man of limited energy, who is trying to build vitality,
certainly cannot afford to do so.

We ought to take a reasonable amount of exercise at intervals, regular
or otherwise, in order to keep fully alive. It is not a case of
exercise for the sake of muscular strength alone, but for the sake of
health and life. There are many people who labor under the delusio