able
remedy. Thus exhaustion from overwork suggests rest and recreation. The
diverting of too much blood from other parts of the body to the brain
suggests some form of exercise which will equalize the circulation. If
feebleness of the digestive organs is being induced, some natural method
of increasing the blood supply to these organs is to be looked for. And
effects arising from lack of fresh air and sunlight are counteracted by
spending more time out of doors.

*Exercise as a Counteractive Agent.*--In counteracting tendencies to
disease and in the maintenance of the functional equilibrium of the body,
no agent has yet been discovered of greater importance than physical
exercise, when applied systematically and persistently. This may consist
of exercises that call into play all the muscles of the body, or which are
concentrated upon special parts. When general tonic effects are desired,
the exercise should be well distributed; but when counteractive or
remedial effects are wanted, it must be applied chiefly to the parts that
are weak or that have not been called into action by the regular work.
Unfortunately, health is sometimes confused with physical strength and
exercise is directed toward the stronger parts of the body with the effect
of making them still stronger. Not only is health not to be measured by
the pounds that one can lift or by some gymnastic feat that one can
perform, but the possession of great muscular power may, if the heart and
other vital organs be not proportionally strong, prove a menace to the
health. This being true, one having his health primarily in view will use
physical exercise, in part at least, as a means of building up organs that
are weak. Since the body, like a chain, can be no stronger than its
weakest part, this is clearly the logical method of fortifying it against
disease.

*Value of Work.*--Although there may exist in one's vocation certain
tendencies to disease, it must not be inferred that work in itself is
detrimental to health. Health demands activity, and those forms of
activity that provide a regular and systematic outlet for one's surplus
energy and compel the formation of correct habits of eating, sleeping, and
recreating best serve the purpose. Work furnishes activity of this kind
and serves also as a safeguard against the unhealthful and immoral habits
contracted so often from idleness. Even physical exercise which has for
its purpose the reenforcement of the body aga