e it," Health News, Oct., 1915.)

After brushing the teeth, the mouth should be rinsed by forcing lukewarm
water about the teeth, using all the force that can be brought to bear
by the cheeks, lips, and tongue.

3. TREATMENT.--The teeth, including the first teeth of children, should
be inspected by a competent dentist at least twice a year. Periodic
cleansing by a dentist, and early attention to small cavities, may
prevent serious ill health and impairment of the body, as well as the
acute suffering generally accompanying treatment of advanced dental
defects.

CLOTHING.--Clothing was originally used for purposes of ornament. Desire
for protection from cold and dampness came later. The amount of clothing
required varies greatly according to individual needs and habits, but it
is increasingly recognized that light clothing is best, provided that
the wearer is really protected from cold. Clothing should be porous in
order to allow ventilation of the body, supported so far as possible
from the shoulders, and clean and well aired. Dampness favors the growth
of germs which may cause irritation of the skin.

Clothing should not constrict the body or hamper its movements. Perhaps
the worst health menace for which clothing is to blame comes from the
high heeled shoes on which many women prefer to limp through life. From
the health standpoint shoes are of great importance. Bad shoes are
responsible for many cases of flat feet, whose muscles have degenerated
through non-use, and for much so-called "rheumatism," which is merely
the protest of abused muscles. Bad shoes also, by distorting the feet,
prevent comfortable walking, which is the only out-of-door exercise
readily available for the vast majority of people; and still worse, the
resulting unnatural position of the body sometimes has serious
consequences by bringing injurious strains on other muscles and organs.

FOOD.--Two distinct problems are encountered here: the problem of
nutrition, and the problem of preventing sickness. Nutrition, or proper
feeding, is a subject beyond the scope of this book; it is nevertheless
one of the most important, if not the most important, factor in
maintaining health. Food preparation and care of children, the two most
important functions of the home, are unfortunately relegated to the
least intelligent and least interested members of most households in
which servants are employed.

Most American families eat too much protein food, such