ysical basis of life and of health; and any one who will take the
trouble to read even the Table of Contents of this book will see that
for Dr. Allen prevention is a text and the making of sound citizens a
sermon. Given the sound body, we have nowadays small fear for the sound
mind. The rigid physiological dualism implied in the phrase _mens sana
in corpore sano_ is no longer allowed. To-day the sound body generally
includes the sound mind, and vice versa. If mental dullness be due to
imperfect ears, the remedy lies in medical treatment of those
organs,--not in education of the brain. If lack of initiative or energy
proceeds from defective aeration of the blood due to adenoids blocking
the air tides in the windpipe, then the remedy lies not in better
teaching but in a simple surgical operation.

Shakespeare, in his wildwood play, saw sermons in stones and books in
the running brooks. We moderns find a drama in the fateful lives of
ordinary mortals, sermons in their physical salvation from some of the
ills that flesh is heir to, and books--like this of Dr. Allen's--in
striving to teach mankind how to become happier, and healthier, and
more useful members of society.

Dr. Allen is undoubtedly a reformer, but of the modern, not the
ancient, type. He is a prophet crying in our present wilderness; but
he is more than a prophet, for he is always intensely practical,
insisting, as he does, on getting things done, and done soon, and done
right.

No one can read this volume, or even its chapter-headings, without
surprise and rejoicing: surprise, that the physical basis of effective
citizenship has hitherto been so utterly neglected in America;
rejoicing, that so much in the way of the prevention of incapacity and
unhappiness can be so easily done, and is actually beginning to be
done.

The gratitude of every lover of his country and his kind is due to the
author for his interesting and vivid presentation of the outlines of a
subject fundamental to the health, the happiness, and the well-being of
the people, and hence of the first importance to every American
community, every American citizen.

WILLIAM T. SEDGWICK

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

CONTENTS

PART I. HEALTH RIGHTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. HEALTH A CIVIC OBLIGATION 3

II. SEVEN HEALTH MOTIVES AND SEVEN C