heart beats of her class, cause arteries and lungs to
contract, and deprive the brain of fresh blood. An oversympathetic
neighbor can put a strong man to bed by discovering signs of nervous
disintegration. Shall we gradually work out a code of mental hygiene
rights and nuisances that will require compulsory notification of the
"blues" and compulsory segregation of every person unable to "smile
dull care away"? Is the time coming when boards of health will
accompany infection leaflets with messages such as this from James
Whitcomb Riley:

Talk health. The dreary, never-changing tale
Of mortal maladies is worn and stale.
You cannot charm or interest or please
By harping on that minor chord, disease.

"Whatever the weather may be," says he,
"Whatever the weather may be,
It's the songs ye sing, and the smiles ye wear,
That's a-making the sun shine everywhere."

Mental hygiene has hitherto enjoyed an evil reputation and has been
condemned to generally evil associations, because the rank and file
have been ignorant of hygiene of every kind. Medical science has so
long enveloped itself in mystery that it is in danger now of becoming
discredited and of falling heir to the mantle of quackery.

Quacks often get social and economic results more agreeable to the
patient and more helpful to society than orthodox medicine. "When
traitors become numerous enough treason becomes respectable." So when
mental hygiene succeeds, it becomes science for the case in question,
and for that case orthodox medicine loses its respectability. For the
layman there is no safety except in having intelligence enough to know
whether his trouble has defied the sincere application of mental
treatment, auto-suggestion, and loyalty to the health ideal.

Mental hygiene admits the existence of dental cavities, scarlet fever
germs, adenoids, cross-eyes, uncleanliness, broken legs, inflamed eyes,
overeating. The organic, structural defects which are to be sought by
physical examination are all admitted by mental hygienists. They work
for an orderly, daily routine and affirm the penalties of its
violation. They would even favor going periodically to a physician,
provided that we never go to him except when organic or structural
disorders may safely be assumed from the fact that cheer and relaxation
treatment does not give relief. Unhygienic living and mind cure cannot
go together. The mind that tries to deceive itself canno