To illustrate the prevailing ignorance relative to this most important necessity of self-care, and also a traditional prejudice, even among physicians, the following extract from a letter just received is given: "You ask me to define more exactly what I mean by constipation; this is not at all difficult; I mean skipping a day in having a call to stool. There was no trouble about it, and the quantity was not large, but when I mentioned it to my doctor he advised me to stop chewing if it interfered with the regular daily stools. I must confess that I never felt so well as while I was chewing and sipping, instead of the hasty bolting and gulping which one is apt to do on thoughtless or busy occasions, but I don't think it is worth while for a chap to monkey with his hygienic department when he is employing a professional regularly to tell him the latest kink about health." To this surprising state of ... the evidence of "professionals" like Van Someren, Kellogg, Higgins, and Dewey, as well as that of the great men of physiology who have spoken herein, and in the "A.B.-Z. of Our Own Nutrition," gives hopeful answer, but suggests a warning.
The author has noticed that immediately folk begin to give attention to any new _régime_ relative to diet, exercise, mental discipline, or whatever else, they begin to charge all unusual happenings to the change of habit, whereas before the same things were common but unnoticed. Even among men of scientific habit of thought, unduly constipated by stale conservatism, the old, old corpse of tradition, "The accumulated experience of the whole race must be correct," is revived and used in argument contentiously; but to this relapse into non-scientific reasoning comes the reply: "If the accumulated experience of the human race is evidence that crime and disease are natural, then disease and crime are good things and should not be discouraged."
There are many sorts of constipation, the worst of which are constipation of affection, of appreciation, of gratitude, and of all the constructive virtues which constitute true altruism. Let us avoid sinning in this regard! In pursuit of this thought the following is _àpropos_:
The author wishes here, also, to express gratitude to many who have not figured by name in the "A.B.-Z.," or elsewhere herein, but whose assistance, encouragement, criticism, and example have helped the cause along in one way or another. Of these many friends a few are quickly recalled, but not necessarily in the order of their friendly service. To John H. Patterson, Esquire, of Dayton, Ohio; Col. James F. O'Shaughnessy, of New York; Stewart Chisholm, Esquire, of Cleveland, Ohio; Fred E. Wadsworth, Esquire, of Detroit, Michigan; and Henry C. Butcher, Esquire, of Philadelphia, are due much for encouragement in pursuing the investigation at critical moments of the struggle; as well as to Hon. William J. Van Patten, of Burlington, Vermont, whose interest in the "A.B.C. Series" began with "Menticulture" and has continued unabated. In Dr. Swan M. Burnett, of Washington, D. C., has been enjoyed a mentor with great scientific discrimination and a sympathy in the refinements of art and sentiment, as expressed in Japanese æsthetic civilisation, which has been extremely encouraging and most inspiring in relation to the whole A.B.C. idea.