Behind all other factors and all other causes determining health and disease, lies one - the predominant one - the mental thought or attitude; so that what we are mentally and physically is largely the result of our thought habit. For this reason we should control or direct our thoughts always for good.

No better illustration of the relationships which exist between the mind and body, and body and mind, can be furnished than that of the effect of a holiday upon the brain-worker, or the tired, fatigued and over worked office man, who has been confined for a long period of time to his indoor occupation. All ailments, whether indigestion, dyspepsia, headache or of other character, disappear as if by magic, as a result of the cessation of the wear and tear, and the rest given to the mind. The body responds almost immediately to this restful condition of mind, seconded by the bracing and refreshing effects of pure air, sunshine, and the other conditions incidental to outdoor freedom.

The value of a holiday to every person cannot be over estimated, and its place has no adequate substitute.

Strong mental impressions may actuate disease, or they may act by curing disease; we can have just what we think - good health or ill health. We can be happy and contented, or unhappy and discontented, just as we like. It all lies with one's self.

There are certain emotions such as hope, faith, and cheerfulness, which exercise a wonderful as well as powerful influence upon all the bodily functions. Hope, particularly, is one of the most powerful stimulants with which we are acquainted. The cheerful emotions make a perfect condition of health. As an offset to these we have the highly depressing and enervating emotions of fear, anger, worry, or their sub-divisions, which are temporarily paralyzing or killing in their effects.

Killing Emotions. - Fear is not the only emotion that can do us deadly harm. Many a violent paroxysm of rage has caused apoplexy and death. Grief, long-standing jealousy and corroding anxiety are responsible for many cases of insanity. Emotion thus kills reason.

Grief is one of the best known and most generally recognized of these killing emotions. There are many instances of individuals having pined away and died in a few weeks because of grief at a death. Instances are not rare of young girls dying from disappointment in love.

Even joy kills when its impact is too sudden. The daily papers frequently relate the news of great good fortune having a fatally exciting effect.

Even if the emotion is not strong enough to kill, its effect may be most injurious. A fit of anger will destroy appetite, check digestion, and unsettle the nerves for hours, or even days. It upsets the whole physical, moral and mental make-up of an individual. Anger in a mother may even poison a nursing child. Extreme anger or fright may produce jaundice, a result of circulatory disturbances.

It will be observed that Excitement, which is nothing more nor less than the exercise of the pleasurable emotions, may become a vice, and become harmful in its effects when carried to excess. Undue excitement in many individuals produces a condition of unrest and discontent, hence it is to be avoided.

Jealousy will upset the entire system, and is one of the most deadly enemies to health, happiness, and success. Victims of jealousy oftentimes lose their health entirely, and do not regain it until the jealousy is removed, and sometimes become so demoralized mentally that they commit murder, suicide, or become insane. A strong, continual hatred will sometimes not only destroy digestion, assimilation, and peace of mind, but also ruin character.

These bodily effects of the emotions, and many others, are in part due to certain chemical products formed in the body by the emotions, and are analagous in their effects to the venom of poisonous snakes, which is likewise secreted under the influence of fear and anger. A snake has a receptacle or sac in which to store the venom; man has nothing of this kind, so that the venom spreads through all the tissues in spite of efforts to eliminate it.

The emotions of sadness, pain and grief affect the bodily secretions and excretions. It is a matter of common observation that during these depressing emotions the respiration goes on at a slower rate, the circulation is retarded, digestion is impaired, the cheeks become pale, the eyes grow lustreless, and all the other bodily functions are affected to a greater or lesser degree.

The system makes an effort to eliminate the metabolic products of tissue-waste. The effect of the emotions is to be seen, in that, during acute grief, tears are copiously excreted; that, during sudden fear, the bowels are moved and the kidneys are caused to act; that, during prolonged fear, the body is covered with a cold perspiration; and that, during anger, the mouth tastes bitter, - due largely to the increased elimination of sulpho-cyanates. The perspiration during fear is chemically different, and even smells different from that which exudes during a happy mood.

It can be shown in many ways that the elimination of waste products is retarded by sad and painful emotions; not only this, but that the depressing emotions directly augment the amount of these poisons. On the other hand, the pleasurable and happy emotions, during the time they are active, inhibit the poisonous effects of the depressing moods, and cause the bodily cells to create and store up vital energy and nutritive tissue products.

There is a valuable lesson to be learned from all of this; during sadness and grief an increased effort should be made to accelerate the respiration and perspiration, so as to excrete the poison more rapidly. At such times one should specially seek the open air, and engage in work until free perspiration ensues, and, by bathing, wash away the eliminates of the skin several times daily; and, above all else, use all the expedients known - such as the drama, poetry, and the other fine arts - to produce the happy and pleasurable emotions. Whatever tends to produce, prolong, or intensify the sad emotions is wrong. Happiness creates energy, promotes growth and prolongs life.