The influence of food, sunshine, air, and exercise upon the human system is of vital importance, each being a requisite of the normal man, but before the true conception of many physical conditions, or the real value of hygienic systems, can be realized, the peculiar action of the subjective vital current must be understood. This vital current is the principle of growth and repair and different attitudes of mind tend to raise it above, or keep it below the normal, thus becoming a great factor for health or disease often disregarded.

Most of the theories advocating special ways of living are effective to some extent in alleviating suffering, and may add a few years to the ordinary term of life, indicating that each mode of diet, or exercise, possesses a certain amount of virtue, but as some people are benefited by methods regarded as dangerous by others, it is apparent that some great general principle must underlie all of the theories, the extremist perceiving it only from one point of view - the benefit being more from the general law and inspired hope than from the supposed remedy.

What is this central truth that is approached from so many quarters? It seems to be known yet is not wholly explicable. It is often confused with the action of the vital current, but it is a distant law.

Because truth must be sought through experience man is endowed with a greater power of endurance than any other animal, thus affording a wide range of adaptation, enabling him to experiment in many directions for the essentials to sustain life indefinitely without permanent injury to himself. Each direct effort for improvement, however, involves one of the conditions of mind that is so deceiving, tending to keep humanity shifting from one thing to another, on the same plane of action, as it always seems to be some specific remedy instead of the attitude of mind or partial fulfillment of a general law that affords relief. This is due to the natural influx of subjective vitality when hope is inspired. The enthusiasm and will power required to execute any prescribed rule arouses an increase of vital force from the subjective side of life, while the concentration necessary to test a theory directs the vital current to that great purpose. No matter how extreme or injurious an idea may be in the end, as long as the will is dominant the action of all of the organs is quickened and a greater nerve force is generated, inspiring exuberance.

In case of no positively injurious reaction, any in harmony may be counteracted to some extent in this way, hence it is but natural to attribute the cause of improvement to the manner of living, or the exercises taken at the time of the change, making a convert to the theory, besides arousing an earnest desire to induce others to adopt the same plan. As soon as similar results have been enjoyed by those attempting to prove the same theory it is sincerely believed that the "royal road to health" has been discovered, and a new "cult" is founded, all other systems being freely denounced, for instance: the vegetarian claims to prolong life, and overcome disease by avoiding the use of meats; the naturalist, advocating the use of all foods in a natural condition, attains the same results by eating raw food, while the advocates of the thoroughly cooked food system partake only of that which has been cooked for hours, and often twice cooked. The starvation cure enthusiast gains the coveted state of health by eating no food at all for days or weeks at a time; even the stuffing and drink cures in which a large quantity of milk, water, eggs, or some one kind of food is taken to produce fat, seems to be effective for a time before the reaction of a worse breakdown, from overworked organs, sets in.

One faddist even has decided that sugar burns in the system, creating fire that consumes tissue. Being reduced to a walking skeleton from dyspepsia he conceived the idea of regaining strength by stopping the indulgence of all sweet things, thus quenching the internal flame. He describes, at length, the intense will required to discard one article of diet after another, as he discovered, in many things, he had not at first considered the objectionable quality of saccharine. His supply of food became most limited, but he endured to the end, gaining health and strength, and is advocating his cause for the benefit of the world.

Similar instances might be given to show that all of the systems of physical culture, nature cures, breathing exercises, and mind cures, as well as all preparations to prolong life, are based upon one small perception of the Great Central Truth sustaining long life; thus, while being good, as far as they go, end in similar disappointment, because the proper balance is lacking.

The wonderful strength and endurance of the pugilist does not add to his longevity; the intellectual life of the most brilliant scholar does not prolong his years; the spiritual life of the devout Christian fails to establish youth. The failure to adjust the objective life with the subjective life, as is necessary for continued existence, is because man's development is one sided. He destroys one part of his nature in developing another, or leaves it to shrivel in neglect. The mind only becomes broad enough to maintain a more harmonious development after realizing how easily it has been deceived by the spontaneous action of subjective vitality when a new remedy is adopted. Because of the natural tendency to perceive good, from only one standpoint, reform methods of all kinds usually involve sacrifice - a radical breaking up of all old conditions before new ones are possible. With the present development this is often necessary, as a desire for improvement is seldom realized until a need of it is painfully felt, or until the existing conditions become so oppressive that one is aroused to do anything for relief. In this state the mind is ready for extremes; in fact, extreme measures that may generate still greater oppression are more acceptable than true remedies that are less radical.

When the Great Central Truth, that reduces living to a scientific basis is understood, this torturing sacrifice will no longer be required, and each stage of development will be gradual and more permanent.