INDIVIDUAL HYGIENE — COURSE 152

The courses in Constructive and Defensive Hygiene have been concerned in
presenting to the student the various influences that serve to maintain, protect .
and promote health. From these studies it became apparent that both health and
disease are governed by certain general principles. The collection, analysis
and classification of these principles have resulted in a body of knowledge known
as General Hygiene. These principles should form the basis of every sound health
program — individual, group, or community.

I. QBJECTIVE OF COURSE IN INDIVIDUAL HYGIENE

During this course We will endeavor to seek the ways in which the principles of
hygiene may be tested by and adapted to the needs of the individual. This can
be done most successfully by exploring the extent of our health knowledge and
evaluating our health practices.

 

II. PLAN OF THE COURSE

Our experience leads to the conclusion that the student will receive the greatest
benefit (a) if the work is arranged to permit the greatest amount of class
discussion of the major problems of hygiene; (b) 4 series of definite readings

on the problems; (c) a careful mental and physical inventory of the individual;
(d) a definite written health program, constructed by each member of the class
based upon his factual studies.

III. FIELD OF INDIVIDUAL HYGIENE

In order to clarify the field to be covered by this course it is desirable to
review briefly the ground covered by Constructive hygiene and by Defensive Hygiene.
You will be ready then to see the need for special application of the principles
of hygiene to the individual.

Individual hygiene is the government instituted by the mature, relatively indevendent
individual for his own mental, physical, and social health. This distinction serves
to differentiate it from the term frequently used——-personal hygiene. This latter
term includes the dependent period of childhood when our varents or guardians control
our environment and largely direct our habits. Uur discussion will be focussed upon
the facts and methods whereby a mature individual can protect himself against disease
and raise his health levels.

IV. SOURCES OF GOVERNMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL HYGIENE

The first step in acquiring a sound health program for the individual is to explore
the sources from which we derive the ideas, attitudes and habits that govern our
hygiene practices.

Our daily hygiene practices are controlled definitely by the habits, attitudes, and
memories acquired during infancy, childhood, and youth, by our acquired powers of
judgment, and by the sources from which we receive our health information and advice.

1. Sources of Habits and Attitudes Relating to Hygiene

It has been amply demonstrated that the individual begins to form habits and