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t things。 To maintain attention for an hour or so； while sitting； is a task； and there develops a tendency either to a hypnoidal state in which the mind follows uncritically； or to a restless uneasiness with wandering mind and fatigue of body。 A demonstration； on the other hand； a laboratory experiment with short； personal instruction； a bodily contact with the problem calls into play interest； enthusiasm； curiosity； motor images； the use of the hands； and is THE method of teaching。 There are at present excellent psychological methods of testing out the memory capacity。 Every one engaged in any responsible work； or troubled about his memory； should be so tested。 While there are other qualities of mind of great importance； memory is basic； and no one can really understand himself who is in doubt about his memory。 In such diseases as neurasthenia one of the commonest complaints is the 〃loss of memory；〃 which greatly troubles the patient。 As a matter of fact； what is impaired is interest and attention； and when the patient realizes this he is usually quite relieved。 The man who has a poor memory may become very successful if he develops systems of recording； filing； indexing； but his possibilities of knowledge are greatly reduced by his defect。＇1＇ ＇1＇ It is the growth of the subject matter of knowledge that makes necessary the elaborate systems of indexing； etc。； now so important。 It is as much as man can do to follow the places where the men work； let alone what they are doing。 This growth of knowledge is getting to be an extra…human phenomenon。 Of this Graham Wallas has written entertainingly。
A second fundamental ability of living tissue； and of particular importance in character； is habit formation。 Habit resides in the fact that once living tissue has been traversed by a stimulus and has responded by an act； three things result： 1。 The pathway for that stimulus becomes more permeable； becomes； as it were； grooved or like a track laid across the living structure of the nervous system。 2。 The responding element is more easily stirred into activity； responds with more vigor and with less effort。 3。 Consciousness； at first invoked； recedes more and more； until the habit…action of whatever type tends to become automatic。 There is in this last peculiarity a tendency for the habit to establish itself as independent of the personality； and if an injurious or undesired habit； to set up the worst of the conflicts of life；a conflict between one's intention and an automaton in the shape of a powerfully entrenched habit。 Habits are economical of thought and energy； generally speaking； that is their main recommendation。 A dozen examples present themselves at once as illustrative： piano playing； with its intense concentration on each note； with consciousness attending to the action of each muscle； and then practice； habit formation； and the ease and power of execution with the mind free to wander off in the moods suggested by the music； or to busy itself with improvisations； flourishes and the artistic touches。 Before true artistry can come； technique must be relegated to habit。 So with typewriting； driving an automobile； etc。 More fundamental than these； which are largely skill habits； are the organic habits。 One of the triumphs of pediatrics depends upon the realization that the baby's welfare hangs on regular habits of feeding； that he is not to be fed except at stated intervals； as a result processes of digestion are set going in a regular； harmonious manner。 In other words； these processes may be said to 〃get to know〃 what is expected of them and act accordingly。 The mother's time is economized and the strain of nursing is lessened。 In adults； regular hours of eating make it possible for the juices of digestion to be secreted as the food is ingested； in other words； an habitual adjustment takes place。 If there were one single health habit that I would have inculcated above all others； it would be the habit of regularly evacuating the bowels。 While constipation is not the worst ill in the world； it causes much trouble； annoyance and a considerable degree of ill health； and； in my opinion； a considerable degree of unhappiness。 A physician may be pardoned for frank advice： all the matters concerning the bowels； such as coarse foods； plenty of water and exercise； are secondary compared to the habit of going to the stool at the same time each day； whether there be desire or not。 A child should be trained in this matter as definitely as he is trained to brush his teeth。 In fact； I think that the former habit is more important than the latter。 The mood of man is remarkably related to the condition of his gastro…intestinal tract and the involuntary muscle of that tract is indirectly under the control of the will through habit formation。 Sleep＇1＇ the mysterious； the death in life which we all seek each night； is likewise regulated by habit。 Arising from the need of relief from consciousness and bodily exertion； the mechanism of sleep is still not well understood。 Is there a toxic influence at work？ is the body poisoned by itself； as it were； as has been postulated； is there a toxin of fatigue； or is there a 〃vaso…motor〃 reaction； a shift of the blood supply causing a cerebral anaemia and thus creating the 〃sleepy〃 feeling？ The capacity to sleep is a factor of great importance and we shall deal with it later under a separate heading as part of the mechanism of success and failure。 At present we shall simply point out that each person builds up a set of habits regarding sleep；as to hour； kind of place； warmth； companionship； ventilation and even the side of the body he shall lie on； and that a change in these preliminary matters is often attended by insomnia。 Moreover； a change from the habitual in the general conduct of lifea new city or town； a strange bed； a disturbance in the moods and emotionsmay upset the sleep capacity。 Those in whom excitement persists； or whose emotions are persistent； become easily burdened with the dreaded insomnia。 Sleep is dependent on an exclusion of excitement and exciting influences。 If； however； exciting influences become habitual they lose their power over the organism and then the individual can sleep on a battle field； in a boiler factory； or almost anywhere。 Conversely； many a New Yorker is lulled to sleep by the roar of the great city who； finds that the quiet of the country keeps him awake。 ＇1＇ As good a book as any on the subject of sleep is Boris Sidis's little monograph。
Sleeplessness often enough is a habit。 Something happens to a man that deeply stirs him； as an insult； or a falling out with a friend； or the loss of money；something which disturbs what we call his poise or peace of mind。 He becomes sleepless because； when he goes to bed and the shock…absorbing objects of daily interest are removed； his thoughts revert back to his difficulty； he becomes again humiliated or grieved or thrown into an emotional turmoil that prevents sleep。 After the first night of insomnia a new factor enters；the fear of sleeplessness and the conviction that one will not sleep。 After a time the insult has lost its sting； or the difficulty has been adjusted； there is no more emotional distress； but there is the establishe