Poor posture ranks on a par with lack of exercise and improper diet in the cause of constipation. Poor posture aids in the slipping of the abdominal organs out of their respective places, resulting in a tangled mass which will act as an interference on the normal bowel action. As a general rule, poor posture hinders deep breathing. Thus, there is no compressing movement upon the organs of the abdominal regions, such as is found in a normal upright person. Deep, vigorous breathing is an aid to a normal bowel movement. Good posture is an absolute necessity for the freedom of the bowel acting. _During Defecation_ Faulty posture during defecation causes insufficient emptying or difficulty in moving the bowels at all. Many closet seats are too high. The proper altitude is one that brings the knees a little higher than the posterior. A high closet seat can be remedied by using a footstool to support the feet, thus bringing the body into proper posture. _Hurried Defecation_ A normal defecation ordinarily takes about two to three minutes, but owing to the abuse of resisting the call, ordinary defecation is not always secured in the normal time. Thus residue is left in the large intestine. This offers difficulty when a call comes some later hour, for the residue becomes hard and dry. This residue in the colon results in the condition known as _Irregularity in Answering Call_ Irregularity in answering nature’s call causes irregularity of bowel action. Nature’s call means that enough waste is in the colon to cause automatic processes to set in action the bowel movement. If for any reason the bowels are not permitted to move at once, the call usually disappears in a few minutes and may not reappear for some time. Thus, the wastes lie in the colon with the water in them being absorbed by the intestine, causing the wastes to become dry. Due to these wastes remaining in the intestine distention is produced in the colon and defecation may become difficult or impossible without mechanical aid. The water of the waste which is absorbed into the blood stream affects the body, causing lower vitality and fatigue affecting the nerves. _Treatment_ Hygiene is an important factor in restoring the body to a condition of health. The various abuses of the body that make for constipation should be corrected. General habits, and especially that of neglecting nature’s call, should be corrected. Without good hygiene the treatment of constipation cannot be successful. _Proper Diet_ See your doctor and have him make out a proper diet. However, the diet should contain a sufficient amount of roughage, such as vegetables, fruits, and bran. Milk should be used for its vitamin qualities and nourishment. _Rules for Proper Eating_ 1. Do not eat too much. 2. Do not study your food while eating. 3. Enjoy what you eat. 4. Chew your food until it swallows itself. 5. Eat regularly. 6. Do not eat when tired.