THE REGIMEN OF HEALTH. Health educa

THE REGIMEN OF HEALTH. Health education and personal hygiene were other areas of public health to which the Middle Ages made important contributions. Medieval man was far more occupied with the care of his body than one might imagine. While there was general acknowledgement of the vanity of earthly existence and a belief in punishment or salvation in the next world, the conviction was also held that by means of a correct regimen one could complete the allotted life span of three score and ten. This need gave rise to a whole literature on-the preservation of health. Basically,this literature was derived from classical sources. During the early medieval period, such writings were scanty but still common enough to supply rules of conduct to those who sought them. All the monastic orders had regulations covering personal hygiene. It is likely that the influence of the monastic rules penetrated into the ranks of the laity.