Proust's father,

Achille Adrien Proust, was a prominent pathologist and epidemiologist, responsible for studying and attempting to remedy the causes and movements of cholera through Europe and Asia; he was the author of many articles and books on medicine and hygiene, says Wikipedia.


One of his self-help book was entitled Elements of Hygiene and was aimed at teenage girls. Here's one of his recommendations: rather than pretending to be slim and fit through artificial means, Dr Proust proposed a regime of regular exercise and included a number of practical, unstrenuous examples —like, for instance, jumping off walls.