Chapters: Introduction; Health in salutations; From salvation to health; Cultural images of health; What does health represent; A comparative study of the image of health in Nancy (France) and in Nijmegen (Netherlands); The body and health; Health in prevention, hygiene, equilibrium and vitality; Health as non-sickness, well-being, pleasure and value; From the image of health to that of the self; Significance of health in society; Some issues and questions on health care: Socio-economic and political strategies.