The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-03-27
HEALTH FOR THE PEOPLE.


| EVIDENCE AND RESULTS OF TIE DECAY OF
NATIONAL HEALTH
| In former article, the following were pointed
out as causes of the decay of national heath:
| A change from pure and cool air, by day and
night, to heated and impure air.
A change from domestic employments that
exercise the muscles most important to health.
especially to female health.
change from plain and simple diet to a
stimulating and luxurious one.
A change in the vast increase Of intellectual.
Social and moral stimulus to the brain, unbal.
anced by pure air and exercise.
| And, lastly, a change in the fashion of female
dress, most pernicious and destructive to
| health.
1t is fair inference from the preceding. that
the adult and rising generation must be more
delicate and unhealthy than those Of former
times.
But there is other evidence than that of in
ference. There are painful facts that ought to
be brought before the ohote people Especially
should they be urged on the attention of parents
and teachers.
With reference to this, small work has been
prepared entitled, Letters TO the People on Health
and Happiness, and that it's sale may not be a
matter of private emolument, the authors COPY.
| right interest is given to the american IYonan's
| found evidence to show that there has been a
widespread and most alarming decay of female
health all oyer the nation; that it is not confin.
ed to city life or the more wealthy classes, but
extends equally to country towns and villages,
and to the poorer casses,
The statistics furnished are only an approx.
nation to exact results, but they fully Justify
the inference, that Of the present generation Of
wives and mothers, not ttc0 IN ten possess the
health and power of endurance that were the
ordinary lot of our maternal ancestors.
The consequence of this decay of the female
constitution, its mournful effects on domestic
happiness, and the terrible results that are com.
ing upon the young, are set forth in this volume.
and should command immediate and anxious
attention.
A medical article prepared for this work con.
tains information OF dangers to the Young, which
every parent and every teacher shon,d obtain
and deeply ponder. And the statements made
by the author, in the letters entitled " Necessity
for increasing Protecti0e Ct,stonas," and "4oa.
ses Of Medical Treatment" are most appalling.
One sentence may give suggestive indications !;
here is no excitement of the imagination
in what is here indicated. If the facts and de-
tails could be presented they would send a
groan of terror and horror all over the land.
For it is not class or one section that is en-
dangered. In every part of our country, the
evil Is progressing"
There are statistics also in regard to the health
OF the young, as yet incomplete, and therefore
not In the above volume, which indicate that at
least one quarter Of tie young girls in our
schGois exhibit the lateral and forward curva-
ture OF the spine in various stages Flat chests
and round shoulders among the Young OF both
| sexes show an extensive deterioration of the vi.
tai organs. a. still more shocking deformity is
increasing in all directions, by which the whole
interior organism loses the aid of It's supporting
muscles, and sinks do,cnDdrd, misplacing the
most delicate organs, and causing the most pro-
tracted and excruciating of all human suffer
ings.
The painful apprehenSons induced by facts
presented in this work are relieved by the assu-
RANGES it contains, that there are remedial and
preventive methods within the reach of all.
Some of these methods will no. be indicated
The first is to bring the evils and Dangers pre-
scented in the above work to the knowledge of
the ,ohole people. For this, it is hoped that the
two grand organs of power, the pulpit and
the press, will be universally enlisted. If the
clergy and the editors win but say the word as
they might say it, the information in this book
would reach every family In this land
The next measure suggested is the introduc.
ton of system Of physical training into all our
schools, that shall be imperative as school
duty-as much SO as lessons for the training of
the intellect. The Greeks took as much pains
to train their children to be strong; healthy and
beautiful, as they did to educate the mind. And
so they became the most beautiful, the wisest,
and the most powerful people Of tie ancient
world. Why should not this nation take the
same eoufseY
With reference to this, a work has been pre-
pared, entitled "Physiology and Calistheaics
for Schools and Families" the authors copy
right interest of this also being given to the
american Woman's Educational association.
The first portion of this work is course of
lessons in Physiology, made easy, and Invested
of the needless technics that render most school
books on this subject so uninviting. Then fol. |
low the taps Of health, and the evils that result
from violation of these laws.
The last portion of the book contains a sys- |
tenn of calisthenic training, SO illustrated by |
many drawings, that any person could learn 70 |
practice tAem without aid from teacher, and |
without any apparatus.
1t embraces most of the celebrated method |
of Ling, Of Sceden, which has been extensively |
introduced into the schools and colleges Of that
and other European nations TO these are
added certain exercises that have been used in |
health establishments to cure disease and rem. |
edy deformities. VI '~''