The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-04-18
VOLUME XIl.-NUMBER le.
Cause, of the Decay Of National Health.

ISousosoi tho Oecay oI natlonal deoltc.
Two things are generally conceded, viz !:
that the American women are not as healthy
As the European and that the present gen.
Grafton, especially the women, ara not as
healthy and vigorous as former oncs.
What are the causes? Not our climate,
for that is the same as il was when the wo-
men Of this country were as healthy as the
English, Scotch, and Irish, and when both
sexes were as vigorous as their ancestors or
my other people. The change, then, must
be owing to changes in our domestic habits
md modes Of education. Some Of these will
now be indicated.
Nothing 50 certainly dc.eriora,es and un.
icrmincs the body as habitually breathing
impure air. The open yfre.plOo' in kitch.
ems, parlors, bedrooms, and workshops, Sc
cured to our ancestors pure and cool dir
But, at the present day, close stoves and
close slecping-rooms, with no proper yenti-
lation, are debilitatins perhaps ninc.tcnths
of the people. while children are crowded
into schools heated with stoves, and almost
never properly ventilated.
four-Giths of all the food and drink taken
IRE thrown Of through the lungs and skin.
Every pair Of lungs yitates one pint Of mir
At every expiration. That is equal to ono
hogshcad of ar each hour'ftr every pair of
lungs.
No room, then, can be properly ycntila.
ted, that does not receive from without at
east one hogshead Of air for erry pair Of
mgs. This is always secured by open fire.
places, but by stove almost never. Thu,
it is that the greater part Of this generation
layc had every bodily tissue nourished by
unprotected blood, thus inducing delicate
,r feeble constitution.
a second cause of debility is the want Of
vigorous exercise, especially to the muscles
,f the arms and trunk. In former days,
,he children worked with their parents. In
nurc and cool air. for several hours n day.
and thus exercised the muscles most impor.
ant to health. especially to female health.
Bnt in these days, school children, cspec-
;,,l,, tho vounccs, Girls bave little yirorous
.xcrcis, And where exercise |. demanded.
woIL or = milc or two Il Doomed sufficient.
,vb;,s Tho cycrcisc Of the muscles most i'm.
,ort,nt IN be,Ith !, optirolv pccleeted-
rhrs h,tb s,ye. but csncci,lIv that ON
,vbo,r do,,,ds ,hs constitution If tho child.
,en arc evcrv wear becoming more delicate
and sickIv
The third cause Of national debility Il
.honcc from n simnlc % n stimulating and
d;o, s,;u,,,,;n, c,,d rrovotes
IN unnatural annette. 4 crcot VARIETY
tennis 20 c,c,0 Roth combine 70 overload
ho oryor0 os rp,r;,;op and N. whole or.
,,,;sm :, strained and oyorvo,l,d ~ ,brow
,g ,ho o,oos,
Tb, NOR, c,od W, o,t and tho ricbcr I.
IL tho moro c,crc;s. Il ,eodcd Rat IN.
toad of this tbe noo,,o co,s,o,,lv ,ro cat.
inc morn and cxorci.inu less Meat !. thu
most .t;mul,,inc f,od tbcr, L. and there !,
M o.bcr po,;,n n, earth wbcr, all classes
deyour such quantities Of meat. E,t, butter.
suca, molasses. hot cakes. and hot tea and
ooT,o ,,a ro ton q, o,r,h bov, s,.h
L,1 ,a,,,, anJ o,nr, o,hor ,rd;.,,,o, or
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c,,..L ,,, g ro,;o,o, 4 ,h,l;,y Il -.
:, -. u. -, ,,.l,,,.,,J D.,
20 -'.''','',.":,,.. - r;n.' -.
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y 80, - w." w., y II - " An,
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creisea ~ III vIua' 'aNo' H,s'y'"y I"
going on !" h'sh-s'eaih pressure Ho"'
the more the oraih is 'auS s'''huia.ea' 'nc
greater the neod ioF pure ar eA're'''' aha
seasons oi reilxatIon. Dat, contrary to