New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-09
Waste Of Health aud Strength in the

Let me ask you. ladies, with all courtesy,
but with ali earnestress, says Health and
EducdtiOn, are you aware that more human
beings are killed in England every year by
unnecessary and preventable diseases than
were killed at Waterloo or SadOwa! Are you
aware that the greaU majority of those VIC
TINS are childrena Are you aware that the
diseases which carly them of are for the
most part such as ought TO be specially IN
der control Of the women who love them,
pet them, educate them, and would in many
cases, if need be, lay down their lives for
them! Are YOU aware again, of the vast
amount Of disease which $50 both wise
mothers and wise doctors assure mel
is engendered in the sleeping room,
from simple ignorance of the laws of
ventilation, and in the schoolroom like
wise, from the simple ignorance OF
the laws of physiology from an gaorance
OF which shall mention no other Case here
save one, that too often from ignorance OF
signs of approaching disease a child is pun
ished for what is called idleness, listless-
ness. willfuiness, sulkiness, and punished,
too. in the uawisesr way, by an increase of
task and confinement TO the house, thus
everlasting still more brain already over
rasked, and depressing still more, by rob
bling It OF oxygen ana OF exercise. a sys-
tenn already depressed! Are you aware
ask again, of all this! Ispeak earnestly
upon this point, because l speak with
experience. AS a single instance
medical man, a friend of mine. pass
ing by his town schoolrOom, heard one
OF bis own little girls screening and crying,
and went in. the governess, an excellent
woman, but wholly ignorant OF the laws OF
physiology. complained that the child had
OF late become obstinate, and would not
learn, and that therefore she must punish
her by keeping her indoors over the I'M
learned lessons. The father, who knew that
the child was usually very good one,
looked at her carefully for little while,
sent her out of the schoolrooiu, and then
said: ''That child must not open hook for
q month" eff had not acted 3d." lie said
to ne, Il should have had that child dead
of brain disease within the year.
Now. in the face of such facts as these, is
it not too much to ask of mothers, sisters,
aunts, nurses, governesses-all who may be
occupied i'll the care of children, especially
of girls-that they should study thrift Of hui
man health and human lite, by studying
somewhat the laws OF life and health! There
are books-I may say a whole literature Ut
boehs-written by scientific doctors on these
matters, which are. in NY mind, tar more
important to the sc lOOlroOm than half the
trashy accomplishments so-called, which are
expected to be known by governesses. But
are they bought! Are they even to he
bought from booksellers, Al. for little
knowledge of the laws to the. neglect of
which is owing so much fearful disease,
which, if it does not produce immediate
death, too often leaves the constitution i'm
paired for years to come. All. the waste of
health and strength in the young; the waste,
too, of anxiety aud misery in those who
love and tend them! How much of it
might be saved by little rational educa-
ton ia those laws of nature which are the
will of God; about the welfare of our
bodies. and which. heretofore, we are as
much bound to know and TO obey as the
q, ritual laws, whereon depend the welfare
of our souls.