Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-07-02
Waste OF Health and Strength in the
Young.

LET me ask you, ladies, with all court
esy, but with all earnestness--Are you
aware that more human beings are killed
in England every year by unnecessary
and preventable diseases than were killed
at Waterloo or Sadowas Are you aware
that the great majority Of those victims
are children Are you aware that the
diseases which carry them off are for the
most part such as ought to be specially
under the control of the women who
love them, pet them, educate them, and
would in many cases, if need be, lay
down their lives for thems Are you
aware, again, of the vast amount of dis
ease which, so both wise mothers and
wise doctors assure me, is engendered in
the sleeping from simple ignorance
of the laws of ventilation, and in the
schoolroom likewise, from simple igno-
rance of the laws of physiology-from
an ignorance of which | shall mention
no other case here save one--that too
often from ignorance of signs Of ap-
preaching disease child is punished for
what is called idleness, listlessness, will
fulness, sulkiness; and punished, too, in
the unwisest way-by an increase OF
tasks and confinement TO the hOuse-thus
everlasting still more brain already
overtasked, and depressing still more, by
robbing it of oxygen and exercise, sys-
tenn already depressed? Are you aware,
ask again, of all this? | speak earnest
ly upon this point, because speak with
experience. AS single instance:
medical man, friend of mine, passing
by his own school-roon, heard one of his
own little girls screaming 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 unlearIed 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 school
room; and then said, "That child must
not open a book for month" IF had
not acted So" he said to be, IL should
have had that child dead of brain disease
within the year"
Now, in the face of such facts as these,
is 1t too much to ask of mothers, sisters,
aunts, nurses, governesses-all who may
be occupied in the care of children, espe-
cially of girls-that they should study
thrift Of human health and human life
by studying somewhat the laws Of
life and health? There are books
Il may say whole literature Of books
written by scientific doctors on these
matters, which are, In my mind, far more
important to the school.room than half
the trashy accomplishments, so.called,
which are expected TO be known by gov
ernesses. But are they bought? Are
they ever to be bought from most country
booksellersS All, 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 impaired for
years to comet All, the waste of health
and strength in the young; the waste, too,
of anxiety and misery in those who love
and tend them! How much Of 1t might
be saved by little rational education in
those laws of Nature which are the will
of God about the welfare Of our bodies,
and which, therefore, we are as much
bound to know and obey as we are
bound to know and obey the spiritual
laws whereon depends the welfare Of our
soulsl--" Health and Education," by
CAarles Kingsley.