The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-10-12

mony with il, we claim, aud we rest oui
claim on the undisputed facts of pb Psio
logical science 10 modern times, that theil
health is the result ofregular and persist
ent mental activity, judiciou,ly stimulst
ed and controlled, aud of pure enc
healthful mental atmosphere, undisturbec
by the study Of the exciting and trash,
stories with which the press is flooding
all our homes.
This is our claim, and we stand ready
to substantiate it by mutitudes Of fucts
the collection Of tho experience OF long
years in our profession. We ask of the
medical profession the courtesy Of exami
nation into these facts before they imply
by their universal action that it is the
teachers and the Schools aud not the par
enls and the grandparents, and the
homes, that are TO blame Tor the sickDes,
of the children. We do not desire toe
issue but the medical profession arc
forcing it upon us day by day We ask
them to carry their Investigations into the
details OF the homes and the schools. All
OF the former, and some, at least, of the
latter are open to their fullest examina.
tion. Will they not consider some Of
these things worthy of inquiry, and pause
before they aid 10 extending any further
the idea that all mental effort is evil in
lts tendency as to physical health, and
that 1t is the schools and the teachers who
are the great, though ignorant, promoters
Of weakness aud disease ?
1t is doubtless easier to tell mother,
when her chill ia sick, that the child has
been uverWorked at school, than to tell
ber, what is often the simple truth, that
she, aud she alone, through her weak in
diligence. aud often criminal ignorance Of
what her child has been eating. wearing
:cadlng, talking, is the responsible party.
1t requires a high degree of moral cou.
rage IN a physician, when called, not to
prescribe ono particle Of medicine. but TO
insist upon the observation Of the simplest
sanitary laws. | sometimes think, in
this Wow, that il tho medical and educa.
tlonal professions could onlv be induced
to work together, with an intelligent ap.
probation and understanding of each 9th.
ers procedure, the two might reform
tho world. If we're sure that my hy
gienic prescriptions would be enforced by
the family physician, should be reason.
ably sure OF the physical and utellectual
development of many girl whom now
look upon as a very doubtful case.
As far as tho moral character of our
profession goes, think we may safely
challenge comparison with any other.
We are not all nike deserving of conf
deDc', but neither are the physicians. |
DO not mean to say that we do not need u
more close and wel.defned union among
ourselves. though would be far from
advocating the close corporation system.
and the rigid, exclusive following of
technical rules and regulations, which
characterize some Of the medical associa.
tlons' and which belong more to the spirit
OF the past than to the spirit OF the wild
enine present.
AS in the medical profession. so ip ours
again, we own that we have the quack.
who, without training, and simply to
make money out of the credulity of an
Ignorant public, assumes to himself our
honorable title. and slays his thousands
and tens of thousands. We have also, as
10 the medical profession. the specialist
who. in his enthusiasm for his particular
work. often forgets the whole in the part
But we have, also, as we'll az the medical
profession, the general practitioner, who.
by BIRTH training. and long, varied, and
successful practice has grown shrewd and
discerning, sure OF touch and wise of
judgment, whn has Just claim to The
three qualifications of a good surgeon
ian eagles eye, a lions heart. laty's
hand" and
"Who, also, through long days Of labor.
And nights devoid Of ease
Still hears in his aoul the music
Of wonderful melodies"
or such. living and dead, our profession
can ;nstlp hnost ona :. - &c 49,
speak when l ask, whether. 10 view Of
the acknowledged fact that body and
mind are closely interviewer, it be not
possible as it is most certainly desirable.
to treat our school children physically
and mentally 10 conjunction. The two
professions should work in concert when
they work on school children. Can the
physician successfully treat the child pa
thologically when he knows nothing of
its psychological state? Ought the
teacher to attempt her psychological work
with a child who is at all peculiar. or,
indeed, with any child. without knowing
the pathological condition. which NAV
sff1e her wisest efforts? While we work
apart. We arc both working blindly.
Half of the conditions Of the problem ore
unknown to each of us. and many a prob
lem must remain uDsolved, while. if we
would only unite our two branches of
knowledge of the school children under
our care, the whole would at once appear
clear.
To the experienced teacher. each mind
10 her whole school stands out as distinct.
y from every other as each face. She
knows how to touch each one, aud she
plays upon the different minds at need as
surely as the skillful pianist touches the
KEYS of his instrument. She knows her
children 10 sunshine and 10 shade. 10 work
aud in play. 10 success and failure. in all
the different phases which the different
studies of school lie call forth 10 them.
She knows also their daily physical habits
often as accurately as the mother. Has
the physician nothing to gain 10 rroftinu
by her keen professional tact ? Has the
/ the teacher nothing TO gain by knowing
the physical condition Of the pupil whom
she ia to guide and fashion ?
This is no; possbleY Let me give you
an instance where it has been tried A
schoolgirl Of twelve. who has long been
near sighted, was sent TO one of our most
distinguished oculists for examination
Her teacher, soon after. wac requested by
the mother 10 call. aud was informed that
in all probability the girl would have to
give up all school.work. The eyes were
! 10 ha traated with atrnnina fnr amen, oc