The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-19
PARALYSIS OF THE BRAIN.

WAS IT CAUSED ~ ovLRwoRK IN MISS HAM
ILToNs CAsE?-oPINIoNs or HER FRIENDS
AND TEAcHERs IN THE NORMAL COLLEGE.
MISS Henrietta Hamilton, ono OF tho graduating
class at the Normal College, died on Wednesday OF
last week ana buried Friday. In regard TO tho
cause OF her death there has boon considerable dis
cusson, but careful investigation 10 leave
doubt that undue application to hor studies.
Miss Hamilton was tho daughter OF Mr.. Wiliam l..
Dodgs's coachman, and being bright, ambitious and
clever, had formed some years ago the design Of
tanning as good EDUCATION the pubic schools Of
New York afford, and Of dcvotng herself to teaching
alter she had completed her course Of study. Sho
rather tall slender, having grown very rapidly
for the past few years. with pretty aud very pleas
ing face and intellectual features. She graduated
from the Twenty-eghth street public school before
she was fourteen years old. and as fourteen
years, however, 10 tho limit OF youth, beyond
which the Normal College will 20 In admitting
students, she Obliged to wait. although unwili.
ingly, aud enter that institute with the next class
following. At this tims even, less than four
teen and halt years old, and from tho accounts
given far im 70 enter such u curric-
uium as That OF the Normal Coticge. No objection
under the rule can, however, b. urged against stu
deuts who completed their fourteenth year. and
she was admitted, as three gsrs Of the age have
bscn admitted TINS week.
Her father. although Le knew tha she studied hard
did not suppose that she seriously inuring her
sell thereby, and u was surprise 70 hlm when she
Frustrated Ny her last ilnuss Sue would very
often, hc said, pore over her books stantIy
three o'clock tho afternoon III ten AZ nlghI.
pain III the head last mouth Lc took DR.. Dea-
ne,d who had ordered her 10 give up her study ut
ouco und to rest There was DOUBT his III md
tuat the system OF the Normal College was biamaDie
aud that w the arduousuess Of the course OF
study there very many girls were broken down IN
heath.
A call was next madc on President Hunter, Of the
Normal College, Tor the purpose OF learning what he
knew OF the Case Ex.Mnyor Wckhain, the chair.
OF the Board Of Eaucation's Comniittoe on the
Normal College, WAS taking with the president and
listened quietly while mo later rcpied queston
about Mics Hanlou's case President Hunter said =
SIT al all appear that Miss Hamilton ed OF
overwork Paralysis Of NE brain Is . disease .uat
Iaboring ofton have But the TACT OF one OF our
gins dying Is made tue text Tor accusations against
The Normal College. and paysciahs. wnen lucy can
not give diagnosis oi case, NJ say that tue
trouble was too mucu work." .*es fMss
~ don't agree with you, " SAID Mr.. Wickham. al
ihiuk very probable that among urls We ha w
mere there are good many who work TOO nard, and
suler from III and u is very proba that this
Que died IRON the elects 81 H. oul do not SEQ that
tue school 10 To blame. Tue parents who push tnor
children forward, or the students thenseives tne
VINO are 10 Diane. We take aii tn. pains Can
to keep Them from overstudy, but We cannot watcu
them homer
President Hunter, after some further conversation
In winch be virtually admitted Tue juslcs OF ,hs,
called Mss Wood, IN whose classroom MISS Ham,I
had uecn, aud who kept the record OF ner
Attendance. Miss Wood said she had not specially
urged her to cease from her stuaics. She often did
urge students, sns said. 10 rsst whom she thought
they were over,axing themselves, but she did not
remember having had any special conversation with
Miss Hamill lion about
Tnc writer then repeated what the girls fathor had
told him about STUDY ing seven hours q day. ana
Presiueut Hunter Said mat Tho orders given tho
studsnts, which were repeated to tnem frequently
IRON time to tune, were that no girl should study
than two hours aud half aaily schoo,,
and, excepting IN the senior class, only hours
day was aiioxsd. II was, bo~evsi, he said, impos-
sibo Tor the teachers " prevent them stuay.
! they