The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-09-09
Injurious Habits and Pastures OF Chill.
dren.

An article of considerable length. en-
titled, "The Arrangements for Seating
Children in School and at Home, and
their Influence upon the Health of the
Young, and especially upon their
Growth and Carriage" which appeared
in the Monthly Sanitary Journal of
Brunswick, is we'll worthy of perusal,
and contains the following general rules,
which have the assent of different ply
sicians Of high authority: 1. The car
rying OF children on one side, on the
arm, by nurses, is improper, as it fire.
quently occasions defects in form and
growth. 2. Lying on the back is the
best position in the earlier years, as it
meets all the requirements of health.
8. In raising itself up, and in learning
to walk, the child should be left to its
own strength, or should at most only be
assisted as it may have need. Every
premature attempt to walk may occa-
sion curvature of the spine and of the
bones of the feet; and all artificial sup
ports, as go-carts, belts, etc., are in
furious. 4. Carrying heavy articles,
suchas school satchels, smaller children,
ETC., on one side. instead of upon the
back, should be avoided. Neither
should girls that are not full
grown sew with thread that is
too long, embroider on frames, nor
engage in similar occupations. 5. All
the limbs of child should be uniform
ly exercised. Neglect of the left arm
or OF the left hand. or of the left side in
general, will render one side high
shouldered. 6. Improper positions, as
standing on one foot with the other foot
barely in contact with the floor, by
which the body is constrained into
slovenly. inclined position, occasion
curvature of the spine. Z. Coats, jack
cts and garments of all kinds should be
wide enough across the chest and in the
armholes. The garments of girls should
not be cut so low that the shoulder
seam slips down over the shoulder, thus
producing feeling of discomfort, and,
as consequence, continual unequal
working of the shoulders back and
forth, as well as upward, which gives
rise to bad habits of carriage. Corsets
are under all circumstances attended
with danger to the development of
girls, as also high heels on shoes. Both
are termed by DR.. Schreber " the harm
full qualification of the feminine taste
for dress" 8. Bodily exercise, as skat-
ing, swimming, and. above all, gym
nastics, neutralizes many evil influences
upon the body, and imparts beauty of
form as well as strength. Walking on
stills, for example, is peculiarly effect
i've for correcting defecss of carriage
resulting from weakness of the upper
dorsal muscles, as STOPPING of the
shoulders, and turning of the toes in
ward.
The following suggestions relate more
particularly to the position in writing,
etc., at the desk in school, or at the
workable at home: l. The vertical
distance of the inner edge of the table
from the surface of the bench or chair
should be adjusted to the distance of
the elbows of the individual from the
surface of the seat. If chair must be
made high enough to meet this require
ment by something placed beneath, care
should be taken that the seat does not
slope. 2. The edge of the bench or
chair should project about two inches
beyond the front or inner edge of the
table or desk. 3. The height of the
seat must be determined by the length
of the lower part of the leg of the indi-
vidual. The feet should rest entirely
and comfortably on the floor or foot
stool, as the thigh should rest horizon
tally upon the seat. 1t is very injurious
to allow the lower part of the leg to
hang unsupported. 4. The breadth or
depth of the seat should be such that
nearly the whole of the thigh may be
supported, and the rear edge should be
about three-quarters of an inch lower
than the front edge. 5. Every seat
should be supplied with back, which,
under all circumstances should support
the loins, and permit an inclination
backward above. Straight backs,
whether perpendicular or inclined, are
Objectionable. Backs should be uni
versally attached to benches in schools,
churches and manufactures. 6. The
space between the back and the inner
edge of the table, in writing or work.
ing, must as rule, be so narrow that
the loins need not be withdrawn from
the back; and the order to "sit back"
is one of the most important to the
child whilst writing, if the first and
fifth requirements are met. z. The
table for writing must have sufficient
breadth, and inclination of l to Z, to
afford the correct angle of sight. Round
tables are very Objectionable. 8. The
correct position in writing, according
to the preceding, is controlled by the
following rules: (O The position of the
upper part of the body should be erect,
with its support in the spinal column,
which rests ut the loins upon the back
of the seat, and in no case should
the body be supported by the elbows
resting upon the table; 10y the upper
part of the body should be placed square
in front of the table, 80 that a line join
ing the two shoulders may be parallel
to the edge; icy both forearms should
rest upon the table nearly to the ell
bows, and should not be far from the
body, so that the upper portions of the
arms may be nearly perpendicular; if
but one elbow rests upon the table, and
the shoulders are not in line parallel
to the edge of the table. the position is
a crooked one, and may produce lateral
curvature of the spine; GAY the head
should not be bent down, but the neck
should be simply gently inclined; (e)
the chest should not press against the
edge of the table, but should be re-
moved an inch or two from it; C) the
body should not slip forward on the
seat; if the precautions d, and f are
disregarded. defective development of
the chest will be caused bv the curving
of the back, and near-sightedness by
the bending down of the head; (g) the
writing paper, as well as all articles of
work upon the table, should always lie
straight in front; (h) the light should
fall upon the writing paper from the
left.
Vacation.
About this time of year the thought
full student of mankind finds his respect
for his race suddenly revived and in.
creased. IT, is the season when men
n:A -