The Opelousas courier., 1882-04-22
The study of Hygiene.
IN. o. Times.D Democrat

In his admirable and able addfess
before the graduates of the Medical
Department of the University OF Loul-
siana, a few days ago, Dr.. Chaille sug-
gested the necessity of teaching physi-
ology and hygiene in our public
schools, as they are taught in Boston
and other cities.
He insisted, with Pope, that !" the
proper study of mankind is man." and
that the time now wasted by children
in STUDYING the ornate branches OF
education, the useless fables OF my
thology, ETC., might be much more
satisfactorily expended in acquiring a
knowledge of sanitary and hygienic
laws.
There is the grossest popular snper-
stition and ignorance regarding these
branches. The most sensible men are
victims of superstition, and believe IN
:" old remedies such as saffron tea,
buckeyes for rheumatism, marriage
rings for styes, and willow sticks for
warts have wild delusions about the
value of tobacco asa ne~rve-soother, or
disinfectant, and believe that whisky
is a cure for countless ills. Woman,
however, violates the first laws of san
~itation and hygiene in a much more
fragrant manner, simply through igno7
rance, and destroys her health, happi-
ness and complexion by following
fashions that she would: studiously
avoid did she know how dangerous
they were.
Sanitary science is the elixir of life,
| for which the old alchemists searched
90 earnestly. If half of what DR..
Chaille promises us, when the rules OF
sanitation shall become thorou ghiy
known, is true, it is a science that
should be forced on the people at once,
In the very healthiest countries at
least one-third of the annual sickness
and deaths can be prevented, and the
average of human life doubled. 1t is
easy to estimate how much happiness
this Punishment of unnecessary sick
ness and death would bring to the
whole world. But this is not all the
good that a knowledge of sanitarylaws
would develop. Everybody knows
that crime is, to a large extent, the re-
suit of violations of the laws of nature,
By teaching people, therefore, a knowl-
edge of themselves, how to prevent
sickness, disease and death, We would
do more for the moral improvement OF
humanity than all the penitentiaries
and gibbets have ever accomplished.
But it is unnecessary to show the
advantages that a knowledge of physi
ology and sanitation would produce
It is wonderful, only, that this matter
has not been pressed upon the atten
tion of our people before. 1t is a sub
iect that deserves immediate attention
and one that recommends itself espe
cially to a city like New Orleans, 81
dependent on sanitation. The grea
obstacle is the lack of teachers. Mos
of the teachers in our city are as igno
rant on these branches as the scholars
fer they have not been Fashionable
studies. This is the very reaso VIII,
the question demands instant atten
ton because teachers must be provi
ded. By making hygiene and physi
clogy, two Of the leading branches i
the normal schools, there will be short
~ enough teachers, acquainted witt
the sciences, to instruct the young
The number Of persons skilled in thes
studies will increase each year; AM
we can look forward to an early da.
when everybody will have become &C
complished in their knowledge of by
giene and physiology, on which th
,Aa9piness, prosperity, health and lif
Of humanity 10 largely depends. TIL
subject is one of such Importance rs t
demand the serious and prompt atten
ton of our school boards.
lM&