The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-05-09
Climate and the lratioaai Health

contains an interesting article from the
pen OF Abel Stevens, LII. D., entitled
American Disiccation. The author
takes rank among the ablest thinkers of
the country and therefore what he has
to say respecting the effect of our eli.
mate on the national health will he read
with serious attention. Limited space
will only permit glance at its more
prominent features. European writer's
assume that the European race has
never yet been acclimated in North
America and will not be for sev.
eral generations yet to come. Some
think that the trouble lies in our
having an excess of ozone, or oi
electricity, or of atmospheric changes,
but pretty much all united in the opin.
ion that We suffer from atmospheric
dryness DIR. Stevens is of the opinion
that the prevalence of nervous diseases
OF every kind among us furnishes proof
favorable to the general theory of these
foreign writer's. While Americans at-
tribute much of these nervous morbid
ty to the excessive activity of life in tlis
country, and their disease take on forms
indicative of the fact that they live un-
der constant and intense stimulation,
DR.. Stevens is inclined to take up the
European belief that climatic causes lie
at the bottom of our principal physical
maladies. But he says that our climate,
per sc, should not he considered an evil,
though We suffer evil from it. If we dc
80 it is our own fault, for lie argues
that We know the climate to he full OF
stimulus, of vitality, and yet go on and
abuse it. But Notwithstanding our dis
position to carelessness he belives that
the general effect of the climate on the
national temperament and habits il
good--that it is on the side of industry,
Of enterprise. of achievement, of prog
ress. We sometimes argue thai we
have the humanity of the future in this
country. Referring to this DIR. Stevens
declares that ours ought also to he
the climate for that humanity-a eli
mate Of sunshine, viyacity, and energy
a climate giving brightness to child
hood, beauty to woManhood, and enter
prise to manhood, If we fail in these
respects it il he"ause of our careless
habits and heeti.ossness of hygienics.
Though our air is full of natural stimu-
lus, says DIR. Stevens, 1--WE fill our stom.
achs, besides, with artificial stimuli. u
In o very few words he then
goes on to point out the minor
causes which affect the national
health. He says: 1--WE have more
need than any other nation of being a
temperance people, and yet it may be
doubted whether any other people Tip
ple' as much as we. We use tobacco
more than other people, for if any other
smokes it as much as we, none chew it
and spit away as much saliva as we. We
impair our digestion by eating hot bread
and drinking ice water. We soak our
bread with melted butter, notwithstand-
ing that medical authorities agree that
melted butter is simply rank poison. /"
How can people, he asks, be healthy in
any climate whose mothers bring them
up from childhood in such diet. DIR.
Stevens expresses the opinion that our
dietetic habits are, in all probability, the
worst to be found on earth and alleges as
q reason that while everything sbouads
with us everything can be abused, while
with most other nations want, at least,
restrains excess and many other abuses.
Besides these habits, SO untitled to our
climate, the author declares that our
other modes of life are equally bad.
We live too fast and drive business too
rapidly. On these accounts we need "a
universal preaching of the gospel of re-
Taxation" Looking at these several
matters he concludes, and we agree
with him, that in order to become
adapted to the excessively stimulating
climate of this broad land, we need an
almost universal physiological reform,
while physical education should be
made of fundamental Importance in our
primary school system.