Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-13

NJ the eyes considered III fckhs" '" "p'
sight and axtIgmat,sm. An accurate record
OF this examination IL kept on nc az we
gymnasium. which NAV be consulted by tue
student at any time--that 10. each man may
know and study his own record. ms
record II also the basis for advice ana pre-
scrirtton and suggestion ny vac depart
ment; and on his entranceto college every
student Is furnished With the average con.
diion and measures OF studen. OF nis
own height which he may use ana Tue pro-
fessor also, rs basis for ADVICE anu gym
pastic training. And while stuueh, Is 10
erjoy the advantage OF the class exercise
as heretofore. be may now I've aO'e 10 attenu
20 the growth and development OF any parts
OF the body which are not now up 10 .ne
normal standard. And by the large addi-
tiors OF new apparatus not only ~ tue de-
fectiyc man guided and helped, but inc
average man will find more apparatus, APP
pliances. and baths TO not only supplement
The service OF his dumb-bells. but viii be
invited 10 Give his muscles, skin, and lungs
a ouota Of increased relaxation from study,
ard nhysical exercise such as he may de-
sire.
The matter Of athletic sports ana games,
indoors and out, seems 10 need recogui-
tlon and reasonable support from the an-
thorities OF colleges. In spite Of the excess
Of competiton net only In games but In
business and intellectual and religious lille
nj The present day, there is feature Of
mich good and recreation in the games OF
10 dav which demand a proper recognition,
support, and control. Were our climate,
without It's rigors OF cold and its pun
prucy OF heat, no doubt it would best to
have no covered gymnasiums, but use
onlv the field and grove for recreation
and exercise. But when military men tell
us that through the average year only
about half the days are suitable for
The Ordinary drill OF tue soldier out OF
doors, we must provide walls, roofs. and
artificial heat. And yet during the delight
ful outdoor months Of the year all people
should be melted TO be out OF doors Tor
work, exercise, and recreation 20 the fullest
extent possible. And while 1t is very true
that for the most harmonious development
the games Of baseball, football, and tennis
are rot equal 10 the symmetrical work OF
dumb.bells. gymnastlc apparatus, or even
boXing-g!oves, yet the eXhilaration, free
dom, and fresh air Of these games are excel
lent means of promoting and maintaining
the health Of very many, and especially
Young people. II therefore seems safe and
wise TO say that clubs for these games are
to be encouraged in n college. And the
formation OF the club is very essen
ta part. that the games may be controlled
and guided by what are the rules aud
methods obtsined by experience and prac-
tice: that while MANY may enjoy and profit
by regular hall or whole hour daily,
there should be a centre TO rally around
and a method TO be followed to gam good
result from the exercise. For the good
effect OF most OF these games IL not only
muscular wCrk--sweat OF the skin and in
SEPARATIONS Of the lungs, but the playing by
rule. the spirit 81 submission 10 decisions.
OF obedience, OF quick determination, and
cooperation, are OF great value, especially
TO the young man in process OF mental ana
moral trimming.
Results OF course are expected. And ac-
curale statistical data have been secured at
the college during the existence OF the de-
uartment. but not before this time. Hence
comparisons are very difficult to secure,
because anything reliable and carefully
recorded as TO the condition OF body or
health provlous to about 1860 is merely n
matter Of present opinion or tradition; no
records OF health are preserved, not
even the deaths noted in Official re.
turns. nor the physical condition OF
the students made OF any account IN
any college so far known TO the writer,
save where the faculty accounts OF the IN
tcllectual or moral standing OF the student
incidentally bring up the matter. Perhaps
the earliest note Of warning and need OF
the subject was made by President Stelrns
in his yearly report to the trustees in 1859
when lie savs, "By the time junior year is
reached many students have broken down
their health. and every year some lives
are sacrificed "during the year two
OF the most promising students in the
senior class have just deceased" Dyspep-
sia used TO be heard Of and endured. But
during the last twenty-four years only two
cases are recorded as causes OF disease.
Nervousness and exhaustion formerly were
sources Of much trouble to students. There
has not, however. been a single case in each
Of these years. clearinghouse keepers say
that they are compelled to furnish more
and better food, such az oatmeal, bread,
and meats. And the opinion OF the faculty
is most positively that much better con-
dition OF health prevails than did before the
establishment OF a department OF health ID
the college.
1t is not possible 10 state the amount OF
sickness in any community with esactness,
for il is such a peculiar quantity and Is so
varied a factor with different individuals.
But reliable observations have shown that
in England for every death there are two
persons constantly sick. and there are 80
DAYS OF disability for every death. And in
Europe every individual loses from nine
teen to twenty days by sickness from labor
each year. In Massachusetts during
fl.
each person from labor by sickness.
Tie manner OF estimating the amount
Of sickness among The students OF Am
lerst College has been TO enter man n
the sick-list IL he has lost more than two
consecutive days from all college work by
sickness or accident. Az result during
twenty years-1SG0 10 lSS0-we find the
amount of time which has been lost by
sickness when averaged upon tie whole
number Of students TO be 2.Gj days 10 each
man.
Another fact which seems to reflect credit
upon the value OF the department Of phys-
cal education is the decrease OF illness Gu-
ring college life. As it stands in atabuated
form We find the following por cent. OF the
class who lost by Illness
Freshmen. ............. ............... -
SOpnomoIes ...... ......'...''. ''...'.' =
Juniors ............ ......'.......' 20
seniors. ........... -........''..s. IL
or a decrease of disability Of about 10 per
cent. And this has not been sudden in
crease at either part OF the course. but
steady growth year by year. The number
OF Amherst students from whom the data
were obtained is 2,l06, and their average
oil years; the period OF their observation
was four Years, and their average per cent.
OF good health was - per cent. of the whole
number.
dN EkHJNEEp,g I'M IINKY nay