The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-26
Cnttdren,s weight Dlners Daily.

Pastor Mailing. Hansen, the director
of the royal Deaf and Dumb asylum IN
Copenhagen, has published an interest.
ing pamphlet on "The Periodicity OF
the Weight of Children" His observa-
ton, obtained by the daily weighing OF
the children under his care, are-very IN
teresting. According to his evidence the
weight of children differs so largely from
day to day that no trustworthy result can
be obtained from weighing at long IN
tervals. A child may be two pounds
heavier at night than in the morning,
and may be one and a half pounds
lighter in the morning than the night
before. Eating seems to have more IN
fluence on weight than exercise, bathing
or occupation. The ultimate increase In
weight, corresponding to. increase IN
growth, does not 60 on regularly
throughout the year. There is period
OF stoppage in the increase OF weight
with corresponding loss from the be-
ginning of May till past the middle OF
july, in which time the loss of weight
may exceed double the average
ultimate gain. During August, Septem-
Der and October there is a very steady
period of increase in weight, sometimes
age increase. During the rest of the
year the weight varies from less to more
around the average figure of increase.
During the summer holidays the increase
in weight is twice the average, and In
September and October even thrice. Be
side the serious period of loss from May
to July, there are at other times frequent
sudden stoppaees in the increase OF
weight. sometimes followed by actual
loss. These hindrances, lasting from SIX
to fourteen days, are not made up for by
extra periods of increase, and seem to
indicate real damage, so that the actual
increase of weight seems to take place
during about the fifth part of the year,
while the remaining time is occupied
with loss and its replacement. There is
decided correspondence between the
vacillation of temperature and accom-
panying vacillations in the weight OF the
child-increase of warmth and of weight
and decasase of warmth and of weight
90 hand in hand. A decrease of two
degrees of warmth in the temperature
of the five days is accompanied by
ninefold decrease in the weight of
child, and three degrees more warmth by
thirteen fold increase in weight. The
hindrance and loss of weight that ac
company decrease in the warmth of the
temperature may go on even after the
temperature has begun to rise, as if the
loss depended Cd sickness induced by
the colder temperature. "A year that
has had most changes of temperature is
far more :unfaIorable to the normal in-s
crease of weight in child than a more
stead yeaTfand series. OF sneh uHfa-
vorable years will for many following 1
years result in less streng Children. The
reason of the great period of loss from
May to July, and the rapid increase dur
ing the summer months, do not seem to
depend on the conditions of warmth.
Thee4n131ase of WEIGHT i'm he children
on was always greater dnr-
ing the period when the moon was re-
ceding from the Garth, and less during
the period when the moon was approach I
ing the earth. During the former period
the children Increased IA Weight twice
as much as during the latter period.
Pastor Mailing Hansen s. Inquiries are
consideIsd Qeimpertaat that the Danish
government and the ,"Carlsbergfond''
hive granfed sums Of meaeys for the
eontihuance and xtenspn of; such-ex-
perimeaa. IS. = GAi-eago: Times :