The Portland daily press., 1885-07-22
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
Report on Text Books on Physiology
and Hygiene.


The law creating the State Board of Health
prescribes that it "shall from time to time
examine and report upon works on the sub
Ject OF hygiene for the use of the schools Of
the State" As the season is at hand when
school committees decide upon the text
books to be used during the coming year, the
board considers it timely to make recommen-
dations in this connection.
1t is very important that teachers should
have greater knowledge of the subjects
taught than is contained in the textbooks
which are used by their pupils; and, conse-
quently, it is advised that they study care
fully Martins The Human Body Oh Holt 81
Co., New York;, the unabridged edition, the
advertised price of which is only $2.75; or
Huxley & Youmans' Physiology and Hygiene
d. Appleton & Co., New York;, a smaller
work, but remarkable for its method and
clearness. Those who have little children
to teach will get good suggestions as to the
best system of presenting physiological
truths to the very young from Misses Buck
elew and Lewis Practical Work. in the
School-room, Part ca. Lowell & Co., New
York;, but they are warned that much of the
science in the little book is such only in
NAME
For use in high schools, Martins The
Human Body, briefer course Oh. Holt d Co..
New York;, or Walkers Anatomy, Physiol-
ogy and Hygiene "a. Lowell & Co.. New
York; is recommended. The abovemention-
ed work of Huxley & Youmans would be
given the preference for this grade, but for
the fact that, having been written some
years ago, it does not present the subjects
with special reference to the action of stimu-
lants and narcotics upon the human system.
and recent legislation insists upon the en-
phasizing of this point. A well informed
teacher however could supply this deficiency
For ungraded high schools in small towns
we recommend BlaisdelFs Our Bodies and
How We Live. Lee & Shepard, Boston.5
I'm: IS a more elaborate work than the one
just mentioned, and we give it the prefer
ence, also for the higher grade of grammar
schools. Its descriptions of illustrative ex-
perlments are particularly useful, and, in the
hands OF capable teacher, it is suitable for
use in the common schools.
For most schools of the grammar grade.
and for the ordinary district schools hearty
endorsement is given to Smiths The Human
Body and Its Health Uvison, Brakeman. Tay-
lor & Co.. New York;.
Urinary SCHOOLS Will ind an excellent book
in Smiths Primer of Physiology and Hygiene
qvison, Brakeman, Taylor & Co., New
York;, which is simple and plain, and vet
correct.
AS some Objectionable books have been is
sued and diligently pushed by their publish
ers, the board thinks it best to put commit
tees on their guard against them. The worst
OF those examined is Brands Lessons on the
Human Body, which was evidently written
by one who has learned what little he knows
about anatomy and physiology from anti
quated sources, and not learned it WELL and
who considers wholesale condemnation of
alcohol the best method of dealing with the
question. Johonnot and Bouton'S How We
Live is hardly less Objectionable than
Strands book, and is another good illustra-
ton of zeal without knowledge. Hygiene
Tor Young People, prepared under the direc-
ton OF the W. G. t, u, has too little instruc
ton concerning the care of the body gener
ally, and gives a rabidly one-sided view of
the alcohol question. Even children will de-
tect the fallacy of many of its statements,
and will thus lose faith in all associated
teachings. Intemperance of speech is not
conducive to temperance in living.
+. II. GERRIsH, MD,
Q. A. HORR, NJ D.,
}. Q. WEBSTER, NJ. d., committee
A. G. YOUNG, NJ. D.,