Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-04-23
ANOTHER SCHOOL PROPOSITION


At the recent session of the State
Medical Society, DR.. Widney read a
paper, in which he contended for the
introduction of the study of medicine in
certain and limited degree into the
public schools He insisted that children
should at least be taught, and every one
know how to treat simple complaints.
The members Of the convention who dis
cussed the paper are said to have con-
CURED in the views advanced.
The disposition to run to the schools
with new ideas to be engrafted upon the
course of study is very dangerous one,
and as rule ought to be combatted.
Whenever We discover lack of knowl-
edge or proficiency among the people,
the first suggestion is to apply the rem
edy through the free schools. Thus it
comes about that educators are con-
stantly engaged in resisting the effort to
overload the curriculum of common school
study. They have not been entirely sue
cessful in this State. In one county GER
tain mechanical trades have been tackled
upon the school system. In another the
attempt is made to teach schoolgirls
housewlfely arts that they ought to ac-
quire at home; in others sewing has been
introduced into the schools. In some
parts the lathe and the tool-chest is
brought into the school-room, in others
still other foreign attachments" are
made to the regular and absolutely
necessary course.
All this-save here and there in an
exceptional case-ought to be stoutly re-
sisted, and trades relocated to trade and
manual training schools. The aim should
be to give pupils in the common schools
as thorough an understanding as the
time will admit of essential funda-
mentals, no matter what the after
calling is to be- to develop
the intellect and fit the child fairly well to
use the knowledge impaired in mathe-
MATES, the use of the English tongue, and
IN those essentials of general knowledge
that will serve him to purpose if he pro-
ceeds no further in scholastic course. or
will qualify and invite him to enter upon
higher educational courses. In the great
majority of cases the pupils in our gram
mar schools now have as many studies to
pursue as they can follow with benefit and
safety; the addition of new ones cripples
the intellectual and threatens physical
capacity.
But when all this is said, we confess that
the proposition of the medical society has
force and makes a strong case for itself.
Physiology is now taught in the schools,
in general sort of a way; quite as much
probably as is feasible. We can under
stand how something of the commonplace
of medicine could be advantageousIy
added and without involving the study of
chemistry. Thus, there is reason why
children should be taught with method,
what to do while waiting for the doctor :"
how to stop effusion of blood; to restore
fainting person; to manipulate one nearly
drowned; to treat one who has taken a
common poison what to do in cases of
common accidents, as burning, limb break
ing, incised wounds, etc. We can under
stand now how greatly beneficial it is to
children IN grammar grades to be in
structed in the ordinary use and effects of
certain common medicines; the dangers of
oplates; the effects of alcoholic
stlmulants upon the human system /;
and to be taught concerning the use
and misuse of certain foods and bever-
ages. But if the proposition is as reported
by our San Francisco contemporaries.
how to properly treat simple complaints,
IN which the services of a physician are
hardly necessary" then dangerous ground
is approached. Who is to or ever can de-
termine what simple complaint is? or
what simple ailment can be treated safely
by one inexperienced? or that what is sup
posed to be simple, may not in fact be
the precursor OF serious one?
What, too, shall be deemed regular and
safe in this day and age OF schools of medi
cine and division of opinion as to what is
proper treatment in even the lesser of
bodily ills, outside of simple external
wounds, or bruises, laceration of the flesh,
etc? In the use of simple remedial
agencies what shall be the standard for
teaching? Which of the many schools of
healers shall be taken and which dis
carded in teaching children " how to prop
erly treat simple complaints%'
The subject is one fraught with the
danger of contention if introduced into the
school curriculum, and while it is GER
tainly desirable that every one should
know something of simple surgery, have
knowledge of the human anatomy. and
understand what antidotes TO administer
in poisoning, what dangers TO avoid in the
use of food, it is extremely doubtful il
treatment of even simple complaints y
should be taught in the schools The
danger of displacing other studies, Of Civ
ing that smattering" Of knowledge that
is always damaging, of creating perilous
self-confidence in the use of remedial
agents, should command very serious pause
before attaching medicine as q study to
common school courses The more the
question is examined the more it will de-
velop as an unwise scheme.