Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-03-08
GROWTH OF CHILDREN:

Enteesstiss Obssrvatieas lGads b. : Nss6i
DanisA EdaeatoF aad savant. {,
The period at which the general in
crease ofthe body is going on il from
the end Of March to December; and
within this period there is = period Of
maximum increase in height and q
period of maximum increase in weight.
During the period of INST rapid in.
crease in weight the increase in
height is the slowest Of any in that
period. the times of mean growth 81
height and weight about coincide. and
| the period Of maximum growth in
height is q period Of comparative rest
for the weight The height periods
begin and end about fifteen Lays be-
fore the weight-periols The height
first has I'el iod of minimum growth.
then \ period of mean growth. then its
maximum growth. aud then suddenly
falls back again to the minimum rate
of growth. The weight. however.
begins with minimum rate of growth.
passes at once to its maximum, and
then slowly falls through the period of
mean growth back to the mini
mum again. The growth in
weight varies more than the growth
in height. An increase of 1 centimeter
of height corresponds to 2S4 kilo-
grams during the period of maximum
growth in weight but only to .4S of a
kiiogram in the period Of mean or
minimum growth. The increase Of
weight in the maximum period is es-
sentially growth in stoutness. and
ihe loss of weight during the period
of minimum growth is decrease in
stoutncss. In the period of maximum
increase in height the increase in
stOutness is Mt minimum. and dur
ing the period of least increase in
height is at a maximum. A practical
lesson 10 be derived from the knOwl.
edge of these periods is to have ~
large as possible share of the period
of general greatest growth fall into
the vacation time; for then the body
has less strain upon it. AMI is in gem
cral in the best condition for growing.
The Swedes and South Germans are
accordingly right in giving their chill
dren two or two and q half months
vacation. from July to the middle of
September. and thus including a good
share of the greatest growth period.
Dr.. Mailing Hanson has also at.
tempted to make out shorter periods
IF twenty-five and sevcnty-fivc days Of
variations in growth. which he regards
as due to the changes in the climatic
conditions. but this il not rs yet Sc
curely established. His study Of the
height reveals some very interesting
points It is well known that we are
longer when we lie down than when
we stand up. and this difference may
be rs much rs q centimeter. So. too.
after long walk. when the weight Of
the body has compressed all. those
parts that furnish room for contrac-
tDon. the height is smaller. Twenty
two boys. thirteen to sixteen years
old. were measured at different times
Of day. During the hours of leisure.
from s to 8 a. NJ, boy lost. ON the
average. 4 millineters in height;
while resting on the school bench. from
8 to- 3 o'clock. he gained 5 of mil
limeter; during the instruction. from
to 10 he loses I millimeter; during
the recess. from 10 to II. the loss in,
height was 8 millimeters for each
boy; from IL to r. during school
hours. the body expands by 2 millime-
tiers. but in the next hour in school
loses. of a millimeter, in the leisure
time from 1 TO O'clock the body loses
3 millimetcrs. Il general. from 6 n
N. to S p m. there is a loss Of 9 mil
limeters; from 5 to 9p. m. there are
and FROM 9n M. to 6. a..
m. there is a gain of 9 millimeters.
These measurements were taken DUR
ing the winter months. TIC daily |
variations in weight were also OBJ
served. Fcom the end of the chief |
neal. at 2 p NJ. until 9 o'clock. each, |
boy loses .13 of q ki!Ogram. and from. |
y. m. 10 g. a. M. there was loss Of /
81 Of kflogram. Oh this. % of kilo-
gram was due to pcrspira!ion and ex-
lalatiOn. and the rest to excretions.
From 6 -. m. TO p m. there was a
gain of :. II of kilogram. and dinner /
,dded SO Of kilogram 1t is very !
much 10 be hoped that the custom Of !
aking a variety of this kind of meas
lrements will become widespread.
md systematic attempts be made to
extend and collect such observations
Science.