St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-25
GROWTH OF CHILDREN.
Interesting Observations Made by Noted
Danish Educator and Savant.

Interesting Observations Made by a Noted
Danish Educator and Savant.
The period at which the general in
crease of the body is going on is from
the end of March to December; and
within this period there is a period of
maximum increase in height and a
period of maximum increase in weight.
During the period of most rapid in.
crease in weight, the increase in
height is the slowest of any in that
period, the times of mean growth Of
height and weight about coincide, and
the period of maximum growth in
height is period of comparative rest
for the weight. The height periods
begin and end about fifteen days be-
fore the weight-periods. The height
first has period of minimum growth,
then period of mean growth. then its
maximum growth, and 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 centimeter
of height corresponds to 2.S4 kilo.
grams during the period of maximum
growth in weight, but only to .4S of
kilogram in the period of mean or
minimum growth. The increase OF
weight in the maximum period is es-
sentially growth in stoutness, and
the loss of weight during the period
of minimum growth is decrease in
stoutness. In the period of maximum
increase in height the increase in
stoutness is at minimum, and dur
ing the period of least increase in
height is at maximum. A practical
lesson to be derived from the knowl-
edge of these periods is to have as
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, and is in gen.
eral in the best condition for growing.
The Swedes and South Germans are
accordingly right in giving their chill
dren two or two and a 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
of twenty-five and seventy-tive days OF
variations in growth. which he regards
as due to the changes in the climatic
conditions, but this is not as 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 as much as centimeter. So, too,
after long walk, when the weight of
the body has compressed all those
parts that furnish room for contrac-
tion, 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 6 to a. M, a boy lost, on the
average, 4 millimeters in height,
while resting on the school bench. from
8 to 9 o'clock, he gained 8 of mil
limeter; during the instruction, from
9 to 10. he loses millimeter; during
the recess, from 10 to IL, the loss in
height was 3 millimeters for each
boy; from II to IL, during school
hours, the body expands by 2 millime-
tiers, but in the next hour in school
loses 4 of a millimeter, in the leisure
time from to o clock the body loses
8 millimeters. In general, from a.
m. to p. m. there is a loss of 9 mil
limeters; from to 9 p. m. there are
variations; and from p. M. to a.
m. there is a gain of 9 millimeters.
These measurements were taken dur
ing the winter months. The daily
variations in weight were also OBJ
served, From the end of the chief
meal, at 2 p. NJ, until 9 o'clock, each
boy loses 10 Of ki!ogram. and from
9 p. m. to g. a. IN. there was loss of
81 of kilogram. Oh this. % of kilo-
gram was due to perspiration and ex-
halation, and the rest to excretions.
From a. M. to p. m. there was a
gain of. II of a kilogram. and dinner
added SO Of a kilogram. 1t is very
much to be hoped that the custom of
taking a variety of this kind of meas
urements will become widespread.
and systematic attempts be made to
extend and collect such observations.
Science.