The new North-west., 1890-10-03
WOMAk'S PHYSICAL HEALTH.
Importance of Bodily Training and H,
Rl In

Importance of Bodily Training and Hy-
glenic Precaution.
Mr.. Frederick Treves calls attention to q
perfectly new branch Of the work under
taken by the society with reference to phys
ical education Within the last few years
an immense deal Of attention had been d.
rected to the matter Of physical education.
1t had been pointed out that the education
Of the mind was we'll looked after while
the education of the body was practically
allowed to look after itself. Parents did
not realize that proper physical education
must be conducted on rs precise and as
careful scientific lines as the ordinary edu-
cation of the mind. Parents were quite
content to send their children to gym
nasia, and when they had done this felt
satisfied that their physical education was
complete. They were unaware that there
was no proper control over the teachers OF
gymnastics and calisthenics, a large num-
Der of whom were people totally unfit for
their work
The particular object of the society Ind,
perhaps, rather more reference to children
and women than to men and boys, Az q
matter OF fact, the latter class was admir-
ably looked after No one could find much
to crticise in the athletic pursuits of our
public schools. When they came to the
London shop boy they found his condition
Ind been materially changed; he had taken
to bicycling and other pursuits. When
they came to schools, and especially to
girls schools, it must be confessed that the
conditions were about as bad as they very
well could be. They heard a good deal Of
the enormous advances of civilization dur
ing the last fifty or one hundred years. and
their marvellous improvement on the uu-
fortunate savage who had straight limbs,
graceful carriage and an absence of the
ordinary aches and palms. and he was not
disposed to be always taking tea or to be
living in an atmosphere of tonics People
did not seem to be aware that by judi
ciously supervised system of physical edu-
cation exercises and due attention to the
development Of the body it was possible to
alter It's proportions, to reduce redund-
ances and to develop deficient and feeble
muscles. ..
Motives Of vanity and regard for the
future physical development of their girls
might 50 influence mothers who were in
different to higher considerations to see
that HE physical education Of girls was
carried out, whether in familics or in
schools, under persons trained, skilled and
having the requisite knowledge to make
such physical trainin. in all respects use
ful and i'll no case Injurious Neithercnuld
b" said Of the very limited amount OF ply
sical training now given to girls 1t was
pointed out that the National Health 50,
ci"iy's diploma would be granted to such
teachers Of gymnastics, calisthenics and
physical exercises as had fulfilled the neces-
sary curriculum and passed the required
examinations.
The society hoped BY the institution Of
this diploma To encourage the development
Of physical education III this country; to
render such training precise, cifectual and
scientific; to protect the public, Oh the one
hand, from incompetent teachers and on
the oi her, to establish the position Of such
Instructors as were fully qualified. Il was
intended. however, that the work Of such
teachers should be devoted and restricted
20 the one legitimate object set forth in the
diploma, namely, physical training, and
that they should MT undertake the treat
'ncnt Of dcforuity Or disease by move
ment cures" remedial exercises, H mas
sage and the like. The diploma would Ger
tifS- that the candidate had passed an ex-
animation Ill the art and science Of physical
education, had fulfilled the curriculum re-
lnirci b The society, and was fully quail
lied to act Is M instructor Of gymnastics
calisthcnics and physical exercises gcner-
a!ly.--Iiritsh Medical Journal