The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-01
WOMAN AND HOME.
THE IMPORTANT FACTORS IN THE
PRESERVATION OF HEALTH.


Fashioned Recipe For Rest-Hands and
Finger Nails-Physical Perfection In .
woman-Thc Best Kind Of Exercise.
There are Ave great factors concerned in
the preservation of health. First and fore
most must be placed education, using the
word in it's widest sense, TO include phys
ical development, moral training and men,
tai culture. Too little attention has hith-
erto been paid to education from the point
of view of health, but recently the impor-
tancc of hygiene has been more fully recog-
nized. A right system Of education so
trains the mind that it is eager TO occupy
itself with some pursuit at all times and
thus people are prevented from falling into
Idle habits, which not only waste time, but
give the imagination opportunity to con-
jure up all sorts Of fanciful disorders.
We all know the hysterical. nervous.
delicate girl who is only so because she has
neither work nor occupation. Educated
girls who lead useful lives do not suffer
from Mysteries, nor do workmen's wives in
general, because both these classes have
their time fully and proftably occupied.
An interesting point worthy OF notice is
that the criminal class, taken as whole,
is uneducated and it has been shown that
distant relation exists between i'll health
and crime Hence the importance of the
preservation of physical health for the
preservation of moral health, and we there
by recognize that health itself has distinct
moral value.
The second factor i'm personal hygiene is
the regulation OF food and drink-thc reg
ulation not only Of the quantity but also of
the quality This last point is often neg
lected, but it is important, especially so to
children. A common mistake is to force
children to take food which is distasteful
to them. IL must not therefore be inferred
that children arc To have whatever they
like best. but when child shows great
dstastc for, say, mutton fat, the best way
Is TO make the fat into suet pudding, which
in all probability will be readily eaten.
Violent prejudices which are conceived in
early life, owing TO the want OF thought on
the part Of parents or guardians, often re-
main fixed and cause trouble and annoy
ancc in after life. The quantity Of food we
take.ought to depend greatly on our work.
A man when he is resting needs about half
as much food as when he is engaged in la
borious work.
Thirdly, the functions Of our different or
gans require TO be exercised and encourag-
cd. II is not necessary TO do more than
mention the value of mere cleanliness and
care Of the skin. a dirty skin means that
more work is thrown upon delicate internal
organs, especially the kidneys, and the
working power of the whole body Is thus
lowered. In this connection the hygienic
clothing of the body must be mentioned.
Regularity of the action of the bowels must
be secured. Many dangerous illnesses arise
fSom want of care in this respect. The i'm
portance also of n suitable amount of sound
sleep cannot be exaggerated, for however
important regular and sufficient exercise
may be, ample time fer rest and recupera-
tion is equally important.
This brings us to the fourth point to be
Observation-Disclosures, the essential require
ment of which is regularity. IL is surpris-
ing TO note how all our organs become ac-
customed TO regular and habitual exercise
and rest. Regularity in the time of going
TO bed conduces to sleep. Regularity in
meal times conduccs TO most efficient di~
gestion, and regularity in the amount of
exercise is attended with less fatigue and
more benefit than exercise of varying
amount taken irregularly.
Lastly. there is the question of occupa-
ton. Certain occupations are necessarily
unhealthy. Others are unhealthy on &C
count of the badly ventilated rooms in
which they are carried on. The delicacy of
many shopgirls is often rightly attributable
to this cause, especially when the lungs are
affected. Personal hygiene teaches the pre-
caution which must be taken by those en-
gagged in unhealthy occupations, the scru-
pulous cleanliness TO be practiced by work
ers in lead, the outdoor life which, us far as
can be, must be adopted by those who
work in confined rooms and offices. 1t also
teaches that want of occupation is also un-
healthy and leads to premature death
Cassell's Magazine.