Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-22
GIRLS HEADACHES.
Caused by Omitting the Most Important
Meal of the Day.

Caused by Omitting the Most Important
Meal of the Day.
From Harpers Bazaar.
when / went to school," said q charming
grandmother Of our acquaintance, 81 never
knew what it meant to have a headache. Yet
my granddaughters complain Of them almost
constantly. Something must be wrong What
is it?''
In the search for causes thus instituted it was
at first suspected that lack Of proper ventila-
ton in school or sleeping rooms WAS to blame.
This not proving to be the case the food was
inquired about and several things appeared to
| the sensible grandmother to be wrong.
The girls were allowed to eat what, when,
and what quantity they chose, not seldom
emitting their meals entirely Don't force
them 70 eat" had been the parental injunction.
Young people will ALWAYS eat as much as is
good for them. Unfortunately this 10 not al
ways the case. There are many young girls
who have no appetites for their breakfasts, the
really most important meal Of the day, and II
unchecked will start upon their days work
with no better provision to meet its demands
than cup Of coffee and cracker. The blood
Is called to the brain by the first hours Of study,
and the lack Of nourishment, though not felt a.
such. 10 very perceptible in its effects. After
two or three hours of work the girls can do no
able; their heads ache" They feel but little
more appetite for luncheon than for breakfast,
and that little they satisfy with the least nour-
ishing sorts Of food which are placed before
them. At the late dinner-the only meal to
which they come of their own accord-they eat
more, perhaps too much, in fact, but rarely Of
that which is best suited to their real needs.
After the grandmother's observations had
shown her this state OF things, she asked that
one Of her granddaughter might be loaned to
her for one year. As all lived in the same city,
attended the same school and complained Of
a fair one. and one Of the girls was loaned to
her grandmother for the period desired.
At first Mabel felt it hardship that she was
not allowed q late dinner with the rest Of the
family, but, instead, was given only q light
supper, very like that which excited the ire Of
the equity patient in Sanford and Merton, only.
instead of the porridge which accompanied the
latter's prunes, Mabel was served with plentl-
full supply Of good brown bread and milk.
Like those Of the irRte equity man, Mabefs
prunes were cooked without sugar.
Even the first morning after this there was
slight improvement. Mabel did not feel the
usual disgust for food which had formerly
kept her from reaching the breakfast table
until the last allowable moment. Indeed, she
felt mild degree Of appetite, which enabled
her to swallow a small portion OF the cereal.
fruit and cream which always formed the
first course of her .grandmother's breakfast,
though she declined the delicately poached
egg which succeeded. Coffee was prohibited.
Luncheon, Mabel found, was to be considered
her dinner, and she was expected to consume q
goody portion OF beef, lamb or chicken. and
at least one wholesome vegetable. Fruit or
light buildings was usually her dessert.
Before q month was out Mabei's headaches"
had become things Of the past She could work
we'll and easily. She was glad to walk or play
games with the strongest Of her fellows. She
vas happy as she had never been before, and as
no girl can be who is not eating plainly, regu-
larry and plentifuly, as well as otherwise living
hygienically.
The ventilation Of school and sleeping rooms
is not so often defective now a. in the period
which interviewed between the days OF fire.
places and Of sanitary science. but there il
still abundant chance for improvement in the
ways of avoiding draughts and chills, as well as
in preventing the stagnation of the air. Foul
air and cold draughts are alike fatal, but the
latter are the speedier in their action.