The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1895-08-16
NAIL.BITING A DISEASE.

That the habit of nail-biting is disease
among the children, and not merely
naughty trick, to be cured by punishment,
is the scientific opinion of the famous
Frenchman, DR.. Edgar Berillon, who was
at one time associated with Bharcot and is
at present secretary of the French Secie-
ty of Hypnology and Inspector of state
lunatic asylums
BerillOn names this so-called disease
''onachophagie," which at once gives an
air of importance to the discussion, anG he
states, as the result of nine years study
experimenting, that it is an unerring sign
of incipient degeneration of the nervous
system. He holds that child displaying
any tendancy toward nail-biting, should
at once be put under a physicians care in
stead of being teased and punished.
The habit is more prevalent among girls
than boys, and it is probably due to the
fact-although this not brought out in
Berillon's recent papers-that boys are
permitted to live healthier lives, with
more exercise and out-of door sports. In
the report, made from an examination of
the percentage of nail-biters among the
girls was found to be 80, while am ong the
boys it was only 90 This habit was usu-
ally observed among the poorer students.
Several instructors in the Paris schools
for manual training have pronounced the
habitual nail-biters hard to teach and often
totally unfit for technical education. On
rare occasions nail-biting children were
found to be Infant prodigies," but with
superficial cleverness, invariably outgrown.
Although the disease is frequently in
herited, it is more often the result of imi-
tation, which practically renders it conta-
gious: In English schools the habit is
considered so harmful und so easily con-
tracted that the nail biting children are in
solated and taught in seperate classes, be-
sides being subjected to severe and public
reprimands. This idea of Furnishing
nail-biter, Berillon regards as showing
about as much judgment as would be man
ifested in scolding or whipping child for
having Group or measles, and that the habit
demands careful and intelligent treatment
cannot be doubted, for not only is it on
the increase, but in many cases it is ac-
companied in the second and third gener-
ations by marked signs of physical degen
Grafton.
The extent to which it prevails in Eng
land can be estimated from the fact that
in one school of thirty children whose par
ents were of the middle-class, at least 80
per cent. were habitual nail-biters. In
America the disease is prevalent to mark
ed degree. 1t may be noticed at every
turn on the street, in the schools and on
the street cars. Wherever there is a group
of school childeen of any size, some of the
boys and girls will be found eagerly de-
vouring their nails and sometimes fingers
as we'll
The fact that after Il time the habit be
comes automatic makes the curing of it
difficult undertaking but Berillon believes
that it can be done, and advocates the
grouping of these children into classes,
where they may be submitted to special
discipline and hygienic treatment. AS,
however, the habit is the result of ner-
vous degeneration, it can be as easily
treated at home. A nerve tonic, good
food and plenty of exercise are all the
physical treatment necessary. For curing
the ''after-habit' with children, which
NAV linger after the cause has been remov-
ed, Berillon suggests that the child's reso-
luton should be applealed to, and that he
be taught to regard the habit as unworthy.