San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-02-23
HEALTH AMONG THE VIRTUES.
Admitted That 1t Is Moral Obligation
to Keep Well.


Admitted That 1t Is a Moral Obligation
to Keep Wen.
In recent paper on ''Tbe Right Edu-
cation of Girls" Miss May Hoggen-
botham, the head of the domestic
science department of the Drexel in
stitute, pertinently says that among
the convictions that the earnest spirit
of the 10th century is blowing deep into
the minds of men are dignity and
preciousness of human life and the
moral obligation that rests upon each
and all to preserve the life in health and
vigor for as long a period as may be
possible"
After emphasizing the fact shat the
time is coming when pestilence and dis
ease shall no longer be looked upon as
yisitations of Providence" and show
ing, too, how physicians, boards of
health and legislatures labor in vain
TO establish healthy conditions while
the great mass of housekeepers are ig-
norant of sanitary principles" the
paper continues:
Every woman should understand the
details as well as the theory of santa
ton. She should understand what is
meant by good air and good water
under what conditions they become
contaminated and what means of pre-
vention are in the power of the house
keeper. The serious and imminent dam
ger of life and health that may arise
from defects in the water supply and
drainage of the house can often be
ayerted by intelligent oversight and a
knowledge of what defects to look for.
When women know what is meant by
good plumbing, good woodwork, good
sanitary conditions generally, build
ers will not dare to rely las many now
do) upon frescoed walls, tawdry man.
tel cabinets, snowy stationary ward
robes and beveled glass doors to sell
or rent houses that have thin walls,
wretched floors, mean woodwork,
meaner plumbing and unsanitary con-
ditions generally.
Upon proper diet more than upon
any other one thing depends health and
condition of every human being. Life
itself is a matter of nutrition, and
mans destination turns on the con-
sideration of his diet. 1t involves his
strength, both of body and mind, and
it largely determines his disposition.
We all recall the case of Carlyle, who
made things hard for himself and those
around him because he was the "miser-
able owner of a diabolical arrangement
called stomach" If Carlyle had pos
sessed the knowledge of foods that Is
possible to the schoolgirl or boy of TO-
day he would have been a better man
and his wife and mother happier
women.
No argument is strong enough to
convey the full significance of the
mothers responsibility to her house
hold in the matter of foods. In those
periods of infancy and early childhood
which are beyond the control of the
individual it rests with the mother to
supply the food that will build up the
tissues of the body, keep the blood pure
and supply the heat and vital energy
to keep the bodily machinery in mo-
ton. There may be hereditary taint
"a tendency to biliousness, headache
poverty of blood, nervous hysteria. She
can combat all with proper diet at the
right time. With the knowledge at
tainable to-day it will be disgrace fol
the future to exclaim, as thoucands dc
now: "oh, yes; it is unfortunate-my
mother, grandmother, have had it. II
runs in the family. ~. Y. Times.