The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-04
SCHOOL HOURS TOO LONG
sASfr.fs SAYS THERE SHOULD BE
FEWER PULLS 10 IHE TEACHER.
Great Danger In tho Kola Nut-Its Insid'
ious Lnoets-warm Baths for sur
ferers from insomnia,

lmyrDSseu WIN the BELIEF tAdl schOoi
hours are, ia general, too long Ier chn,
drcn, Tor the greatest soou VI pouJ anu
mud.
Zoe usual school hours are about six
a aay-tnreo ia the forenoon ana three In
the afternoon, Win Two hternuisslohS VI
ABOUT nfteen minutes eacn.
HOW many grown people can 80 into
q crowded room and STUDY six hours a
day. Or, II they are able 10 do II, III spite
OF drowsiness and tho stupor that comes
upon them. how long Will IL 10 peiore
tho heAtn sIusrsG
Few comprehend how the child's nature
rebels against the confinement and re-
str.lnt OF the school-room, II Kept in too
long, and how soon a distaste Iof ooohs
and study ma be ~engendered IN some.
The practice OF keeping children III the
scnool-room after hours, for the purpose
cf punishment, is a very unWlse one.
MORE TEACHERS. -.
II the hours or school could be reiuced
to about four instead OF SAr hours a DAY
two In the forenoon ana TWO IN the al
t~ernoOn, with the usual intermlsAohs-
children would undoubtedly learn more
and with d greater relish, than in the
longer hours. especially. il teachers could
give them tho necessary time and atten-
ton. 10 this end, there should be more
teachers and fewer pupils for each teach
er. Then teachers should have the apnl-
" and opportunity 10 learn the pecull-
~ a AAA U.s. - N0NH IAEA N
be able 70 lead ana direct IL In the pur-
suit OF the kind Of knowledge for which
IL is by nature best fitted, whether b
be a knowledge Of books, or knowledge
never learned OF schools
OF course. all this means much more ex-
penss. and less "machine-made' educa-
ton, at 50 much per capita. But how can
money be better used than In educating
our children2 Life has no higher duty, eX-
cept il be- the preservation OF their health,
both IN body and mind.
X we are going to win In the nght
with the great white monster consump-
ton, the schcol-room Is one Of the most
important points to be looked to.
DANGER IN THE kOLA BEAN.
A prominent physician says he feels IL
q matter OF duty 10 warn bicyclers and
tho public generally against the Use OF
tho kola nut. This drug was virtually
unkncw n " years ago, but, by Judicious
advertising. In which was emphasized the
wonderful staying powers derived by saw
/ ages on their long hunts in the forest,
from the koia nut alone, the drug has
become popular, and Is now put up in
every conceivable s~hape-pllls, tablets, still
and sparkling wines, ana in combination
with other drugs, principally qulnine and
cocoa.
me terrific power OF kola may be I'M
derstOod from the fact that II contains
tnroe times az much caffeine as coffee.
1t IS this that make IL dangerous. There
are coffee ~drunkards. The kola drunkard
is just three times as pitiable an object,
and escape from him Is just three times
as difficult.
Kola was taken up by people who would
never have enslaved themselves to rum
or opium, because il was annsunced as
a stimrlant without reaction. That is the
shecrest nonsense. There must be a re-
acuon from the eXhilaration OF any
stimulsnt. The first effect Of kola is
hardly noticeable. The mar who takes IL
simply feels refreshed, but after eight or
ten hours. the hearts action is enormous
ly Increased. Then, later, in the habitual
kOla drlnker or eater, there Is lassitude-
the nervous weakness and the tremu-
lousness that ensue from overwhelming.
Tho difference is that with kcla the re-
action comes on more gradually.
WBEELMEN SHOULD AVOID IT.
The wise bicTcllsts. who IS wheeling,
not only for this year, but for many
years 20 come. Will let kola in all its
forms, severely alone. IL IL In the in
s.1i0usness Of the drug that the danger
lies. IL does away with the fatigue that
"a long bicycle ride brings. and a pill"
or "a nip at the tiny Task, Will add great
ly 10 The pleasure OF the days run. Be.
fore long the nut m TO DO relied
upon. ami from that stage the develop
ment OF the slavery Is easy.
Tho eject Of tho kola itself Is aggra-
waited by the alcohol which - used In
making IL into tho liquid form. Many a
Wheelman who would not drink alcohol,
does not know that in taking kola TO for
tfy himself, ne is getting rum just the
rams.
Ino important point for the public 10
bear Ia mind IS that while kOla is, In
many respects. q most valuable and use
ful drug, they must not suppose II Is
harmless. but must regard it with the
same suspicion and use IL will the same
caution they would use opium or NOR
STUDY or THE CRIMINAL.
DR.. J.. pcnta, the italian criminaic gist,
has discovered a new feature Of crimina.
anihrOp0iosy. which goes 10 confirm Still
further tho views OF Prot. Lombross
According 10 Modern Medicine DR..
Penta has studied tho fingers and toes
OF iorty-fve hundred criminals, and finds
a deficiency iu the number as well as
prehersihie tees. marked by a Wide space
between the great and second toes; also
a webhed condition OF the toes. an APP
Proclamation 10 the toeiess feet or some
saVages.
RE found tho little toe rudimentary IN
many cases. showing a tendency Oward
tho four-toed animal foot.
The most common CT all the abnormall
ties was the webbel condition OF the toes,
The criminal Is truly a degenerate type
According 90 DR.. Eccles the use OF the
warm bath for the purpose OF producing
sleep is very efficient II properly carried
ou.
The bath should be administered In a
room whose temperature Is 30 &c 20 de,
gIees, H.. The patient g made TO stand
with his heal over the edge OF the tub
and his mead ami face are then rapidly
couched with water AT los degrees. +,
The cooling or the body BY the AIR, aud
the hot |sponging OF the head send inc
blood 10 tie mead, cuating the vessels oil
rns entire brain.
The entire body is then Immersed, e1-
ceDt. o. course, the head. In a oath al
% degrees. f.. which Is rapidly raised 20
a temperature OF los 10 no degrees, b.
In q few minutes the patient IS taken
from tho bath. wrapped IN warm blan'
kets. and without eXerticn on his part
taken 20 his room.
The blankets absorb the moisture. In
his room. the night clothes are put on,
a warm bottle placed az his feet. aud pos
sibly some warm. liquid food administer
ed. The sedatiye ana refreshing result Is
often most marked.
ANOTHER METHOD.
On retiring, put In use by contraction
a certain group OF muscles; change To
another before exhaustion, to another
and thence TO another. having a definite
routine: and continue until a sense OF
fatigue has come.
The brain. meantime Is asked 10 keel