Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-10-19
MODERN CIVILIZATION.

If the consensus of opinion expressed
by the physicians at the interstate civic
and philanthropic conference held at
Battle Creek, Mich, last week, is based
upon actual conditions, modern oiviliza-
ton is responsible for the deoadence of
the human race, and from a humanitarian
standpoint is a dismal failure. Particu-
larily is this true regarding America. DR..
j. H. Kellogg made number of start
ling statements along this line, one of
which was:
"The practical question to which
wish to call attention is this: While we
are evidently growing wealthier and
wiser, are we growing stronger or weakerf
Weaker and wiser the adage runs, and,
unfortunately the facts sustain the popu-
lar impression. Notwithstanding our
marvellous accumulation of wealth and
wisdom, we are certainly going down
physically toward race extinction. This
assertion will doubtless appear In the
highest degree reckless, and perhaps alb
surd, in face of the we'll known fact that
the average length of human life has been
doubled within the last two centuries, as
is clearly shown by reliable vital stat,s-
tics. We would not only say in defense
that vital statistics are not the true meas
ure of the constitutional vigor of the
race. The average length of life does not
represent the vital capacity of the race.
The true measure of vital endurance is
not the average longevity, but the num-
Der of individuals per 1000 or 100000
who attain great age"
DR.. Foster, of Rush Medical College
in Chicago, spoke upon the subject and
concurred in the opinion expressed by
DR.. Kellogg, adding:
eve eat too much. We shun every
physical exertion that would be benef-
cial. There is too much ease; too much
social excitement, and too much educa
ton, at the expense of the physical be-
ings. do not mean that they are sent
to school too young, but that they are
kept there too long. They have too few
vacations; too little variation.
"There is too much reading for the
good of the nerves and the general |
health. 1t seems that physical vigor de-
creases as we ascend the scale of civiliza-
ton. The proof of this is not IN the in
creased death rate, but in the decreased |
birth rate. American families have fall
en- from an average of seven children to
four children in the last 100 years. If
this decrease continues we will be an ex
tinct race in 200 years. The birth rate
in this country is kept up by the increase
in the foreign born. In France the
present birth rate is less than the death
rate, and We are approaching like con-
dition. Civilization promotes brain life
at the expense of the body. There is no
necessity of pushing education 80 far. If
our children had half the education they
now have they would be better physically
and mentally, in the long run. I believe
our present ideas of excessive education
are absolutely silly. Education is a
nineteenth century fad. 1t is quite pos
sible to educate mind sufficiently with.
out injuring the body, and this is what
should be done"
Other physicians of prominence spoke
In the same strains. DR.. Henry M. Ly-
man made the statement that girls are
taught too little cooking, sewing and kin.
dred accomplishments, the time being
given too much to the requirement of
an education which taxes the physical
strength to the detriment of those who
ire to come into the world in after years.
The outlook is certainly dark, when
viewed through DOCTORS eyes, and a
,asual glance at present conditions seems TO
the pessimistio views expressed
1t the Battle Greek meeting. The chase
lfter the almighty dollar to pay for the
of modern civilization lie
Hing the best and brightest in the land.
The expression of worry and anxiety on
he oountenance of nine out of ten of the
business men tells the story only too
plainly. 1t is race in which only the
trongest can hope to reach the goal, and
hose who fall before the first quarter
,ost 10 passed outnumber those who fin-
sh by thousands.