The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-25
2s5 per 1000 population, reduction Of

2s5 per 1O0oO population, reduction Oh
% per cent. "ycrbum sap"
BRAIN FATIGUE IN SCHOOL.
a question OF interest to teachers Is
raised by a recent paper by DR.. Kern
sizes. the headmaster OF large German
school. who gives his personal experiences
OF the conditions which influence the
working capacity of his pupils. We
quote from an abstract Of his article In
1.-THE Hospitals"
The best work, M says, is done at the
beginning Of the week, after the Sunday
holiday, ana by Tuesday afternoon, 1t
has alrTdy begun 10 deteriorate. Again.
the mjTnings produce the best work,
and the midday rest. during which the
midday meal Is taken, does not produce
the same recuperatiOn as the nights rest.
II IN Sc results are to be taken as correct.
II would look as though many of our
educational customs might be reformed
with considerable advantage. We have
long thought that reversion TO the two
hdlf-nolidays would be a great advan-
tage 10 the children, however much the
teachers might dislike II. and these in
vostigationS only tend to confirm our
idea.
Young ladies. again USED to 60 to
school IN the morning and afternoon, with
two hours interval between the two
sessions. But now 1t is thought desir-
able, we suppose, that they should be
free TO pay calls with their mothers in
the afternoons; and everything is crowd
ed into one long grind of four hours IN
the morning. Moreover n modern black
board lesson is a very different thing
from the work that used to be done in
school hours. much Of which would now
be called preparation; and, although as
a means d. faafhfuo- facts ftc value IL oh
vious, so also is its power Of producing
fatigue. Crriously enough. the German
experience is that gymnastics, which We
are apt to class with play. produce the
greatest fatigue of all. rendering the
work done after it practically useless.
But, then. the gymnastics are probably
done la class, e. Oh plpil having to do
as he is told. This Is practically. an
other lesson, and is not to be put into the
same category with half an hour in
ives-cOurt or at football.
II must not be forgotten that the ef-
fort TO make teaching interesting. which
is its greatest Characteristic in modern
times. does not really tighten the burden
on the child. II makes learning easier.
but IT makes him learn more; il keeps
him always at IL, and il steals from him
those mon ents Of torpOr and stupidity.
Of dreams and vacancy. I'm which mis-
little brain used TO take furtive snatches
Of repose
PERIODS OF INFECTION.
The period Of infectiousness of conta-
gious diseases is considered to be: small
p0x, six weeks from the commencement
OF the disease. II every scab has fallen
Off. chicken pox, three weeks from the
commencement OF the disease II every
scab has fallen off; scarlet fever. six
weeks from the commencement Of the
disease. Il the peeling has ceased and
there Is no sore nose; diphtheria. six
weeks from the commencement Of the
disease. If sore throat and other signs OF
the disease have disappeared.
Measles. three weeks from the COM
mencement OF the disease, II all rash
and cough have disappeared
Mumps. three weeks from the COM
mencement OF the disease, If ali swelling
has subsidized.
Typhus. four weeks from the commence
ment OF the disease if strength is re-es-
tablished.
Typhoid six weeks from the commence
mcnt OF the disease. II strength is re-
established.
WhoOping cough. six weeks from the
commencement of the disease IL all cough
has ceased. SANITAS.