The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-13
THE ENGLISH PHYSIQUE.
British Government Wants Informa-
ton on Its Subjects.

The inquiry which the government is
about to address to the chiefs OF the
medical profession as to the physique OF
the English people is not only justifia-
bic. but most wise Two immense
changes are passing over our popula-
ton and it is necessary to ascertain IN
a definite and for the time, hnal way
what the effect of those changes upon
the health Of the population really is.
The people are rapidly quitting the
country for the towns. 1t is not merely
that the great cities are growing till
to take only one instance-it is becom-
ing a serious difficulty to supply them
with good water but the minor towns
are growing till in other countries they
would be accounted cities. whereas
said the earl of Meath in the lords de-
hate of Monday, in 1851 the urban
populat alton of England and Wales was
1880, 900, out of a total population OF
II. 927 900, or so per cent, in 1891 1t was
25, 900 900 out of a total population OF
% 900 600. or II per cent" That IS an
enormous change in the condltlon OF
British life. and it involves by sort
of necessity other changes. the full Ell
feet of which it is needful Tor d WISE
community to know.
Then there is a second charge when
has passed over the people, and winch
for good or evil, must, one would tmnk'
affect the national health we nay
ordered every boy and girl during nine
years of the growing time to go 10
school-that is. to sit quiet for hours,
to bend over desks and to use their
minds instead of their hands and feet:
That the effect upon the intelligence OF
the new generation is, on the Whole'
most beneficial we should be the last TO
deny: indeed. we only wish that the
period of education could be heightened
by two years; but do we know anything
with certainty of its effect upon health.
Many observers declare that 1t is not
all GOOD that even when the schools
are perfectly ventilated the confinement
is too great and is in part the cause
of the neurotic tendency, the craving
for momentsry excitement, whlch, they
say, marks the younger generation oI
the towns We certainly do not notice
that effect or that tendency among the
children of the well-to-do; but then they
leave home a little later, they are per-
fectly fed and they obtain when out
of doors the equivalent OF a SOUND gym
nastic training. At least, they are a.
healthy little animals as could wei pc
wished for. with moreover. none OF the
cares which at that period begin 10
press upon those who have to earn their
living.
The effect of sitting for six hours, the
effect of years of reading upon racS
whose forefathers could not read, ana
the effect of mental development upon
the ill-fed are all effects with ma
terial and direct bearing upon healtn'
and have been far too carelessly SUI
died. We do not feel at all sure that
they are wholly benehelal, ana tru Us
that they will be most carefully eN-
aufned for if the decision is that they
are partly injurious the remedy is IN
our own hands. 1t is only at TINS peIloo
of their lives that we have full controi
of the masses of children, and it shoulo
he utilized to the utmost TO promote the
welfare of their bodies as well as OF
their uinds-London Spectator.