The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-03-08

No class in the community is made
more painfully aware Of the great harm
| that results from the Incorporate use of
alcohol than physicians-it its patholOgic-
al consequences are brought to our
notice daily. think, therefore, that |
am correct in stating that we are in
accord with the motives that inspired
the practical and earnest philanthrO-
pists, who form the department of
scientific Temperance Instruction in
schools and colleges, of that noble
organization, the WOman's Christian
temperance Union. We are heartily
glad to know that through their energy
and persistent effort, with the aid of
the physicians and humanitarians, in
struction in physiology and hygiene,
including the nature and effects of
alcoholic drinks and other narcotics, is
now required by law in every state and
territory of the United States, includ-
ing PortoRico and Hawaii 1t is,
think, fact worthy of mention, that
the so called medical, temperance edu-
cation laws have incidentally brought
into our public schools systematic
study of physiology and the laws of
health. This subject previously was
not regularly taught, or was pursued
only in lragmentary way II ,he higher
schools. Now anatomy and HISTOLOGY,
with their applications to daily life,
especially in relation to I I'd, drink,
clothing, exercise, etc, are ught even
to the youngest children in the lower
classes, aud continued right up to the
high school The effect Of his great
educational movement, quit, aside from
its bearing upon the use Of ; cOhol and
tobacco, has been to groa .y extend
popular hygienic and physioi gic know.
edge. The result must inoy ably b. to
lead to improved personal b, 'ieue, to
steadily growing sentiment favor of
public sanitation and to pol larizatior
Of sanitary science. When ne public,
for instance, is acquainted n the de-
pendent relation of cholera, typhoid
fever, dysentary and othcr diseases
upon the drinking Of infec ed water.
they will more readily follow the ad-
wise Of the health boards to boil their
drinking water in times Of an epidemic.
1t will also be more easy to keep our
large cities in good sanitary condition.
when the public is sufficiently intelli-
gent and sufficiently informed upon the
subject of the cause Of filth diseases, to
cooperate with the health officers in
removing such causes, and keeping
their premises clean.
am, you may observe, something of
an enthusiast upon this subject of in
structing the people, and especially the
children, upon the causes Of health and
disease-hUw to gain the former and
avoid the latter. This, in my opinion,
is the most important teaching that
could be given to them in early life,
and one that is sure to be followed by
the most beneficial results ! am glad
to observe that this opinion is gaining
recognition elsewhere. For instance
petition has been recently signed by
more than $4,000 physicians of England
requesting Parliament to inaugurate
compulsory systematic instruction in
the schools of Great Britain. in the
requirements of health, including the
nature and effects of alcoholic drinks,
by laws similar TO those in force in
this country. The success of such
legislation and instruction in our own
country has been quoted as a precedent
and a powerful argument for intro
ducing such teaching into the schools
OF Great Britain.
MRS. E. j. BoNER,
Sandy Valley Pa.