The San Francisco call., 1905-01-22
START A FIGHT
AGAINST DRINK
English Physicians Want
Study of Hygiene and Tenn
perance Made Compulsory
AMERICAN PLAN SUITS
Eminent Doctors Aroused
By Report of Committee
on Physical Deterioration
AMERICAN PLAN SUITS
Special Dispatch to The Call.


LONDON. Jan. 21.-Inspired by the
scheme prepared by Mrs. Mary A. Hunt
for use in the schools of the United
States, and upon State enactments for
the compulsory teaching of hygiene
and temperance, the physicians of
Great Britain have set on foot a ma
tional movement of much significance,
to which the newspapers have as yet
given practically no attention
A petition addressed to the Central
Educational authorities, and calling at
tention to the pressing need of such in
struction, has been signed by upward
of $4,000 members of the medical fra
tenity. Included in the list are the
names of all the most eminent physi-
clans in the United Kingdom-Sir
Thomas Barlow, Sir William Broad
bent, Sir Lauder Brunton, Sir Victor
Horsley, Sir William Macewen, Sir
Henry Thompson and a host of Others
No demand has ever been presented to
the Government that is backed by
greater weight of expert authority.
Medical opinion is unanimous on the
subject. The question is one that does
not admit of dispute
British authorities are always slow
In adopting reformatory or remedial
measures after the need of them has
II.
be subjected to a great deal Of ham,
merlng to make them do things that
they have not done before. The report
OF the Committee on Physical Deterior-
alton has aroused the doctors of the
country to the necessity of bringing
pressure to bear on the Government
which will force it to take steps to pre-
vent the threatened racial ,decadence.
The committee believes they stated,
that more may be done to check the
degeneration resulting from drink by
bringing home to men and women the
fatal effects of alcohol on physical eff
ficiency than by expatiating on the
moral wiekedness of drinking. To this
end they advocate the systematic prac-
tical training of teachers to enable
them to give rational instruction in
schools on the laws of health, includ-
ing the demonstration of the physical
evils caused by drinking"
AMERICAN SYSTEMS.
The reports made by members of the
Mosely Commission on American sys-
TENS of education, showing how def
cient are the English schools in impart-
ing knowledge of practical value pro-
vided an additional stimulus to the
| doctors in their self-imposed task In
the report of the committee of the med
tcal profession in charge of the matter
of which Sir William .Broadbent is
chairman, especial emphasis is laid on
the example. set by the United States.
Every one of the United States of
| America Englishmen are there told,
includes among its education laws
provision for the compulsory teaching
of hygiene and temperance. Further
the laws Of the United States of Amer
lea require the examination Of teachers
in these topics''
The English physicians want the
same kind of instruction given in Eng
lish free schools that has long formed
part of the curriculum of the American
public schools. The movement is one
of the many indications that John Bull
is bent on trying hard to catch up
with Uncle Sam. The lamentable lack
of elementary literature on temperance
and hygiene in England is strikingly
illustrated by the fact that in prepar-
ing the suggested course of teaching on
these subjects the committee has taken
as it's model Mrs. Hunts scheme for
American schools.
TEMPERANCE AND HYGIENE.
The committee proposes that temper
ance and hygiene, which now have no
place in the code of the Board of Edu-
cation for elementary schools, should
be given third place, following after the