The Washington times., 1906-11-17
HOWE, ITS PROBLEMS 1AND INTERESTS
The Cause and Cure
Of the LiStleSS Child
What to Do for Him to Arouse
Him 10 Natural Childish
Activity.

Listlessness and moping in children
are indicative of three things.
l. That the little one is below par
that is 10 say, that its general health is
poor. and needs toning up.
2. That IT is in actual bad health. per-
haps from incipient lung trouble, or
something OF that kind.
8. That II Is sickenlng with some infec-
tious illness or suffering from gastric de-
Tangement
II the listlessness suddenly appears Ia
a child previously active and healthy.
the last cause should always be sus-
pected. The child should always be put
TO bed. and If the temperature is over
100 degrees /. the doctor ought to be
sent for.
Ia any case. the child should be kept
IN bed and given light diet. milk. bar
ley water. etc. so that if symptoms Of
illness are incipient their development
may be watched and promptly treated.
Remember the old saying. that IAN
hour lost In the treatment of a sick
child is as bad as a day lost in the
treatment Of sick man"
OF course listlessness and lassitude
may be caused in a child. or in anyone
else by overfaugue. in which case rest
in bed is most important. X should
never be forgotten that overfatigue,
which is bad for anyone, Is doubly bal
for a child. 1t has not seldom been fol-
lowed by serious illness.
When, however. the listlessness is OF
slow ana OF gradual growth il generally
proceeds from feebleress of health. and
the only way to cure the child is by
strengthening its health
1t is a great mistake in these cases 10
place too much reliance on tonics. They
are well enough in their way, but they
should be prescribed by doctor, To suit
the childs age and digestion.
The indIscriminate giving of Conlcs 10
children does lot Of harm. They upset
the stomach. some Of them cause constI-
patton. others bring on biliousness. and
in the end they often do more narm tnau
good. II is Tar better 10 strengthen the
systenl by an outdoor life and exercises
which will develop the chest.
Z is not half sufficiently realized how
much our physical vigor is influenced by
our chest capacity. Remember thar the
Nitallzlug Of the bloOd-and remember
that the blood is the life"-depeuus
upon the oxygen IN the atmosphere
which we inhale into our lungs. The
more our lungs are developed the more
oxygen VIII they contain.
Now, II the shoulders are contracted
me chest VIII be followed Inward. n
they are thrown well back the chest will
gently curve outward
In the latter state IL needs hardly be
SAID the capacity OF the lungs for hold
Ing air ls much greater than in the for
mer. The person with a weIl-deyeIoued
chest viii therefore have purcr and
TlCher blood than one whose chest IS
contracted. See how this applies 20 the
hstless child vino is below par"
itls blood Is poor. there Is no doubt
ABOUT that. If 1t were not hc would not
De below par. one OF tie firSt things
therefore. To raise the standard OF his
heaIth Is 10 develop his lung capacity
ilis must on no account be done bv
suddenly commencing violent exercises
quiet callsthenic exercises Swedish
dIlllr gymnastics. and outdoor games
VIII gTadually-that is To say. in mo
course or "a few mOnths-enlarge the
90 ,t, "oI slIt' OF the chest, and with this
VIII come bigger lungs, purer blood and
more Vigor and tone 10 the whole body
~ ls TOO often overlooked thar r.-rl
sGStltS nave very great efTerf In en-
80 s4hs the lungs. They increase The
SIZE or the chest, which practically
means that they make the Mne-caSs
bl5Ser. II the case IS larger the com
tents have naturally more room 70
There is no need to explain how vastly.
important TINS Is while the bonv frame
work OF the body is developiug An
amusing story is told by a gymnastic in
s.ructOr which shows how exercise can
increase the size of the chest
lie TOOK dozen soldiers In train rs
SLlnuistlc instructors for the army.
lie says The muscular additions tn
the arms and shoulders and the cxpan-
sion OF the chest We're so great aS IN
nave absolutely ludicrous and eTnEar-
RAISING result, FOR before The fourth
month several OF the men could NOT Get
INTO their uniform jackets and tfnfcs
without assistance. and when they GOT
them on they could not get them 10
meet Dy a hands 5 breadth
IN month more they could not sef
itto tEem at all, ard new clothing had
10 De Procured, pending the arrival OF
Whlch The men had To go to and from
the gymnasium 81 their great coats
one or these men had gained i've inches
IN actual gtrth Of chest
To insure the hest possible fEl,cl,r,-
meht or the chest Is, then, one OF tho
ch!et things We can do for the listifss
chiid tnttl IT, bodily vigOr il inoroyed
orlatlons 10 II TO rouse itself from its
'aZy, lisJess ways are uselesslv cruel
FRESH air and good nourishnent sea
ar ana cheerful companions are also of
course, necessary 0'
4 bp H/0I Of on 4 MI