Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-08-13
DR.. }. ?. CLIFFORD SPEAKS

DR.. J. 2. CLIFFORD SPEAKS
On Demands Of Child BY Virtue Of
Right.
/ The second address on educational SUBJ
lects was delivered in Bethany church
sunday evening by DR.. John p. Clifford
and was forcible, practical discourse on
right living and the just demands of
children, which should be read, pom
dered and inwardly digested by larger
congregation than church walls can con-
tain. DR.. Clifford said in part
While the world has been gradually
aroused to the importance of medical
matters, the most important part of the
human race has been singularly neglect
ed. refer to the children. Only dur
ing the past few years have they begun
to receive their just proportion of atten-
4 ton, and to them we owe our greatest
duty. The affairs of the nation will
soon rest on the shoulders of the children
OF today, and how many reach the years
OF maturity physically capable of coping
with the problems which confront them
On whom rests the responsibility of inn
proving the physical, mental and moral
being of the nation? Especially upon
the physicians and parents; hut more
than this, upon the state and nation, or
in other words. upon you who are part
OF the state and nation.
Undoubtedly, the greatest source of
mortality among infants is ignorance in
handling them, the correction of which is
obviously education, and this education
must come through the medical profess
sion, and be impaired TO you. When we
consider the fact that out of every 1000
children born into the world, 230 die
during the first twelve months and ten
per cent of the remainder before the end
of the fifth year, does it not seem impera-
tive that larger proportion Of our efforts
should be directed to the prevention of
this terrible loss to the race during in
fancy?
The child is young animal so far as
physical characteristics are concerned. In
his work on "Education," Herbert
Spencer remarks that the first requisite
for success in life is to be good animal,
and to be a nation of good animals is the
first condition of national prosperity.
In order that vigorous adult may be
produced, suitable nutrition, plenty of
fresh air and cleanliness are absolutely
necessary for the child.
In his daily life there must be absence
of worry and anxiety, absence, to a great
degree, of responsibility, absence of work
of an exhausting nature, until the adult
period is reached. The child should
make its first years growth and develop
ment during the first year, its second
years growth and development during
the second year, the third, fourth, fifth
and later years. growth during those
years.
Protracted faulty nutrition, over-work
- -
ture in mines, stores or factories during
the developing period leave their indelibte
stamp on the adult, as evidenced by
stunted growth, lack of endurance, lack
of resistance to disease, lack of capacity
for work, together with the absence of a
high order of mental capacity and moral
force so often found in the.healthy. The
infants weight increases about 20 times
before the adult period is reached, and its
body is built by the food it assimilates.
1t requires no great process of reasoning
to appreciate that the child fed on suita-
BILE food will become more vigorous and
better formed adult than the one fed, be-
ginning at birth and continuing through
the entire developing period, on food Of
Indifferent tissue building qualities.
Instinct teaches the lower animals as to
the proper selection of food, not only for
themselves, but for their young. Instinct
tells the higher animal, man, very little.
Every year of my life in private work
among well-to-do people as well as in
the clinics in our large cities, ! am
brought face to face with the most dense
ignorance relating to the most important
feature of the management of a child-his
nutrition. II man is wanting in the in
stincts, he possesses reasoning faculties,
and is capable of being taught what his
offspring has right to demand.
| The mothers of today are mostly of an
| intelligent class; they can read, they can
write their names; they are familiar
with the current topics of day; they
| attended the public schools. An inti-
| mate insight into the daily lives OF these
people, such as / have had, will demon
strate that large percentage of malnu-
triton among the young is not due to pow
i erty, not due to the absence OF food.
| The children do not go hungry; the
maInutrition is not due to the want Of
| food, but to the want of proper food.
Some of these mothers possess only lit
tie knowledge of what constitutes suita-
Bile food for growing child. They are
absolutely untaught as regards food
values. One typical mother attended the
public school, but she was never taught
how her own body. or the bodies of her
offspring, should be nourished. The
/ school neglected to teach her that which
| to her and to the state is of the first impor-
lance. Members of our school boards,
teachers and those who are connected
with educational institutions should
exert their influence in having students
! taught how to live. To prepare for COM
| plete living Is the function which edu-
| cation has to discharge. Herbert Spencer
| writes -" Is it not an astonishing fact
that, though on our treatment of our off
| spring depends their lives and deaths and
their moral welfare or ruin, yet not one
word OF instruction is ever given to them
who will hereafter be parents.
The young wife of the average Glass
gives birth to q male child who, in the
/ natural order of events becomes laborer,
q farmer, a mechanic, q small wage earn
/ err; or he enters the army and navy. In
| any event, whether in public service or
| in private life he is an important person
| age. He is in the service of the state.
He is member of the body polite and