The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-03-25

ANCNfNtSS may VI nv nav
any relation to health, but is worth
and is essential to a
we'll ordered home or school. Chill
dren should early be taught to have
a place for everything and keep it
there. Clothing should not be
thrown promiscuously about the
loom when undressing for the
night, but should be neatly hung |
up or laid over a chair. These lit
tie habits will follow them through |
life. Parents should remember that |
children are very apt to follow
their examples in these things.
7Obaeco. l should be derelict in |
my duty if / did not say word |
against the use of tobacco. Here,
too, the example of the parent will
go far toward influencing the child
for good or bad. Tobacco is injuri-
ous to growing children; it stunts
the growth of mind and body; it
weakens the heart by destroying
the elasticity of muscular fibre.
The law is trying to take care OF
the cigarettes, for which let us be
thankful, aud hope the manufac-
ture and sale of them will soon be
prohibited entirely. Keep tobacco
from children until they are fully
grown. / am aware that many
physicians aud clergymen use to-
bacco, but they would be better off
without it. Ask them. You must
agree with me that it is disgusting
to see small boy putting cigar
or pipe or splitting tobacco juice
about. Gum chewing is also dis
gusting habit, and is harmful for
the reason that it unduly excites or
stimulates the salivary glands The
benefits derived from chewing gum
are more imaginary than real.
Carrying ContagiOn by Domestic
Animaks. 1T may not be generally
known that the common household
pets, cats and dogs, are often re-
sponsible for the spread of contagi-
Gus diseases, such as scarlet fever
and diphtheria. Parents should be
very careful to exclude all domes-
tic animals from the house during
the prevalence of any contagious or
infectious disease, and until after
the house has been thoroughly fu
migated. Some years ago l saw
three cases of scarlet fever that
were positively traced to a pet dog,
The children in the house where
the dog belonged were allowed to
play with the animal during their
convalescence, and the dog was
permitted to leave the house, and
being favorite with the children
in the neigh oorhood, carried the
disease to the three other families.
1 once traced the origin of fatal
case of scarlet tever to COW. l
was called to see boy of five years
of age, who was suffering from a
severe attack of scarlet fever. The
hoy had not been away from home
for long time, and there was no
history of exposure. Finally l
learned that the boys father had
purchased fine Jersey COW about
a week before the boy became i'll;
the boy, being very fond of animals,
was about the COW a great deal
Upon making further inquiry l
learned that the family from whom
the COW had been purchased had
been careless enough to allow their
children to 60 out and come in con-
tact with the cow which was a
pet when they were recovering
from scarlet fever, and there had
been no proper fumigation.
Such carelessness is criminal, and
fortunately is not often heard of in
these days. This occurred about
fifteen years ago. Not only do cats
carry contagion, but they have
been known to contract diphtheria
themselves and give it to children
with whom they came in contact.
Just few words as to the moral
health of SehoOlc cAildyen. This should
not all be left to the Sunday school
Set them the example in the home.
Avoid profanity at home and every
where else, for children are every
where, and quick TO learn things
they should not learn. OF course
this applies more particularly to
fathers and older brothers-mothers
never use profanity. Avoid the
dirty stories which are often indulg-
ed in even among some women.
Try to gain and hold the con-
fdence of your children, so they
will tell you the things they hear,
and you can explain them correct
| ly. Or better still, teach and ex-
plain to them things they ought to
know before they learn them on
| the ctyaatc Vot, t,,av time he an