The Washington times., 1911-01-06
Monday Evening Club Sends
10000 Pamphlets to Dis
trict Parents.
MANY PUPILS WITH
PHYSICAL DEFECTS
One In Twenty Have Imperfect
Eyesight, While 1000 Breathe
Incorrectly.


fare of children is today distributing
$1,000 pamphlets among the school chill
dren Of the District, and is directing the
giving of lectures on the subject of
health in every school room in the city.
The pamphlet circulated by the COM
mittee reduces TO words of one syllable
the whole question of how to keep well,
and especially how to keep children
well. 1t is worth the consideration Of
every person in the District.
Following are the committees recon-
. mendatiOnS:
A Healthy Child.
Are Won sure that your child is not
suffering from some slight physical de-
feet, which may be entirely cured or
removed If you attend to it now, but
NAV seriously disable your child for life,
II you neglect it now?
A recent investigation of 1900 pupils
of Washington schools revealed the
startling fact that very large num-
bers'' had one or more physical defects
which should give parent serious con-
cern.
= One in each twenty pupils had de-
fectiVe eye-sight.
One in thirty was afflicted with de-
fective hearing.
Six thousand six hundred and nine
1y-eIeht pupils G5 per cent? had de-
fective teeth, which needed attention.
and threatened the health of the
child.
Over 1000 were "mOuth-breathers,"
suffering from adenOids, enlarged
tonsiIs, etc. in a way which affects
the physical health and the mind.
Seven hundred and three were under
size.
Seven hundred and twenty-seVen
were ''iII-nOurished."
Nine hundred and twenty-three
were anemic.
Are your children among these, who
for their good health and future happl-
ness need careful attention which they
are not receiving? Why not be sure
about it? Why not have your chlld
carefully examined at once by pily-
scian?
Growth and Nutrition.
The rate of growth for a healthy child
is shown in its weight. Proper, healthy
growth depends upon a good supply OF
nutritious food, plenty of pure air, a
reasonable amount of mental and physl-
cal work. and sufficient play, rest, and
a
not grow as fast as he should, or If he
does grow. will lack strength and vi
tanty.
Does your child eat wholesome,
warm breakfast, before going 10
school. Does he come home for
warm lunch in cold weather: Or does
she spend the pennies given her TO
buy a lunch, for candy instead OF
buttered rOllss
Food and Drink.
Food should be taken at proper inter
vaIs, not oftener than once IN 1our
hours If you let your child go 10
school without wholesome, warm
breakfast, or neglect meal because
something else interests him, or because
the annette has been interfered with DE
eating between meals candy or otheT
sweets. you do your chlld poSl'lNe II"
jury. A., hoa.
must be thoroughly and slowly cheWed.
The child's own appetite cannot De
trusted to decide the proportion oL lileaC e a.
To vegetable food. Most chlldren are
inclined TO eat too much meat and TOO
little vegetable food. Eggs ana MIX
are valuable foods for children. II Is
sweets Cand sometimes with reference
to '.nickles'O that the parent Shoull
regulate and restrain the appetite Of
the child
IL sweets are allowed only at the
close of meals, and only In limited
amounts, and are forbidden altOEeth-
er between meals, there Will be Inuch
less sickness from disOrdered diges-
fiOn.
The growing child should not be al
lowed to drink tea or coffee. They ac-
compllsh no good; they frequently dis
turb the nervous SnSIem'' lhey olten
Water may be taken in any ordinary
quantity if it is not too cold. Excessive
use of iced drinks is injurious. ChlId-
rem should drink water freely between
meals, rather than at meal time. If
much liuuid is taken while eating solid
food, there is a tendency to swallow
the food too quickly and without chew
Ing it properly; and liquid, hlling the
stomach, makes its digestive action less
efficient.
Fresh Air Necessary.
Set a lighted candle on the table and
turn an empty fruit-jar over 1t. At
- first it burns brightly. But the flame
consumes the oxygen in the air, just
as breathing consumes it; and soon the
candle goes out. There is no oxygen
left IN the burnt-out air confined in the
jar.
Such air cannot support a fame, and
It will not support animal life. 1t is
the lack of sufficient oxygen which
makes the air of an unventilated room
where persons have been breathing
dangerous to life.
Air supports the life of men and ami
mails because of the oxygen 1t contains.
When too little oxygen Is left, the
breathed air in rooms becomes deadly.
Outdoor air is less likely to contain
too little oxygen, or too much of the
waste matters given off from the lungs
and the body, or from stoves lamps
and gas burners.
The more child can be Out-Of-
doors, the better for health. But since
school children must be indoors most
Of the time, let outdoor air into the
home and the school room, to KEEP
your children healthy.
II the child is warmly clothed, and
does not sit or stand in a direct draft,
there is no danger from fresh air.
The best temperature for the living
room, or for a school room. Is from
C6 TO 20 degrees Fahrenheit A sleeping
room may we'll. be kept at lower tenn
nerature. 55 degrees Fahrenheit, or be-