Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-09

The psychical side of child life has
only been the object Of study of quite
recent years. 1T became gradually
recognized that neurosis among adults
was due in the great majority of cases
| to a corresponding condition in child
hood. IT has of course, been recog-
nized for a long time that IN physical
ills the seeds must be sought in the
early years, perhaps months, of life;
but it was not until the prevalence of
nervous troubles invited special re :
search into their cause that II was
realized how precisely analogous the
two spheres were.
The proper treatment of nervous
cases depends on comprehension II
the individual cause, and this in an
ever growing number of cases involves
research and examination into the
history of early childhood Apart from
this consideration, too, nervous all
ments are naturally far more easily
cured in the early days than when
they have been allowed to persist,
while most valuable preventive work
is possible when early symptoms are
properly recognized and development
along wrong lines checked.
The commonest symptoms to be
noted are those classed together az
twitching and irregular muscular
movements. the child so affected can
not sit still for any appreciable time,
is always fidgetng. picking its ting
ers, etc; also regular witches of face
or limbs may be present, involuntary
movements which are beyond control
and which only become intensified
when made the objects of correction
or notice.
The second class of symptoms come
under the head of undue timidity.
Here come cases of apparently UNI
reasoning fear of people or surround
ings, In which, however, an express
sion is really given to fears which
have developed though have never
been mentioned Night terrors come
under the same category, as do many
cases of somnambulism and those
rarer and more serious attacks known
as day tcrrors.
In addition TO such physical mani
festations of nervous or psychlcal
mischief certain traits of tempera-
ment have also their important bear
ing upon the question. Among these
are rritability. peevishness, outbursts
of temper without apparent cause. de-
preston and moodiness. Such signs
developing in children should always
be regarded as danger signals ana
call for careful treatment directed at
ter searching into their cause. Chill
dren of abnormal nervous or PSYCHE
cal condition are nearly always spe-
cia1lv affectionate, developing later an
extreme constituencies in many cases
thew are also often of more than
average intelligence.
Such temperamental traits as these
manifest themselves in quite early
childhood. later they develop fire.
auently into shyness and self-con-
seriousness, which may certainly PEI
present always. but far more general
~ develop later
The question when will immedi-
ately suggest itself is as to whether
such evidences of abncfmality are
hereditary or due TO environment, and !
the answer is one which 1t IS practl-
cally impossible to determine III
must be remembered, however, that
environment has an immense bearing
upon such eases
The KEY to understanding such con- /
ditions---and such understanding must
prelude wise treatment-lies In IN
Outstanding the emotional life, for =
child is just as emotional as an adull
and possesses the same emotions on
Ia with the difference that he has ut
tie or no control over them. indeed,
the process Of upEringing resolves IT.
self largely into the cultivation ~
powers of control oyer the emotions.
Of these three are supreme. ana
are often closely connected. These are
love. which is closely related TO Jeal-
ousv. and this in lis turn leads to-
the reversal Of The first. in hate. \
great number of cases of nenrosis IN
children can be traced directly iol
some intersction # one or more of
these primary emotions. and success
full treatment can only follow the dis
eovery of the cause and IFS removal, |
or. at any rate. amelioratlon. a fourth