Evening star., 1939-01-02
Growing Girl
Lacking in
Vitality
SlOuched Posture
Indicates a Need
For More Rest
By ANGELO PATRI.

Louise is 13 years old, tall and
thin, and stoops badly. Her head
comes round the corner before the
rest of her even shows" says her
small brother. Gosh, Louise, can't
you stand up?" Louise bursts into
tears and runs to her room.
Il keep telling her every time I
see her to stand up, but she slumps
the next minute" says her mother
in tones of great grievance.
Louise cannot stand up because
she lacks vitality. She is growing
very fast so that her energy is
used faster than she generates it.
She has to keep pulling herself
up with an effort of her will. You
try that sometime and see how tired
you get, and how soon. We hold
ourselves up without thinking about
it at all, as we we're meant to do
Louises body is in such poor health
that 1t has not the energy needed
to maintain good posture.
When this happens to an ado
lescent girl she must be given less
activity and more rest. Her diet
must be prescribed by a physician
who watches over her. She goes to
bed early and rests, even if she does
not sleep at once. She is trained to
lie fiat on her back and relax for
half hour or so after lunch, and
If that is not possible because of
school programs, the programs
should be changed.
Girls of this age and condition
too tall, too thin, overstrained to
the point of tears, need the atten-
ton Of the physician who knows
them. Telling them to stand up
is on the same plane as telling
them to grow nice and chubby. Their
health is poor. Mend that and the
rest will follow.
One does not want to make such
children conscious of their health
or lack of it. But in cases of chill
dren where posture is so bad as to be
marked by everybody, where thin
ness Is painful, where tears are too
near the eyes, something must be
said, and promptly. Explain that
just now one has to be careful so
as not to get over the line that marks
illness from health. Very little is
needed to push such girls over to
the wrong side. Once that happens
it is going to be hard to get back,
so the thing is prevention. Speak
out plainly and tell the girls that
at this age they are likely to fall Ill
if their vitality falls too far below
standard. Teach them to bring up
their weight and improve their
health by following the doctors di-
rections. Tell them the reason.
Many adolescent girls might have
been saved years Of illness had they
been attended to when they began
to lose weight and color and vitality
Bent shoulders are not the cause
of themselves. They are a symptom
of weakened vitality. Never mind
them, but go to the root of the
trouble. Feed the child eggs and
milk and green vegetables. Keep her
out IN the open air as much as
possible See that she rests between
school sessions; gets to bed early !;
conserves her energy; helps herself
over this hard place so that she
enters womanhood in good health.
This sort Of child needs the care
of the physician. Because other
children manage to get by without
help is no reason for thinking this
one can. She cannot. Her bent
shoulders, her WEAKNESS, her easy
tears tell their own story. Attend
to this child without delay.
Mr.. Patri will give personal at
tention to inquiries from parents
and school teachers on the care and
development Of children. Write him,
care Of this paper, inclosing q three
cent stamped, self-addressed en-
velope for reply.
Copyright, 1o3s.)