The Ypsilanti daily press., 1943-07-29


his column.
IS. IL is one OF the most painful
periods Of human life both for the
adolescent and the onlookers.
Childhood is a relatively stable
period Of not-very-rapid physical
change or growth, gradual mental
development and spiritual retar-
dation. The child is willing TO have
his rules made for him; he is, with
in limits, obedient, takes medicine,
eats what is put before him (agaln
within limits, and with some addl-
tions of his OWN, takes direction
about his physical welfare.
Then, of sudden, these adven-
turers in life put away childish
things-not yet a man, or woman,
no longer a child, they turn yearn-
ingly in both directions. The other
sex is discovered, and as is the
case with most discoveries, results
in confusion. Growth is so rapid
that they are somewhat ridicu-
lous. Visions and ambitions assail
them - their reading, if they do
any, becomes adult. They are
moody, shy, sulky, loud, or OBJ
streperous, as the case may be.
symptoms Magnified
In wartime all these normal
symptoms of adolescence are mag
nifed and distorted. More than
ever adolescents need parental
control. And that is just what is
now too often lacking. A school
physician is quoted as saying that
the employment OF mothers as
we'll as fathers in wartime indus
try is having a most profound and
unqualified bad influence on ado
lescents. There should be no ques-
tion about the draft determent Of
fathers nor for the refusal to ac-
cept mothers in industry unless
proper provision is made for the
care OF adolescents as well as in
fants and children.
The increase in the nervous
manifestations and personality
disorders of adolescence is, to say
the very least, disturbing.
Night terrors is one of these.
1t is possible that physical causes
may operate in some of these
cases 49, partial asphyxia due to
adenoids, for instance. But most
of them are conditioned by the ex-
periences Of waking life.
Effect of War News
e. Radio programs late into the
night is a specific example.
know many men and women who
have come fairly sober from the
cup Of life, who acknowledge to
me that their heads are not strong
enough to stand a news broadcast
every fifteen minutes, even every
day. How must the newscasts
brewed with strong favoring ex-
tracts affect the adoleseent.
Acne, or pimples, is another
widespread adolescent curse. But
the most unfortunate effect is on
the patients personality. There is
no cure for it, and parents drag
the patient from doctor to doctor
until time finally puts in the cura-
tive licks. Teasing and natural
sensitiveness to appearances may
49, Ia no tat Mo that
the effect lasts into adult life.
Wise parental sympathy and ad-
vice are needed.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
f. F. Ms it dangerous for
young children TO go to the home
of an old person whom the doctor
says has tuberculosis, but has
built up an immunity? She says
she hasn't it and is careless
around children.
Answer: | answer this question
about once a week, but will do so
again. About the most dangerous
thing that can happen TO a child
is TO be in contact with an older
person who has tuberculosis. Tu-
berculosis is caught in childhood,
and at no time later. II is caught
from an older person. There is no
danger in a person over twenty
being around an older person with
tuberculosis. Many older people
either don't know they have tuber-
culosis or can't be convinced Of it,
but they are plague spots just the
same.