Year: 1877

The report Of the Board of Visitors of the
State University of Wisconsin contains the
folloying remarks relative to the co-educa.
ton of the sexes in that institution


at is now several years since the expert


ment of the co-education of the sexes was be-


gun in the university. In respect to the pro-


ficiency shown by the young women in the


several classes during the recent examina-


tions, as compared with the young men, our
impressions coincide with former Boards of


Visitors. They sustained the test at least as
creditably as the young men, and, if there


was a difference, we are inclined to think it


was in favor of the young women. In the
main, they excelled in the precision and
promptitude with which they responded to
the questions We were, however, deeply


impressed with the appearance of i'll health


which most of them presented. 1t would not
seem probable that, by mere coincidence, so


many young women should be congregattd d


together offering this popularity. There are
few notable exceptions, but as whole this
appearance is unmistakable, and las given rise


to considerable comment among the members


Of the board. There can be nothing about the


hygienic condition of the university, in any


of its parts which would give rise to ill


health. Every part examined presented an


appearance of cleanliness; the food in the La


dies Hall was wholesome and well prepared;


the service rooms clean; the dormitories well
lighted and aired, and of sufficient capacity.


We are, therefore, compelled to look else
where for the cause. Every physiologist is
well aware that at stated times nature makes
a great demand upon the energies of early
w0manhood, and that at these times great
caution must be exercised lest injury be done
AN injury which, it is well knewn, may
prove permanent. In order to keep place in
the university classes, where the sexes are ed
ucated together, no account is taken of the
fact that a woman lsbors under double dis
advantage, as compared with the man. First,
in the circumstance that nature compels COM
above stated, makes demands upon her ener-
gies; and, second, that to keep her class stand
ing, the girl must devote more energy, and,
consequently, work harder to accomplish her
task, making drafts upon ber system, which,
by the very nature of the ease, is already tax
ed to meet the physiological demand made
upon it 1t Is also well known that overwork,
in whatever way induced, at the times indi
Gated, will produce deterioration oil the sys-
tenn, which generally manifests itself by
followed by a train of evils
which is not necessary here to enumerate. 1t
is this very condition of bloodlessness which
is 30 noticeable in the women of the universi-
ty at this time; the sallow features, tie pearly
whiteness of the eye, the lack of color, the
want of physical development in the majority,
and an absolute expression of aEemia i'll very
many of the women students, all indicate
that demands are made upon them which
they can not meet. Education is greatly to
be desired, but it is better that the future ma
irons of the State should be wi hout a uni
versity trimming than that it should be pro-
cured at the fearful expense of ruined health;
better that the future mot hers of the State
should be Iojust, hearty, healthy women than
that, by over study, they entail upon their
descendants the germs of disease. And there
is no more certain law than that of heredity.
The overweight nervous system undermines
the general health stealthily but certainly, and
its evil consequences are prolonged in many
cases through life."