Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 29.djvu/404

390 they are unconscious often of the strain produced by the unceasing muscular efforts required to see with distinctness, this condition of the eye tends (when not corrected by glasses) to weaken the nervous energies and produces in some cases the most distressing nervous symptoms. The far-sighted eye is particularly liable to be left without correction because its existence is often unsuspected.

2. I would suggest that the parents or guardian of a child, that has hereditary predisposition to debility or disease, should consult some intelligent physician respecting the advisability of sending such a child to school. Advice can then be had in regard to the studies which the child should pursue, and the daily amount of mental effort which it may safely attempt.

Some children are better able to apply themselves to study at five years of age than others are at ten. Irrespective of the fact that some of the brightest men of all epochs have shown remarkable precocity at a very early age and have been subjected to mental discipline when very young, I deem it wise to caution parents against an experiment that may prove disastrous to the future welfare of their offspring.

3. I would urge every parent, as a precautionary measure against disease of the brain, to avoid (from birth to the age of seven) all romps or other form of excitement immediately before the child is put to bed. Such excitement tends to prevent healthy sleep. It may thus precipitate the development of some nervous trouble in the child, by depriving the brain of its proper rest. Too much stress can not be laid upon this point. The error referred to is one that is thoughtlessly committed by thousands of parents.

4. Every child should get at least ten hours of good sleep each night. The old saying that a one hour's sleep before midnight is worth two after is not to be disregarded. A child between the years of two and seven should be in bed and asleep by 6 every day.

5. The sleeping-rooms occupied by children should be large and well ventilated. They should be lighted by the direct rays of the sun, and have large windows. It is far better to give up the best room in the house, if necessary, in order to insure the health of your children, than to reserve it as a parlor for the entertainment of guests.

6. Children should eat at a separate table from their parents until ten years old at least. They should take their hearty meal at midday. It is not conducive to the proper development of any child to be surrounded constantly with food of which they should not partake; nor is it wise to load the stomach with food before retiring.

7. If you wish to keep children free from disease, avoid all pastries and sweets, as far as possible, and confine them to simple and nutritious food. The habit of feeding candy to children between meals, or of allowing them to eat at irregular intervals, is to be strongly condemned.

The nervous system is particularly affected by gastric and