Ellis Edward Sylvester
Ellis's Primary Physiology. Or Good Health for Boys and Girls

Introduction

Nothing need be said concerning the importance of the study of good health. The first lesson that a child should learn is the law of his being. Hitherto the aim has been mainly to train the mind regardless of the requirements of the body. The vital connection of the two has been ignored with a persistency little short of criminality.

Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene have their places in the curriculum of our leading schools, but the knowledge too often is simply technical and without practical results. What greater travesty than to listen to a glib discourse on nutrition, digestion, circulation, respiration, the muscles, nerves, bones or brain by a pupil with thin chest, lack-lustre eye, sallow complexion, and weak frame?

With no wish to slight the value of a thorough knowledge of Physiology, this little volume seeks to give the fundamental laws of health, in such simple language that every boy and girl advanced enough to read, can understand them. Accompanied and supplemented by the earnest words of the teacher, who shall estimate the good that may be accomplished?

In the preparation of these pages, the author is glad to acknowledge the valuable assistance received from C. Shepherd, M.D., Superintendent for many years of Public Schools, Trenton, N. J., and Washington Hasbrouck, Ph.D., Principal of the New Jersey State Normal School.

TO THE MALE TEACHER

It is your bounden duty to instruct your pupils in the laws of health. If you fail to do so, you are not fit to be their teacher.

The vices of cigarette smoking, of tobacco chewing, of beer and alcoholic drinking, threaten the very existence of the rising generation. You cannot be too earnest and persistent in impressing this truth upon the boys who look up to you for counsel.

You need not be reminded that the most powerful teacher is your own example. Boys respect and admire manly vigor. You ought to be able to outrun, outjump, outthrow, outswim, outwrestle, outspar, and outplay, at all points, the largest and most active boy in school. Many a teacher, when he attempts to take part in an athletic game, becomes the laughing-stock of the youngest urchin, by reason of his flabby awkwardness.

While our youth often need to be restrained rather than encouraged to cultivate their muscles, yet they should be told to play when the opportunity is theirs. You ought to take the lead in their games. Your eye should be as bright, your sight as true, your cheeks as rosy, your step as elastic and your physical prowess the equal at least of any lad in school.

All the text-books in the land are less effective than a few timely words from you. Occasions are continually presenting themselves which should be utilized. When a boy has been playing too violently, or when he neglects play, when he is careless as to his clothing or shows evidence of falling into any bad habit, a kind but pointed warning will accomplish more than weeks of study.

There are other dangers to which boys are peculiarly exposed, and which obviously cannot be referred to in these pages, concerning which it would be criminal for you to remain silent, but in all such cases, your warning must be uttered to the offender in private, or by the father to whom you may make the suggestion.

Of course you will see that the school-room is properly warmed and ventilated; that the pupils are kept out of all drafts; and that the air is as pure as possible. The faithful teacher will find almost hourly opportunities for impressing these vital truths upon the children, and, only by doing so to the fullest extent, can he approach a proper fulfillment of his own mission as the friend, counselor, and guide of the coming generations.

TO THE FEMALE TEACHER

What has been said to your co-laborer about assuming the lead in observing the laws of health, applies with equal force to you. Your experience and knowledge give you invaluable opportunities for instructing the girls in what is truly the great question of life and death.

Cleanliness, clothing, food, and all the subjects treated of in the following pages, should be supplemented by the practical illustrations which the girls themselves continually present. No observant teacher can have failed to become acquainted with the rudimentary laws of her being, and to none is given so golden an opportunity to make that knowledge a living truth as to her whose calling it is to instruct the future mothers of our country.

CHAPTER I
WHY THE LAWS OF GOOD HEALTH SHOULD BE STUDIED

Every boy and girl ought to live a hundred years. When worn out at last by old age, death will come like sweet sleep, without pain, or suffering.

No one can live very long, unless he obeys the laws of health. These laws are so simple that all can learn them. Many people remain ignorant of them until they grow to be men and women, when they find it too late to escape the penalty which nature visits on those who break her laws.

One of the first things that boys and girls should study is how to keep the health which their kind Creator has given them. Such knowledge will save them days and nights of suffering and perhaps bring them many years of enjoyment.

Children give little thought to the care of their bodies, and often form habits whose ill effects are not seen for a long time. Let them, therefore, try to learn, in early life, what is right and wrong in this respect.

It is not a hard study. What is more interesting than to learn about the most wonderful machine in the world? That machine is yourself. There never can be any invention to compare with it. God alone can create it, and it is your duty to do all you can to keep it running until worn out.

Anatomy is the study of the structure or make-up of our bodies. Physiology tells of the offices or purposes of all the parts of our bodies. Hygiene, or Good Health, is the knowledge of the laws by which all the organs and parts of our bodies are kept in the best possible condition.

How long ought every boy and girl to live? What is said of death from old age?

What is necessary to secure long life? Are these laws simple? What mistake is made by many people?

What should be one of the first things for boys and girls to learn? What will such knowledge save them?

What do children do? What, therefore, should they try to learn?

Is it a hard study? What is the most wonderful machine in the world? What is your duty?

What is Anatomy? Physiology? Hygiene, or Good Health?

CHAPTER II
CLEANLINESS. – BATHING

One of the first things to remember is the need of keeping your bodies clean. Of course you wash your hands and face as soon as you rise in the morning, and if necessary through the day, but that is not enough.

The skin is composed of two layers, the outer or scarf skin and the inner or true skin. The outer is continually wearing out and falls from the body in fine scales. The skin is pierced by thousands upon thousands of pores, or tiny openings, through which a large part of the waste of the body passes. If these pores are allowed to become clogged by want of cleanliness, the waste matter enters the blood and may cause disease and death.

The way to keep the pores open is by bathing or cleanliness. When the weather is cold, you should bathe at least once a week at home. The water should be moderately cold. After bathing, rub yourself from head to foot with a coarse towel until the skin becomes warm and red. Then dress quickly and do not go out-of-doors for half an hour.

During summer it is well to bathe every day. Salt water is better than fresh. Boys are fond of bathing and are inclined to spend too much time in the water.

Avoid stagnant or impure water. Running streams, ponds into and from which water continually flows, creeks, rivers, lakes, and the ocean afford good bathing.

Do not bathe when the body is overheated or you are perspiring freely, or within two hours of breakfast, dinner or supper. Stay in as long as it is pleasant, but come out before you begin to feel chilly.

In entering, it is best to plunge at once under the surface. If you walk slowly, as many timid people do, until the water gradually reaches your neck, you leave the brain heated too long. It ought to be cooled at the first.

After bathing, rub your body dry and dress without delay. Do not lounge on the shore in your bathing dress. If you do, the body becomes chilled, and ill results are likely to follow.

What is one of the first things to remember?

Of what is the skin composed? What is said of the outer skin? What of the pores? What follows if the pores are allowed to become clogged?

How can the pores be kept open? Describe how one should bathe when the weather is cold?

How often is it well to bathe during summer?

Which, is the better, fresh or salt water? What are boys apt to do?

What should be avoided? What affords good bathing?

When should you avoid bathing? How long ought you to remain in the water?

What is the best manner of entering the water? Why?

What should be done after bathing? What should you avoid? Why?