328 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



imposed upon them by the entrance-examination to the larger institu- 

 tions, and by the ambition of their masters, who hope to derive profit 

 and honor from their success. This is indeed a serious consideration, 

 and the possibility of a large section of our most promising lads being 

 thus mentally stunted in early life would demand instant interference 

 did we deem the charge fully proved. Now, with all deference, I 

 would venture to express my opinion, based on some experience, that, 

 although we must not neglect so timely a warning of probable rocks 

 ahead, there is no specific evidence of present injury. During my 

 residence at Rugby I was in medical charge of several preparatory 

 schools where the educational standard was very high, and where the 

 success was proportionate when the boys came to be drafted off into 

 the big school. I may truly say that no case was brought under my 

 notice during the space of three years which I could in any way trace 

 to overwork. And this I attribute to the perfect manner in which the 

 counterbalancing conditions of health were sustained, the good food, 

 satisfactory hygienic conditions, ample time for recreation and active 

 sports, and frequent holidays. Boys of that age do not fret or worry 

 over their work they throw it off in their intervals of repose, sleep 

 well, eat well, play well, and so do not suffer. Depend upon it, it 

 would be little to the credit of any proprietor of a private educational 

 establishment were he to neglect the laws of health, and send his boys 

 home enfeebled and worn out from too heavy mental strain. 



As regards the larger public schools the same remarks apply, and 

 I met with very few instances at Rugby of any bad consequences from 

 overwork ; and in the three or four well-marked cases which came 

 under my care I was enabled to detect some other equally operative 

 cause which predisposed to the seizure. Thus one lad, ambitious of 

 distinction both at classics and foot-ball, had undergone violent phys- 

 ical exertion while exhausted by study, and the supply of nerve- 

 force, not being available for this double strain, gave way, and a sharp, 

 feverish attack ushered in long-continued mental prostration. A 

 second boy, who suffered from a precisely similar attack, had been sit- 

 ting up late at night, and felt some anxiety about a future prize ; 

 and the third lad, who completes the catalogue, ha'd also consumed the 

 midnight oil to an undue extent. But, as a general rule, the typically 

 healthy life and surroundings of our great public schools enable their 

 inmatt.3 to withstand a much greater amount of work than lads 

 brought up at home, who are often unduly spurred on, and who have 

 not the healthful stimulus of enforced active exercise. Among this 

 class I have seen a much greater proportionate extent of temporary 

 break-down from the effects of mental exertion too long sustained and 

 too little relieved. 



Although the standard of the School Board is not very high, we 

 may foresee a possible source of danger in forcing the minds of 

 wretchedly feeble, ill-fed, and ill-housed children suddenly into edu- 



