I50 PRACTICE AND TEACHING OF HYGIENE IN SCHOOLS. 



throughout the country ? Please note that I except none, for 

 there is as much, if not more, need for the teaching of the dangers 

 of unwholesome living and habits to the native as there is to the 

 %vhite man, for the native is the servant of the white man and 

 dwells in his immediate neighbourhood, or even within his house 

 and, in so far as disease is concerned, giveth him freely of that 

 which he hath. 



The teaching of hygiene is made compulsory by the American 

 education laws, and by a decree of parliament in Sweden. In 

 Holland, Denmark, Italy and Japan it is a subject which is 

 systematically taught in schools. 



A recent enactment of the British Parliament has, in addition, 

 made the medical inspection of school children compulsory gener- 

 ally, and throughout the entire country these medical officers are 

 responsible in addition to their primary dutie; (of seeing that 

 each scholar is fitted for education), for notice being given to 

 the sanitary authorities of any insanitary conditions which may 

 exist within the school prejudicial to the health of its community. 



A very similar law has now come into force in the Transvaal, as 

 has already been the case for some time past in such countries as 

 America, Germany, France, Switzerland, Denmark and Belgium : 

 whilst Austria, Norway, Hungary — and even Turkey — are adopting, 

 or seriously considering the adoption of, such measures. The 

 economy of such action recommends itself, as it is useless to 

 educate by unsuitable methods children who are unfitted for such 

 a form of education. 



The welfare and health of our little ones is not a matter of creed, 

 politics or estate — it is too urgent a matter for the slow processes 

 of the dialectician and his disputes, for it contains the vital essence 

 &f our future existence, and the survival of our race. To whom, I 

 ask, should we appeal ? and from whom (if the advantages be 

 but appreciated) are we sure of support in this matter ? It is to 

 the women, to the mothers who have so often sacrificed themselves 

 for their children, and yet have so often, from want of knowledge, 

 been despoiled by death of their dearest treasures to whom thev 

 gave birth, owing to some disease arising from artificial feeding, 

 impure air, or the kiss of a poor little diphtheritic child. Therefore 

 I have presumed to direct attention to this necessity of teaching 

 the laws of health as one of the most important subjects in our 

 school codes. 



The world-wide educational authorities must recognise the 

 uncontrovertible fact that with them rests the power of dissemina- 

 tion of this knowledge of the means of self-preservation (which 

 they alone can so easily and economically accomplish) of teaching 

 those under their charge how to protect, not only themselves, but 

 others against the mischief and the financial and physical expenses 

 of disease, unwholesome surroundings, and vice, whereby they may 

 enjoy the gift to its fullest of the health God gave them, which 

 ignorance and sloth will so readily tear from them and theirs should 

 they offend against those laws. 



Metaphorically speaking, it might be well to consider the wisdom 

 of even casting over-board as jetsam some of the valuable cargo 



