A CIVIC BIOLOGY 



I. THE GENERAL PROBLEM— SOME REASONS FOR 



THE STUDY OF BIOLOGY 



What is Biology ? — Biology is the study of living beings, both 

 plant and animal.^ Inasmuch as man is an animal, the study of 

 biology includes the study of man in his relations to the plants 

 and the animals which surround him. Most important of all 

 is that branch of biology which treats of the mechanism we call 

 the human body, — of its parts and their uses, and its repair. 

 This subject we call human physiology. 



Why study Biology? — Although biology is a very modern 

 science, it has found its way into most high schools; and an in- 

 creasingly large number of girls and boys are yearly engaged in its 

 study. These questions might well be asked by any of the students : 

 Why do I take up the study of biology ? Of what practical value 

 is it to me ? Besides the discipline it gives me, is there anything 

 that I can take away which will help me in my future life ? 



Human Physiology. — The answer to this question is plain. 

 If the study of biology will give us a better understanding of our 

 own bodies and their care, then it certainly is of use to us. That 

 phase of biology known as physiology deals with the uses of the 

 parts of a plant or animal ; human physiology and hygiene deal 

 with the uses and care of the parts of the human animal. The 

 prevention of sickness is due in a large part to the study of hygiene. 

 It is estimated that over twenty-five per cent of the deaths that 

 occur yearly in this country could be averted if all people lived in 

 a hygienic manner. In its application to the lives of each of us, as 

 a member of our family, as a member of the school we attend, 

 and as a future citizen, a knowledge of hygiene is of the greatest 

 importance. 



Relations of Plants to Animals. — But there are other reasons 

 why an educated person should know something about biology. 



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