278 NATURE STUDY REVIEW [7:9— Dec, 1911 



of the flies that had access to water died before the end of two 

 days and none lived for three days. This experiment shows 

 that at high temperature flies must have water very frequently, 

 twelve hours' deprivation being generally fatal. 



Editorial 



Last year, we Americans spent, in round numbers, two 

 hundred million dollars in patent medicines to dose ourselves 

 for real and imaginary ills. We bought eight hundred mil- 

 lion dollars worth of tobacco to soothe our over-wrought 

 nerves. We paid the liquor dealers three thousand million 

 dollars for stimulants. This prodigality has gone on in spite 

 of the fact that, usually, there is a means of accomplishing 

 the end desired in a much saner and safer and cheaper way. 

 All about us, neglected, is benign nature with her effective 

 balm, her soothing ministrations, her rejuvinating influences. 

 We are beginning to realize that we have only to open our 

 windows to let in the healing air, that nervousness, bat-like, 

 is banished by good sun light; that a cold sponge and brisk 

 walk are the most effective bracers. 



Not the least significant aim of nature-study is to so 

 stimulate the child's love of the out-of-doors, to so accustom him 

 to companionship with Nature, that a habit of comradship will 

 be established for life. I would have every child taught some- 

 thing of the stars that as a man he might call some of them, 

 at least, by name and walk beneath the star-lit sky in com- 

 pany with them. I would have him come to know the trees 

 and flowers that their dewy friendship might entice his ma- 

 ture steps into paths of pleasantness and ways of peace. I 

 would have the lad know the beasts that serve him and their 

 lesser kin that when the strains of strenuous endeavor come 

 upon his later years he may still be lured into these haunts 

 where he and they renew their strength. But above all I 

 would have him come into close personal touch with some 

 person, some rare teacher, who has learned to appreciate "Nature, 

 the dear, old nurse" and who by his stimulating contact can 

 impart his own contagious enthusiasm. 



And if the pupil needs the healing, inspiring friendship 

 with nature how much more the teacher! Teaching is one 

 of the dangerous trades — so classed by the insurance com- 

 panies; teachers are a bad risk. The percentage of deaths 

 from tuberculosis, for instance, is greater among teachers than 

 among any other professional people. The teacher owes it 



