HYGIENE OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 331 



undue excitement. He should have the benefit of outdoor 

 exercise and should be early inured to cold. He should 

 be shielded from the poisoning effects of tea, coffee, 

 tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. He should have 

 impressed upon him the habit of self-control. He should 

 not be indulged in foolish caprices or whims, but should 

 be taught to be content with plain, wholesome food and 

 with the simple forms of enjoyment. 



Influences at School. School life is necessarily a great 

 strain upon the child. Night study added to the work 

 of the day makes a heavy burden for elementary pupils to 

 bear. Though the legal school age is usually fixed at six 

 years, delicate children should be kept out of school until 

 they are seven or eight years old, provided they have good 

 homes. In addition to the excitation incident to studying 

 and reciting lessons, condition's frequently arise both in 

 the schoolroom and upon the playground .that create a 

 feeling of fear or dread in the minds of children. Quar- 

 rels and feuds among the children and the bullying of big 

 boys on the playground may work untold harm. All con- 

 ditions tending to develop fear, uneasiness, or undue 

 excitement on the part of children should receive the 

 attention of those in authority. 



Excessive Reading is a frequent cause of injury to the 

 nervous systems of children. This has a bad effect, both 

 on account of too many impressions being made upon 

 the mind and also on account of the strain to the eyes. 

 Then if the reading consists mostly of light fiction, the 

 mind is directed away from the really important things of 

 life. The reading of children should be thoughtfully con- 

 trolled, both as to quality and quantity. Exciting stories 

 should, as a rule, be excluded, but a taste for biography, 

 historical and scientific writings, and for the great works 



