786 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXI. No. 803 



The volume entitled " Good Health " was writ- 

 ten for the fourth grade. In this a general view 

 is taken of the subject. Scarcely any anatomy 

 and relatively little physiology are given, the 

 main contents of the book consisting of concrete 

 and interesting facts relating to pure air, tobacco, 

 cleanliness, sleeping, eye-sight, alcohol, hearing, 

 finger nails, hair, care of nose and teeth, and 

 eating. 



The second volume in the series, " Emergencies," 

 approaches the subject of the formation of habits 

 from the standpoint of the emergencies which 

 come to children. The skin is discussed . . . 

 from that [standpoint] of blisters and burns. 

 The habits that it is desirable for children to 

 form with reference to conduct during emergen- 

 cies form the subject matter of the year. . . . 



The volume " Town and City," which is pre- 

 pared for the sixth year of school life, presents 

 the subject of hygiene from the standpoint of 

 the community, and habits of action which have 

 a social bearing are discussed; . . . the results 

 of overcrowding, clean streets, garbage, ashes and 

 refuse, parks, playgrounds, public baths, water 

 supply, preventable diseases, food inspection, epi- 

 demics, vaccination, tuberculosis, city health, 

 alcohol, microbes and disease. These are all topics 

 in which individual action is involved. In all of 

 them the relation and special emphasis are with 

 reference to the state. The book is thus made an 

 agency for the formation of habits having a 

 community bearing. 



The fourth volume, " The Body at Work," which 

 is intended for the seventh grade, covers some- 

 what in detail the subjects ordinarily covered in 

 the standard physiologies, but emphasis is laid 

 on the training of the body for efiBeiency. Thus 

 much is said concerning the importance of good 

 posture and how to secure it; how one trains the 

 muscles of the body that they may be efficient, 

 enduring and strong; the nature and character 

 of useful exercise; how digestion is most efficiently 

 carried on. . . . 



The closing volume of the series relates directly 

 to the establishment of habits themselves — " Con- 

 trol of Mind and Body." In this book is dis- 

 cussed with some detail how habits are formed, 

 not so much as a theory but as an experience; 

 how habits are broken, fatigue, the wholesome 

 development of the brain and spinal cord, the 

 freedom which well-ordered habits give to the 

 person who has them, the nerve endings, their 

 care, etc. The whole purpose of the book is to 



give the individual that information which is 

 related to the establishment of wholesome habits, 

 particularly wholesome habits which shall be 

 effective in the control of conduct. 



A careful examination of these books justi- 

 fies the following characterization: 



1. They are written ia a clear, readable 

 style that is attractive and likely to be inter- 

 esting to children. 



2. They represent a serial story rather than 

 a series of elementary and more advanced pre- 

 sentations of the same material. Each book 

 is a new book on a new subject (as compared 

 to the preceding book). 



3. The facts presented are drawn largely 

 from the results of accepted scientific investi- 

 gations. The authors have made painstaking 

 use of recent authoritative, scientific litera- 

 ture (for- example note the discussion of the 

 structure and physiology of the brain, and 

 Cannon's experiments on intestinal move- 

 ments). 



4. The general motive, as indicated in the 

 prefaces, is of a high order. The authors aim 

 at human efficiency. The acquisition and con- 

 servation of health is regarded as an indis- 

 pensable means to that higher end. 



5. These qualities combine to make this an 

 exceptional series of books, appearing in 

 marked contrast with the conventional school 

 text with its stereotyped style, its repetitions 

 of text and illustration, its philosophical 

 origin and consequent scientific inaccuracy, 

 its limited scope, and its narrow ideal. 



Several minor criticisms may be advanced 

 as follows: 



1. Book one, " Good Health," would be 

 more complete if it contained some reference 

 to the care of the excretions. 



The system of ventilation shown diagram- 

 matieally on page 28 is an, approved plan. It 

 is backed by some of our best authorities. It 

 is only fair to say, however, that such sys- 

 tems rarely work. 



2. Some of the treatment given in book 

 two, " Emergencies," is too advanced for 

 children of the fifth grade. It contains a 

 good deal of treatment that should be admin- 

 istered only by persons of some maturity. 



