65 



Just now we hear much about sclionl ijardeuing, having: the chihlren 

 attend to a small plot of ground. We can readily see how a child may 

 learn much regarding plant life, how the soil must be prepared, the seed 

 planted at the right time, food and moisture supplied, and enemies of the 

 plant held in check, weeds and animals of all kinds. The school hoy 

 learns that in proportion as attention is given to his plants and they are 

 protected from destructive influences they thrive. By pointing out anal- 

 ogies between plants and man he can understand why man himself re- 

 quires attention. 



It is customary nowadays when any change is proposed to say. Teach 

 it in the schools! Teach the Young! Just now there is a demand to teach 

 agriculture in order to get away from old-time farming with its wasteful 

 metiiods. Teach it in the schools ! Teach the young ! Now the same 

 may be said regarding causes of common ill health. Teach it in the 

 schools! Teach the young! The young learn readily and remember. Our 

 schools already teach physiology but unfortunately it is largely if not ex- 

 clusively a book study; often the book used is dry bone anatomy or dry 

 as dust physiology and forced upon the children I'efore they can grasp it. 

 The new books on hygiene and sanitation are a great im/jrovement Imt it 

 is still only a teaching from books. If the teacher could take his pupils 

 out and point out analogies between plants and weeds and diseases and il' 

 newspaper accounts were studied in the light of environmental intiueuces, 

 it would not take long until there ^^■ould be a change for the better. 



But in order that the teacher may be able to instruct the young, he 

 must himself be taught. That means the colleges must take u]i the work, 

 and since our Academy is mainly made up of college people, shall we say 

 the work comes home to the Academy? 



But, some will say, educating the people in regard to sanitary matters 

 is work for the physicians, the physician should educate the people. That 

 may be true theoretically but practically it is wholly false. Physicians 

 treat sick people. Under present conditions that is all the people demand 

 and all they are willing to pay for. Many have no use for the physician 

 until they are actually disabled, sick or diseased, and then it may be too 

 late to talk of education. 



It may be asked, Wliy dn Udl jiiiysicians at least call attention to 

 these matters and to enN'ironnicntal infinences, hdw people l^Mr-eonie sick 

 and diseased on account ot unsanitary surroundings? There are several 



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