University of Southern Mississippi - Southerner Yearbook (Hattiesburg, MS)

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what Shnulh hr Bun? with thv iipilrptir ? PILEPSY is perhaps the most distressing in its manifestations and render its victim most de- pendent of all recognized deficiencies of the human body. It is a disease which appears in sudden at- tacks, causing convulsions which include the whole or a large part of the body. Epileptics are dull of mind, as a rule, and many are insane. A few are exceptionally bright between attacks. Much has been said as to the causes of epilepsy, but the con- census of opinion of those who have made careful study of this question is: that heridity has something DOVIE FOSTER to do with it, that general bodily disturbances, such Webster County as intoxication from alcohol, lead, morphine, and other narcotics together with general irritability due to local conditions-eye-strain, toothache, intestinal parasites, and nasal growths are all conducive to the development of the epileptic state. A fractured skull sometimes causes epilepsy, in which case, a surgical operation may give relief. In Mississippi today, epileptic children sit side by side with other children in the public schools. It is clear from an understanding of the nature of the disease that the subjects-should not be required to undergo the same mental and physical strain as other children that the excitement coincident with the life and work of the normal child at school is not the best thing for the epileptic. Epileptics create a dangerous atmosphere for normal children, due to the power of suggestion. Think of the effect upon nervous children of seeing an epileptic have a spell at school ! They should not be placed in the insane hospitals, herded with the bunch, because it has been demonstrated that the two classes are not congenial, having a dis- like for each other which sometimes brings serious results. The influence of epileptics is also detrimental to the other inmates for the same reason as it is to normal people. There is no question but that epileptics should be segregated into colonies as is done in many states. lndividualization would greatly aid in the successful treatment of these unfortunates. If segregated into colonies where the sane and insane can be sepa- rated and where medical supervision and care, proper diet, a little work, and regular habits obtain. the life of the epileptic becomes much more bearable and he is in much better condition than where he remains at home. Ohio was the first state to segregate her epileptics when she opened the Galli- polis Hospital for Epileptics in 1891. New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsyl- vania, Indiana, Missouri, Texas, Connecticut, Kansas, and Virginia have since then segregated their epileptics. Unfortunately, Mississippi has taken no steps in this great social movement. Does it not behoove every teacher, parent, and all others who have children under their care, as well as every loyal citizen of Mississippi to agitate the question of segregating our epileptics who have been so long neglected? DOVIE FOSTER. 12

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iEgP Strain Amnng Qlhilhrrn URING recent years compulsory education, followed by medical inspection, has opened the eyes of patrons and teachers to the fact that many dull children are simply physically defect- ive. Defective vision has hampered school children in their Work more, perhaps, than any thing else. School children with bad eye sight who have been treated as delinquent and have been properly fitted with glasses have taken an interest in the Work and often lead their class. The subject of eye strain among children has been seriously overlooked and We have not been B. F. FERGUSON cognizant of this prevalent malady in the home and school room. It is estimated that twenty-five per cent. of the children in school have defective eye sight, and there is grave reason to believe that the home and school serve, on the whole, to increase these defects instead of remedying them. Many homes are not provided with suflicient light. The children are forced to study by fire or by lamps which are not provided with globes. And in many instances Where globes are not lacking, the lights are not sufficient. The light must be clear and at the same time soft to prevent a glare. The lamp should be so arranged that the rays of light will come from over the left shoulder of the child. In many schools even on the side exposed to the sun, the windows are not pro- tected with shades. And Where shades are provided, they are not adjusted to protect the eyes of the children. In placing the desk, the teacher should see that the children do not face a strong light. Children should not be required to study long Without resting their eyes. They can gist them by taking them off their Work and looking at some distant object for a W 1 e. The type should be large enough for children to read at a distance of eighteen inches at perfect ease. Especially is this true with young children, since their eyes are more easily injured, and excessive strain of the muscle may cause myopia. Attention should also be given to the character of the paper used. The paper should be as dull as possible in order to avoid the confusion effects of the glossy surface. Childrenls eyes should be examined at least once a year by a competent oculist and all children who have defective eye sight should be tested at once. The teachers should test the eyes of the students often, for children may not detect any defect in their eyes in time to prevent serious injury. This can be done by use of test cards which can be had for a few cents. There is nothing about children that should be more carefully guarded than the eye sight. There is nothing that will compensate them for the loss of their sight. Parents, teachers, and physician should all join in a crusade against needless eye strain among the children at home and school. Rankin County B. F. FE RGUSON. 11

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illllrntal Elnrftirirlirg---Gpnv Glaum M O N G the many habits that affects and de- range the mind is that of cigarette smoking. One author says that some of the most familiar marks of the habitual smoker are:- chronic hoarseness, lack of appetite, dyspepsia, pallor from impaired blood, rapid and intermittent pulse, pain in the region of the heart, disinclination for healthy athletic exercise, mental weariness, slowness of thought causing muddled ideas, and defective memory. The poison of tobacco affects t h e whole E- E- FOX human system, but the controling organ, the brain, Neshoba County seems to be the hardest hit. This is very conspicuous- ly emphasized in the fact that a great per cent. of the employers and superintendents of the nation's most responsible institutions, depart- ments, and concerns now unconditionally require their young men employees to be total abstainers from cigarettes. Mr. E. H. Harrison, head of the Union Pacific Railroad, says, Officials may as well go to a lunatic asylum for their employees as to hire a cigarette smoker. In John Wanamaker's store the blanks to be filled out by boys applying for position, read: Do you use tobacco or cigarettes? A negative answer is expected and is favorable to the applicant. The Assistant General Manager of the Cumberland Telephone and Telegraph Company has issued the following order: You are directed to serve notice that the use of cigarettes after August 1, will be prohibited, and you are further instructed to refuse to employ anyone who is addicted to this de- vitalizing habit. Judge Stubbs of Indiana says that every year boys by the hundreds are brought to him for judgement, and that manliness and good conduct can be aroused and stimu- lated in most boys, no matter what the offense of which they have been guilty, if only they are not cigarette fiends. When a boy has become addicted to the use of this form of tobacco, the disease is in his blood and brain, his moral fiber is gone, he is listless and indifferent in school, and often fails in his work. Of 4117 boys received into the Illinois State Reformatory, 4000 were in the habit of using tobacco and over 3000 were cigarette smokers. , Now, from the requirements of these practical men who are leaders in the world of Hnance and industry, and from the testimony of leading jurists, as well as from our own experience and observation we are convinced that the cigarette habit is banefulg and it devolves upon us as teachers to instruct the boys of our State in the bad physical and mental effects of tobacco: to use our influence to prevent in them the for- mation of such a habit, and to throw around them a good environment by effective legislation in regard to cigarettes. E. E. FOX. 13