THE "LONG-LIFE" SEEIES.—Edited by George Black, M.B. (Ward, Lock, and
Co.)—Though it is last in published order, we prefer to tale Health in Schools and Workshops first, as being of the greatest importance to the masses of the population. School-life, as the primer points out, has altered considerably, gaining in some respects, losing in others. The substitution of emulation for the old hard-and-fast discipline has been beneficial, but is now doing decidedly more harm than good. The amount of study and its proportion to recreation is put forth with great fullness, con- sidering the limits which had to be allotted to it. Ten hours' work is a decidedly maximum average for young men. This primer is certainly one of the best in the series.—Sea Air and Sea-Bathing.—This primer must be very gratifying to all bathers, for it takes an enthusiastic view of the healthiness of the habit, and falls in with most people's ideas and feelings on the subject. We could wish, however, that more had been said on the dangers incident to bathing, though, in truth, these are matters for common-sense consideration, and advice is rarely of use. The accidents which occur generally from the most flagrant contempt of warnings constitute the largest propor- tion of fatalities. The advice given here is good and reasonable. —Sleep, and How to Obtain It.—The first rule one looks for is the average amount considered necessary, and the estimate for the educated classes is decidedly below that generally taken ; but its justness few will doubt ; it is really a question of thoroughness. This brings us to the question of sleeplessness, the causes and the cure of it. Here, again, the primer points out that sane (sic) people have the cure in their own hands, and yet will behave in a manner (forewarned as they are) that drives the most experienced of medical men crazy. Two most potent causes of insomnia are the consumption of food before retiring, and the vice of napping after meals and during the time not allotted to bed. We recommend the contents of this book to the earnest perusal of all weak sinners in the above vices.—Brain-Work and Over-Work. —This is meant, we doubt not, for the literary man even more than the business man, who, after all, is not always master of his own time. The writer who, having taxed his brain severely, declines recreation because it is cold or because he is disinclined to it, is excessively foolish, and should try and realise that a sedentary life and brain-work are equal in power to an organic disease. As for the business man, over-work is frequently the result of mere greed of money and self-sufficiency. Here, again, we may remark that common-sense is the best though least regarded preventive. Before we conclude our remarks on this excellent number, we may join with the author in pointing out the insufficient amount of holiday which business men take, and the nullification of it which literary men make by continuing their usual routine.- Sick-Nursing.—Where the need of this instruction is most needed, it is least likely to be received. The ignorant do not and will not learn the most patent facts of human convenience. We remember hearing of an example in point. Five old women offered to sit up with a sick labourer's wife, and did so in a room which one indi- vidual would pollute in five hours. Sick-nursing among the poor is conducted in a manner that seems incredible. A great deal of useful information and some valuable hints make this one of the best of the series.—The Mouth and the Teeth.—This, though not an interesting subject, is none the less an important one. Few, indeed, are aware how much their comfort depends on the posses- sion of sound teeth. The primer deals chiefly with teeth during the earlier stages of life. They then require more care, because decay is more rapid, owing to their incomplete density ; yet few children get sufficient attention in this matter from parents. A sketch of their anatomy and treatment is given. —Eyesight.-- The most important of all senses, eyesight, is one which nowadays requires the strictest and most watchful care. Yet, in the words of this primer, "men who would scorn to buy a ready-made suit, are satisfied with the cheapest lenses without a thought of measure- ment "! Fools, indeed ; no experience is more dearly bought or bitterly rued. The data from the British Association should indi- cate the delicacies and dangers of eyesight.—Hearing.—It is at school that the hearing runs more risk and receives more irre- mediable damage than any other period ; a box on the ear, an explosion, a sudden shout in the ear,—all these dangers are only too real; the latter, indeed, communicates a very serious shock to the nervous system of the strongest. Those who peruse the primer, and master the wonderfully delicate mechanism of the ear, will realise this, as well as the foolishness of paying too much attention to the cleanliness of the organ itself. Smoking through the nose is a bad habit indeed; but when we hear of men who make chimneys of their ears, we despair.—The Skin.—Few, probably, realise the importance of the skin as an excreting agent, and the action of physical exertion in aiding its valuable property ; and no one would like to be told that they are actually dirtier than the labourer whose proximity they would carefully avoid. Yet it is a fact, as a moment's consideration will show. Again, the contagiousness of skin-diseases has been enormously exaggerated, two or three only out of a hundred being really so, and the chances being fifty to one against their being caught. The whole theory of the care of the skin may be summed up in the story, given in Long Life, of Dr. Abernethy. A child suffering from a skin-disease was brought to him. The cause was apparent, and he recommended plentiful ablutions. "But, doctor," said the mother, "that would be giving him a bath." "True," said the doctor, "it is open to that objection."—Long Life, and How to Reach It.—If the philosopher's stone has not been found, at least an article of chemical manufacture, soap, may suffice to
ward off human ills. Cleanliness in living, eating, drinking, clothing, and air,—this is the elixir of life which no alembic will distil. Ventilation is the sine DA non of houses and public buildings, and its absence seriously limits the longevity of life. 'Routine of work, moderation in exercise, diet, sleep, and the use of stimulants and narcotics, with a just balance of activity, mental and physical,—these are the items. Tobacco and alcohol are not necessaries in the healthy state, but their moderate use cannot be called prejudicial to long life, and brings the sum of human pleasures nearer the grand total of happiness.
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