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School Hygiene and the Laws of Health
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Reviews
3 25,
REVIEWS. SCHOOL HYGIENE AND THE LAWS OF HEALTH. A Text-book for Teachers and Students in training. By Charles Porter, M.D., B.Sc., M.R.C.P. Ed., Barrister-at-Law of the Middle Temple, Assistant Medical Officer of Health and Chief Sanitary Inspector, Leeds. 1906. London: Longmans, Green and Co. Pp. 313 and x., with 119 illustrations. Price 3s. 6d. The author writes from practical experience, having lectured to the teachers and students at the Sheffield Training College on School Hygiene~ and having held the appointment of visiting Medical Officer to the Education Committee. The book is divided into two parts : t h e School Child ~ and the School Building. The description in Part I of the anatomy and physiology of the different systems of the body is clear ; in parts it tend~ to be too full. The description of the manner in which the various physiological systems may be affected by school conditions and diseases forms the most valuable portion of the book. T h e articles on teeth, adenoids, and enlarged tonsils are very good ; but we do not agree with the author that the function Of the tonsils is practically unknown. The author's recommendation that the children be allowed a few minutes' outdoor recreation, should an epidemic of yawning arise, will doubtless be much appreciated by the scholars themselves. There are concise, well-written paragraphs on Infant Feeding and Infant Milk Dep6ts. But what have these to do with school hygien e ? We are glad t o see that the importance of clean towels for the children is insisted on. There are plain, useful instructions for home-cleansing of the head~ Signs of overstrain and signs of insufficient sleep are well described. While reading this book one cannot fail to be struck with the importance of the medical man in the school economy, and the damage that must have been done in the past owing to the delay in his introduction. There is a good account of defective children. In dealing with school furniture the advantages of single seats and desks are well brought out. The signs of diseases are ~ v e n in some detail, but with proper medical inspection the onus of diagnosis will not be thrown on the teacher. The importance of nasal diphtheria as a means of spreading the disease is noted. School closure is dealt with briefly, not being within the province of the teacher. In Part I I we notice that the propulsion method is considered the most satisfactory for warming and ventilating the school. The difficulty of maintaining the proper degree of humidity in this method, and the want of freshness of the incoming air, are not mentioned as disadvantages. We can recommend the book as an excellent guide to Teachers and Students. There are numerous good illustrations. ITS OPERATIVE TREATMENT. By W. Sampson Handley, Hunterian Professor of Surgery and Pathology in the Royal College of Surgeons of England; Assistant Surgeon Middlesex IIospital. 225 pages. Price 12s. 6d. net. London: John Murray, 50a, Albemarle Street. The author here desires to place the operative treatment of breast cancer on a rational basis. He embodies the results of his work in the cancer research laboratories, and we would recommend a study of this work to those who desire to keep themselves abreast of the subject. CANCER OF THE BREAST AND
Reviews
3 25,
REVIEWS. SCHOOL HYGIENE AND THE LAWS OF HEALTH. A Text-book for Teachers and Students in training. By Charles Porter, M.D., B.Sc., M.R.C.P. Ed., Barrister-at-Law of the Middle Temple, Assistant Medical Officer of Health and Chief Sanitary Inspector, Leeds. 1906. London: Longmans, Green and Co. Pp. 313 and x., with 119 illustrations. Price 3s. 6d. The author writes from practical experience, having lectured to the teachers and students at the Sheffield Training College on School Hygiene~ and having held the appointment of visiting Medical Officer to the Education Committee. The book is divided into two parts : t h e School Child ~ and the School Building. The description in Part I of the anatomy and physiology of the different systems of the body is clear ; in parts it tend~ to be too full. The description of the manner in which the various physiological systems may be affected by school conditions and diseases forms the most valuable portion of the book. T h e articles on teeth, adenoids, and enlarged tonsils are very good ; but we do not agree with the author that the function Of the tonsils is practically unknown. The author's recommendation that the children be allowed a few minutes' outdoor recreation, should an epidemic of yawning arise, will doubtless be much appreciated by the scholars themselves. There are concise, well-written paragraphs on Infant Feeding and Infant Milk Dep6ts. But what have these to do with school hygien e ? We are glad t o see that the importance of clean towels for the children is insisted on. There are plain, useful instructions for home-cleansing of the head~ Signs of overstrain and signs of insufficient sleep are well described. While reading this book one cannot fail to be struck with the importance of the medical man in the school economy, and the damage that must have been done in the past owing to the delay in his introduction. There is a good account of defective children. In dealing with school furniture the advantages of single seats and desks are well brought out. The signs of diseases are ~ v e n in some detail, but with proper medical inspection the onus of diagnosis will not be thrown on the teacher. The importance of nasal diphtheria as a means of spreading the disease is noted. School closure is dealt with briefly, not being within the province of the teacher. In Part I I we notice that the propulsion method is considered the most satisfactory for warming and ventilating the school. The difficulty of maintaining the proper degree of humidity in this method, and the want of freshness of the incoming air, are not mentioned as disadvantages. We can recommend the book as an excellent guide to Teachers and Students. There are numerous good illustrations. ITS OPERATIVE TREATMENT. By W. Sampson Handley, Hunterian Professor of Surgery and Pathology in the Royal College of Surgeons of England; Assistant Surgeon Middlesex IIospital. 225 pages. Price 12s. 6d. net. London: John Murray, 50a, Albemarle Street. The author here desires to place the operative treatment of breast cancer on a rational basis. He embodies the results of his work in the cancer research laboratories, and we would recommend a study of this work to those who desire to keep themselves abreast of the subject. CANCER OF THE BREAST AND