The avoidable causes of disease, insanity, and deformity : a book for the people as well as the profession / by John Ellis.

  • Ellis, John, 1815-1896.
Date:
1860
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The avoidable causes of disease, insanity, and deformity : a book for the people as well as the profession / by John Ellis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    purest quality and the sun's light is dim, therefore I would not have the child, at the age of which we are considering, deprived one moment of their influence during the day except when at meals. I would have all parents, who are able, and who care for the welfare of their children, form societies, of suitable size, purchase a piece of ground in a good airy location, and fit it up as a play- ground for their little ones, employing a suitable governess or two, to take charge of them while on the ground. Having done this, let them send to this play-ground, immediately after break- fast all their children over one, and under seven or eight years of age; let them be sent for at dinner and back again imme- diately after, to remain there until they are sent for in the eve- ning. I would have parents do this every day, without fail, ex- cept when they have the desire and disposition to be with their children out doors, themselves. I would have a small building on one corner of the ground, so that a fire may be kept there in cold weather to warm the children, when necessary; and so that if the younger ones get fatigued and sleepy, they may have a suitable place in which to rest, and sleep, a short time. Or what would be better still, and not much more expensive, I would have parents who are able, obtain a suitable park, adorned by shade trees for very hot, and cheap buildings for cold and stormy weather, outside the city limits in the fresh air and un- dimmed sunshine; then let an omnibus, with a governess, gather up the little children in the morning, with their dinners, and take them without the city to their play-ground, to spend the day in healthy exercise, in breathing pure air, and receiving the much needed solar rays, and fresh milk from cows running in an ad- joining pasture. At night let them be returned to their parents blessed by the invigorating influence of the natural elements. The children alone would not long be allowed to monopolize such a fairy-land, but our sickly delicate mothers would soon, upon every possible occasion, accompany their little ones, and find health and happiness. A similar course to this is pursued by parents in some of the cities of Germany, with the most satis- factory results; and, if adopted, in our cities, would save thou- sands of children from suffering and death, every year. A little