European child-life in Bengal / by J. Fayrer.

  • Joseph Fayrer
Date:
1873
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: European child-life in Bengal / by J. Fayrer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    'll 18 The conditions of a healthy mind in a healthy body are here all existent, and the results show how materially a just combination of mental and physical training will, when supported by example in those whose duty it is to teach, conduce, even in the climate of Bengal, to ensure a high standard of moral and physical health. In reference to the question of growth and development of the European child brought up and educated in Bengal, I may give the following illustration from the average measure- ments of five girls at sixteen years of age, which was—height, 5 feet 4J inches ; weight, 7 stone, 11 pounds; girth of chest, 34’7 inches; girth of hips, 35*7 inches—a stature and weight which would probably not be much exceeded in Europe. During the next twenty-eight months—i.e., from January, 1869, to May, 1871, the health of the school was excellent. Disease has been almost entirely absent; the general standard of health has been high. There has been no death. But two cases of any severity have occurred; one of pelvic abscess, from which, after an operation, the girl recovered, and is now in robust health ; another had typhoid fever rather severely, but recovered. I would notice one or two causes, which are, no doubt, potential in preserving health, and have recently been introduced. First, the chil- dren now all wear flannel, and have a blanket at night under the sheet on which they sleep; and, secondly, they drink the new water from the stand-pipe. Both of these changes are beneficial. The absence of disease and the general good health that have prevailed is somewhat remarkable in a school of nearly seventy girls. In 1869 there was a slight outbreak of measles in January. Eight girls only were affected, and there were no unpleasant sequelae. Except the two cases already alluded to, there was absolutely no other disease in this year. In 1870 there were a few cases of varicella; and in July, two cases of typhoid fever; both recovered. There was no other disease during 1870. Dp to the date of the report
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