LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE PHYSICAL DETERIORATION OF THE NATION.
[To THZ EDITOR Or Till "SPICTATOR.1 SIR,—In your article on " Physical and Military Training in Scotland" in the Spectator of August 30th you state that "it is established without a doubt that the physical deterioration of the nation during the past hundred years has been very great." Considering that the science of anthropometry is of recent development, I doubt if there are good grounds for stating that there is a marked general national physical decadence. The recruiting of the Army is influenced by so many conditions that experience in this field can hardly be taken as a basis for the statement. The subject is of such great national importance that it would have been well had the Com- mission which is now sitting first established the correctness of the belief. Although I question a general physical deteriora- tion, l admit that there is now, as there always has been, a low standard of physique in a large and important section of the community, and l consider that it is to the national in- terest that steps should be taken to prevent this. I believe much can be done, but not in the way proposed. There is a tendency in dealing with the great problems of the day not to go to the fons el origo mali, and this tendency is shown in this Com- mission's inquiry. Physical training will no more create a nation of Sandows than it will convert underbred horses into Derby winners. It is at our large children's hospitals that the causes of our national physical decadence will be learned, and the ways for counteracting it indicated. It will be found that in at least 90 per cent. of the cases seeking treatment it is the feeding of the infant and the hygiene of the home that are responsible for the physical wrecks. It is by no means poverty which leads to this state of affairs, for the better middle class, the well-paid artisan, and the poorly paid labourer alike commit the errors which lead to the defective growth and development of their children. The degree of ignorance on this important matter, even amongst the better educated, is astounding. It is no uncommon thing to find that even the poorer classes spend more on "patent foods," Ste., than would suffice to feed more than one infant on good milk. The remedy is, I think, simple and practicable. In a matter of such national importance there is no reason why the State should not insist, through the different licensing bodies, on every doctor and nurse giving to every mother a leaflet of simply-drawn-up instructions on the rearing of infanta. It should also be incumbent on the State to sec that a proper milk supply is within the reach of all, as is being done on the Continent and in America. Carried out universally, there can be no doubt that the physique of the nation would be improved, for a youth would spring up which could benefit by physical training. Further, by improving the general hygiene of our homes much more may be attained; but, as I have already said, there is a "want of efficiency," a failure to go to the root of the evil. The modern Crusaders against our national scourge, tuberculosis, are going over ground already tilled, and either fail to see, or shirk acting on, the logical conclusion; they seek to cure the disease, not to prevent it; they build sanatoria—which are simply sanitary buildings—instead of making every home sanitary; they fail to follow the example of the State, which, as the result of the recommendations of a Commission appointed about fifty years ago to inquire in the health of the Army, has reduced the prevalence of phthisis amongst our soldiers enormously, by no other means than giving each man a larger cubic area. Instead of presenting ideal hygienic conditions to the diseased, let those workers for the people's good seek rather for means to bring home to the people how it is possible to prevent disease, and aid the masses in protecting themselves from landlords who impose unhealthy conditions on them. Is anything done to enforce universally the laws framed for the protection of the people in sanitary matters ? I think it would not be difficult to adduce evidence that there is not. How, then, are we to ensure the protection of the masses, and with that gain a better national physical standard ? Legislation per se is insufficient. It is essential to create a public opinion amongst the classes affected, and I submit that it is only possible to do so by giving greater
prominence in the teaching of our national schools to the principles governing a healthy existence. There is little use in requesting the working man "not to spit,"—all the pamphlets issued will not change his habits. But instruction given to the higher forms in the plastic age by competent teachers, illustrated by a few simple experiments, would appeal to a certain percentage of pupils, and would do more in a few years to advance the sanitary condition of the people than any attempts to teach adults. To summarise :—Admit- ting that there is a physical inferiority in a large section of the community, and that the general physical standard can be raised, I submit that it is not by physical training that this can be done, but by directing attention to the nurseries and homes of the nation,—to the rearing and fostering of the sapling, not +o the training of the grown tree.—I am, Sir, &c., M. ComsE, Major, Indian Medical Service.
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