Read Ebook: Personal hygiene and physical training for women by Galbraith Anna M Anna Mary

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Ebook has 1649 lines and 148765 words, and 33 pages

For the large number of measurements of the arms, legs, etc., included in the Sargent system have been substituted the rating of the condition of the heart and circulatory system, including the blood-pressure; lung and chest development; digestive and nervous system; the kidneys and generative organs; the muscular system; tests of endurance; ocular and aural tests; with a final impression of the working efficiency.

This standardized percentage table for physical efficiency of women was worked out and the ratings made with the able assistance of Dr. David Bovaird, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Columbia University, and Dr. George A. Meylan, Associate Professor of Physical Education, Columbia University; and it has seemed to us that this combination of tests is of greater practical value, since the maintenance of physical efficiency depends upon the integrity of all of the organs of the body. These ratings were made to cover the Special Medical Blank for Women, gotten up for the examination of the women candidates of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions.

For many years the various Boards of Foreign Missions, which are the great church corporations, have required that candidates for this work should pass a physical examination similar to that demanded by the life insurance companies, and so similar blanks were sent out to be filled by the local examining physicians; but because of the many breakdowns of the women on the field, and the great detriment to the work and the expense thus entailed, four years ago the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions decided to have all of their women candidates re-examined in New York by a woman physician especially appointed by them for this purpose.

The results of these examinations have been most illuminating as to the physical condition of women who call themselves well, to say nothing of what the medical profession in general seem to consider as standards of good health in women who will be obliged to do very hard work under most trying climatic conditions, which all Life Insurance Companies rate as extrahazardous.

The composite picture thus obtained by the statistical study of the physical examinations of these 160 young women is of great value, not only because it is the first of the kind made for the first decade after leaving college; but also because it is very fairly representative of the average physical condition of the great masses of women who are engaged in teaching, social service, secretarial work, etc.; and, further, it demonstrates the striking difference in physique of women who call themselves well, and that of the normal standard of physical efficiency to which most of these women could have attained by proper physical education.

Of the acute illnesses, the following are of the greatest interest because now preventable: Typhoid fever, 12 per cent.; malaria, 6 per cent.; tonsillitis, 6 per cent.

Of the causes for operations, appendicitis leads with 13 per cent.; of these, 9 per cent. were simply for the removal of the appendix; 2 per cent. for the removal of the appendix and diseased right ovary; and 2 per cent. for the removal of the appendix and ovarian cyst. The recovery was not only complete from the operation, but the general health was greatly improved in every respect.

Of the cases of tonsillitis, 4 per cent. were operated on not only with complete recovery, but also with the cure of rheumatism from which these women had previously suffered.

Examination of heart negative, with absence of murmurs 97.5 per cent. Action of heart weak 54.0 " " Pulse weak and rapid 50.0 " " Subnormal blood-pressure 63.0 " " Anemia present 55.0 " " Normal condition of veins 95.0 " " Subnormal temperature 40.0 " " Class average 7.5 " "

Examination of lungs negative, with normal frequency and character of respiration 97.0 per cent. Subnormal chest girth in relation to height and weight, of 5 1/4 inches 87.0 " " Subnormal chest expansion of 1 inch 82.0 " " Subnormal lung capacity, measured by spirometer, 45 cubic inches 75.0 " " Unhealthy condition of nose and throat 20.0 " " Class average 7.5 " "

Gastro-intestinal indigestion was present in 35.0 per cent. Hepatic congestion with tendency to bilious attacks 20.0 " " Constipation 33.0 " " Catarrhal appendicitis 4.0 " " Class average 8.5 " "

Urinalysis negative in 96.0 per cent. Slight traces of albumin 4.0 " " Floating kidney 0.8 " " Class average 9.6 " "

Pelvic organs normal 33.0 per cent. History, menstrual periods normal 38.5 " " Displacements and inflammation, uterus 67.0 " " Accompanied by falling and inflammation of ovaries in 12.0 " " Hemorrhoids 3.0 " " Fibroid tumors 1.5 " " Dermoid cyst 75 " " Operations advised for retroflexed uterus and curetage 1.5 " " Dilatation and curetage 1.5 " " Class average 7.5 " "

Subject to headache 33.0 per cent. Tendency to nervous exhaustion 11.0 " " Hysteric 3.0 " " Insomnia 7.0 " " Mental poise good 75.0 " " Class average 8.5 " "

The average height 5 ft. 3 1/2 in. Normal weight 126 pounds. Normal relation of weight to height and age 33.0 per cent. Averaged 17 pounds underweight 47.0 " " Posture good in sitting and standing 33.0 " " Posture bad, round shoulders, stooped position, muscles flabby 67.0 " "

Strength tests taken only for class of 1915 : Highest 802 points. Lowest 338 " Class average 570 " Class average estimated 7.2 per cent.

Took systematic daily exercise, walking 3 miles 25 per cent. Took some exercise daily, 1 mile or under 50 " " Took absolutely no systematic daily exercise 25 " " Outdoor sports known, but not practised 10 " " Test walk of 3 miles not given. Heart reaction after exercise, hopping 100 feet, not given.

Class average 8.2 per cent.

Where the vision was normal, or had been corrected by glasses, this was rated as normal; because of the occupations of these women it was practically so.

The most striking points of weakness in the entire class were the bad postures in sitting and standing, consisting of round shoulders, a stooped position, and flabby muscles, 67 per cent.; a deficiency of one-seventh of the normal chest and lung development, accompanied by a deficiency of one-third of the normal chest expansion, 85 per cent.; weak hearts with weak and rapid pulse, subnormal blood-pressure, and anemia in over 50 per cent.; over 66 per cent. had some form of pelvic trouble which was acting to undermine the whole system.

Aside from tuberculosis, life insurance companies reject applicants who fall more than 20 per cent. below the normal standard of weight, and because of this 16 per cent. would have been rejected. The cause of this great loss of weight was due to malnutrition and overwork, and had it seemed practicable to adhere to Professor Meylan's wise advice that anyone who fell below 7.5 per cent. in any one series of tests, or below 75 per cent. in the general average, 20 per cent. of the entire class would have been turned down.

It must be taken into consideration that these examinations were made during the first week of June, at the end of a hard year's work; but, making due allowance for this, the results of these examinations have revealed such a subnormal condition of the vital organs of the body as to be appalling even to those of us who have long been familiar with these subjects. In addition to this was the fact that many unsuspected ailments needing immediate attention by physicians or surgeons were discovered in a class of women who considered themselves well.

Statistics compiled during the year 1913-14 showed that more than 20 per cent. of the teachers of the New York public schools were absent at some time on account of illness, and that these absentees averaged 16 1/2 school days. The data obtainable showed four prevalent ailments: diseases of the respiratory organs, 35 per cent.; acute contagious diseases, 16 per cent.; nervous diseases, 15 per cent.; and digestive disorders, 11 per cent. And on the health of the teachers ultimately depends the efficiency of the entire educational system of the country.

In the bad postures noted in 67 per cent. of the entire class, of round shoulders with a stooped position and flabby muscles, we note four distinct and prominent factors in the breaking down of the human organism:

It is a very serious matter when we have superadded to a deficient chest development a deficient chest expansion. For these are the very women in whom because of their general run-down condition and undeveloped muscles the breathing is very superficial; the apices of the lungs, the favorite site of tuberculosis, and the deeper portions are seldom expanded; and not only does the body suffer from a deficient oxygen supply, but there is an equally defective suction power on the part of the heart, which means a poor circulation and a lowered general nutrition of the whole body.

The main function in metabolism is oxidation, and scarcely a step in the series of chemical changes proceeding within the body is possible in the absence of an abundant supply of oxygen, constantly renewed. Living in close rooms lowers the vitality to an extent little dreamed of by most persons.

Many cases of nervous prostration are to be traced not merely to overwork or worry, but to the waste of energy which results from the faulty posture of the body and with the interference of the circulation in the spinal cord, and the consequent weakness of the nerve power which results. In other words, it is not the load which breaks the bearer down, but the way in which the load is carried.

Good chest and lung development, a strong heart, well-developed and firm muscles are the tripod on which rests physical endurance and resistance to disease. And this was just where the entire class was found to be gravely subnormal.

Physical training consists primarily of heart training; in increasing the breathing capacity; in strengthening and developing the heart and other muscles of the body. As the muscles become stronger the body is held more erect, and this favors, as we have seen, all of its functions.

And it is not generally understood how great is the effect of physical training on the brain and mental activities. With a strong and vigorous action of the heart there is a feeling of courage and general exaltation; whereas with a weak heart and feeble circulation fear and impaired mental activity predominate.

The charge is constantly laid at the door of women that they seldom rise above the mediocre, and have never been leaders in the world of art, literature, the drama, science, or the learned professions; that it is men who have invented devices for the home!

According to statistics, of the 25,000,000 wage earners in the United States, 8,000,000 are women, of whom 1,250,000 are over forty-five years of age and 637,000 under fifteen years of age. From an economic point of view, anything which will raise the working efficiency of one-third of our producing population, whose average wage is now the paltry sum of per week, must be welcomed, because it not only prevents loss of time from work, but also the cost of illness. The study of the above statistics demonstrates the fact that the physical efficiency of women can easily be doubled; that should mean that the average wage should be raised to per week, which would be a vast economic gain to the individual, the home, and to the state.

FOOTNOTES:

See page 330.

Similar records for the classes of 1915 and 1916 were not preserved.

As the physical examinations are made during the time of the Annual Conference, in order to shorten the time as much as possible the Board requested that the tests of endurance be omitted.

HYDROTHERAPY

Description of the Skin; Functions of the Skin; the Physiologic Effects of Water, Hot and Cold; the Chief Varieties of Baths; Ablutions; the Tub Bath; the Alcohol Rub; the Cold Dip; Alkaline and Saline Baths; the Rain Douche or Shower Bath; the Hot Foot-bath; the Sitz Bath; Salt Ablution; the Turkish Bath; the Electric-light Bath; Indications for the Use of Turkish Bath, and Contraindications; the Douche; Rationale of the Douche; Contraindications.

The Internal Use of Water; Its Action on the Heart and Blood, on the Digestion; Therapeutic Indications for the Use of Water; Contraindications for Drinking Cold Water.

Enemas; Vaginal Douche; Douching the Ear.

The term hydrotherapy will be used here in its broadest sense, and may be defined as the hygienic and systematic use of water, both externally and internally, for the preservation and restoration of health and the prevention of disease.

The hygienic and therapeutic value of the systematic use of water is just beginning to be appreciated by the medical profession. When this newly acquired knowledge is put to practical use by the great masses of the people, there will be a greatly diminished necessity for the use of drugs. Indeed, water has been pronounced by a high medical authority to be, and probably is, more nearly a panacea for all human ills than any other known agent.

The bath is generally considered merely as a cleansing procedure, whereas this is only one of its beneficial effects. There is, in addition, the stimulation of all the functions and organs of the body obtained through the temperature of the water, and the mechanical stimulation which is obtained by the mode of application.

Again, the skin is not a mere covering for the body, but one of its most important organs, with well-defined functions; so that, in order to obtain a clear understanding of the subject, it is necessary first to consider briefly the functions of the skin; and, secondly, the physiologic action of water.

The skin is composed of three distinct layers--the epidermis, the corium or true skin, and the subcutaneous connective tissue. The appendages of the skin are the hair, nails, the sebaceous and sweat-glands. This complicated structure is supplied with blood-vessels, lymphatics, and nerves.

The skin has two kinds of glands, the sebaceous and sweat-glands. The sebaceous glands consist of a gland structure, with a short excretory duct, which opens upon the epidermis or into the hair follicles. These glands secrete an oily substance, which keeps the hair and skin soft and protects them from the sweat.

There exists in the sebaceous glands of the skin an infinite number of vulnerable points for infection, and the greater part of the process of cleanliness is directed toward their protection. If in any part of the skin there is an accumulation of bacilli, their toxins, or excretions, and, at the same point, a collection of sebum, the friction of the clothes, caused by the movements of the body, becomes an active agent in effecting their absorption by the skin. Hence, the scientific basis for the necessity of the daily bath.

Next to sight, the sense of touch is the most important of all the senses. Through this sense the human organism is made conscious of its contact with the outer world. The cutaneous nerve-endings stand guard, as it were, over most of the functions of the human body.

The importance of the action of the skin as an organ of excretion will be better understood from the well-known fact that the skin is one of the most important aids to the kidneys. That the perspiration and the urine are to a certain extent vicarious excretions has been proved.

The blood is the circulating medium which not only serves to convey nutritive materials from the stomach to the tissues, and the excrementitious materials from the tissues to the excretory glands, but also to equalize the body temperature. It conveys the surplus heat from the interior of the body to the surface, where it may be dissipated by conduction, radiation, and evaporation. Nearly nine-tenths of the daily heat-loss takes place through the skin; and of this, one-seventh is due to evaporation, which is enormously increased by perspiration.

The amount of perspiration produced daily is about two pints, or in the neighborhood of 1/64 the body weight. This is double the amount of water thrown off by the lungs. The watery portions of the perspiration are readily evaporated, and the solid constituents are deposited upon the skin. Urea and uric acid, together with more subtle poisons, are found in the sweat.

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