Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 125, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1903 — OVERSTRAINED YOUTH. [ARTICLE]

OVERSTRAINED YOUTH.

Experta Say that Germany's Com mer cial Rise Has Keen at Great Cost. Prussian' military authorities are becoming alarmed at what they term the degeneration of the German youth. In countries like Germany, where a term of military service is required of every able man, the examinations for army fitness are pretty apt to indicate the true state of the nation's health, and when seventeen out of every thousand applicants have weak hearts, it Is no wonder that the authorities decide there is something wrong. Between the years 1881 and ISS6 the annual average of persons with heart trouble was low, only 1.5 per thousand, and higli-water mark was reached In 1898, when the average waa found to be 17.4. Perhaps the best opinion on the cause of this state of affairs is that offered by Dr. Strieker, an army surgeon, who has given the matter careful study. He declares that overwork. Irregular exercise, and immoderate and too early use of tobacco and intoxicants are responsible for much of the trouble. Another point to which the Doctor calls attention is the practice of putting children at work too early. As they often are required to toil beyond their strength, the strain, with Irregular hours of rest, results In premature breakdowns, which, the Doctor Is positive, have much to do with the general standard of health.—Washington Post. --