RADIO PROGRAM
November 11, 1937

PHYSICAL EDUCATION FOR HEALTH
"WHAT PAR™NTS SHOULD FNOY ABOUT TH PHYSICAL GROWTH OF TRE CHILD"

Allen--Dr. Lapp, last night I read a United Press dispatch quoting Dr. Fred M.
Smith, of the University of Towa, to the effect that degenerative heart
disease in the United States is on the increase. I am of the conviction
that heart disease is the product of our civilization. Hypertension, or
high blood pressure, overworks the heart and imposes upon it an extra
load, thereby vroducing a breakdown of the arteries ana an ultimate
sollenss of the heart muscles. Yet the direct cause of hypertension is
unknown. What is your opinion of this?

Lapp-- Well, of course, I wouldn't know. But we do know thet certain types of
heart diseases are due to heredity, ani that overvork and worry contribute
heavily to this toll. Stimulants, when rest snd slocp are necded, cer-
tainly do not do an individual any good. Tsking stimulants when one is
tired is like whioping a tired horse through a mud vruddle. Is that your
idea?

eee I would begin at the other end of the source - say starting at zero
and endeavor to acquaint the parents with the elemental things so neces-
sary in the infantts early development that they would build in tho infant
a strong physique. Now, I ’o uot mean by that thet we should have a muscu-
lar giant, but the parents should view the little chap as on active and
crow ing little humnn being. Tre things most important to thie youngster
are activity, rest end food. Yas, and I vould also want the young parents
to know that they do transmit the vitelity of one goneretion to the next
generntion. Only Inst week I ueard Dr. Naismith read a short poem and |
liked it very much. It rm like this ....

"God make us wise to know
How strong the stalk must grow
Txat rears so fair a fiover."

Here is mother one thst hooks up the offspring with the family in » very
: 2 se
definite way « « e« «

"So vee a gift, yet the wealth of many lrnds
could not buy it in the richest mrt,

So frail a gift, yet those tiny hands

T-ke mighty hold upon two human hearts."

Supnose we Civide the younesters into ase groups from the poriod of birth
to three years for our first discussion. ‘het chearactsristics, Dr. Lapp,
do we generally observe in these little fellows?

Lapp-- Well, perhaps we should make 2 division, for the sake of dcsacription, into
the physical, the mental and the play cheracturistics. For the physicsl,
of course, there is the rapid growth, weieht is trebleé, the length of the
youngster increases 7 or & inches, anti his brein se in veight 2 or
3 times. For mental reactions, he notices light at 3 weeks, end memory be-
gins. He is constently moving mné iuartieulete spec a anpcers. He begins
to imitate 2t 6 months. Por the vlsy cheracteoristics, there is noticeable
a natural play, grasping, sucking, kicking, end he likes brishtly colored