The Buffalo Times 1889.09.03

1 Research, transcription and comments by Jorgen Malling Christensen.

Illustrasjoner ved Sverre Avnskog.

 

The article below is but a short excerpt of a much larger article, which appeared in the German magazine “Daheim”, issue no 42 of 1887. We have the original article in German on our website, as well as an English translation.

 

The reason we bring this short version to the site is that it is interesting to note that Malling-Hansen’s research was brought to the attention of readers in New York and California.

 

Julius Stinde, 1841-1905, was a German chemist, journalist, play writer and author of considerable scope and success. He wrote under at least 12 different synonyms – as well as under his own name.

 

A Boy’s Periods of Growth.

 

     Based upon his measurements and annotations, Malling-Hansen framed the following rule: The weight of a boy ranging from the age of 9 to 15 undergoes three periods annually – a maximum, a medium and a minimum period.

 

The maximum period lasts four and a half months, commencing in August and ending the middle of December; the medium stage has the same duration, from the middle of December to the end of April.

 

The minimum period appears during the remaining three months, from the end of April to the end of July. The increase in weight during the maximum period is three times that of the medium period, and almost all the gain of the medium period is again lost during the minimum period.

 

From the working of this law it follows that in changing the diet at academies, schools and asylums, the season should be considered. A good diet would give less satisfactory results if observed from April to June, than a poorer diet if noted from August until December. –

 

 

 

Julius Stinde in Popular Science Monthly.

 

 

 

 

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