Dr. George Palmer was well known for his commitment to medical science rather than popular “signs and omens and charms” of the day, and for his fresh air-and-sunshine approach to good health and vitality. The Sangamon County Historical Society published excerpts from Palmer’s 1911 speech to the Illinois Farmers Institute’s Department of Household Science, including these excerpts.
“Open your windows and raise your shades. … Don’t follow fads with your children. Don’t give a little one cold baths unless you are sure they agree with him. Don’t believe all you read on breakfast food packages and don’t get the idea that bran under another name will take the place of bread and butter and meat and eggs.
“Create in your children a desire for good health rather than a fear of sickness. Impress upon them that proper living and avoidance of hurtful things will make them strong and big and effective. Don’t attempt to frighten them into good habits by gloomy promises of sickness, medicine, and doctors.
“Let your boys and girls join in the chase after the spirit of well-being and they will enjoy the game. Don’t cause them to cringe in fear before goblins and demons of disease.”
For more, visit sangamoncountyhistory.org.
– DiAnne Crown
This article appears in Winter 2024 December 2024.
