INDIAN HEALTH "SAN"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 28, 3 February 1937, Page 8

INDIAN HEALTH "SAN"

GOOD N.Z. WORK

Life in a town of Northern India is not devoid of many modern amenities, nor is it unattractive, according to two ladies at present spending a holiday in Christchurch (states the "Press"). They are Dr. B. J; Allen, an American, and Miss E. Kramer, a Dutch nurse. Miss Kramer has lived in India since 1919, and Dr. Allen since 1907. In an interview they described somo of their work in that country.

Miss Kramer was interested .n the Plunket system several years ago, and took a training course in London in 1926. She was the first person to introduce the system in India, where it is gradually becoming more popular. A training centre was established in Ludihiana, and since that .time she has maintained her interest in the methods —so much so that she intends to take a refresher course in Dunedin before going back to India. "',. ■

Dr. Allen anH Miss Kratoer hay« lived for some time in Musoorie, at an. altitude of 7500 feet, and they conduct a health sanatorium there. They believe in dietary, treatment, and concentrate on the correct proportions of four' essentials —light, water, sun, and diet. The sanatorium was opened primarily for the treatment of white people, but now there are as many high caste black patients;

"Malnutrition is very bad throughout India," said Miss Kramer. "This is probably partly through the poor quality of the soil. : ,

"Almost everybody suffers from malaria at some time or another. Although a cure was recently found, the treatment has to be given each time the infection breaks out. Because of the action of the malaria on the blood, many people in India are anaemic."

Dr. Allen said that the mortality rate of babies was the highest in the world. Miss Kramer said that the low marriage age, and the ignorance of the young mothers were ' important contributing factors to this state of affairs. "The nursing profession is going ahead as the Hindu caste is breaking down," she- said. "This breaking-down ot caste is very noticeable. Fifteen years ago no Brahmin would have eaten a meal we prepared for him. In many cases now. Brahmins will sit with and eat meals prepared by others." Miss Kramer was convinced that Gandhi had done a lot of good in this and other ways. ' . ."■.•..

Many changes have come to North.em India in the: past few years, and not the least of them is the mode-of transport. . When .Dr. Allen was first in India she was carried iri a dhandi— the equivalent of a rickshaw—supported on the shoulders of four or six carriers, who took turns. Now they can travel in ■ modern cars. In the evenings they can attend one of the : three picture theatres at, Musoorie, go I" to a cabaret, or listen-in to the Delhi '.radio station, or, on short-wave, ' to> \ London and America.

Dr.; Allen visited New Zealand five years ago. She and Miss Kramer intend to sail in April for America, b*> fore returning to, India. ; . .