TALKS ON HEALTH

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 July 1933, Page 10

TALKS ON HEALTH

■ YOUNG GIRL’S HEADACHES. [by a family doctor.] When a young girl suffers from headaches it is the mother’s duty to try .and discover the cause. The doctor has a most valuable ally in the mother when he has to deal with a girl of fifteen. Th e mother, by careful watching, may be able to give the doctor useful information. Begin with the eyes. Any mother ought to be able to make a rough test of the child’s eyesight.. It may '■ be noticed that when the girl does her sewing she holds her work very close to her face, indicating short sight; or she may hold her sewing to one side if one eye is the stronger. I do hope you will not fall into the absurd error of getting a headache powder to cure defective vision. And the girl is to have hex own glasses ordered' for her. Now inquire about sleep. Every growing girl needs a generous allowance of sleep. The headaches , may owe their origin to the simple fact that when the patient has to get up in the morning the brain has not had enough rest. It is very hard to get these girls, who already think they are young ladies, to go to bed early. .An especial watch must be kept over a girl who is attending night classes and is anxious to pass an examination. It is not much good getting first prize for shorthand and first prize for anaemia at the same time.

NO STUFFY BEDROOMS. I Sleep to be really refreshing must be taken in a pure atmosphere. The brain requires fresh air during sleep. I hate that bedroomy smell in the morning. The air has been breathed three or four times over by the occupants of the bedroom. I always feel I would like to throw a chair through the window as a mild and gentlemanly protest. Tlierq is no excuse. To allow your growing girl to suffer from a pain in the head because she sleeps in a stuffy bedroom is mere stupidity, and I have made up my mind not to stand it any longer. You do not have to stand in queues for fresh air—there is plenty. Constipation must be cured before the headaches are tackled by drugs. Two cardinal rules that will help are drinking plenty of water and raving regularity of habits. Mothers should not allow their daughters to get up late, gobble down a hasty meal, and rush off to the train. Ample time should be given to have a peaceful in sal and to atend' to nature’s needs before starting from home. Changes cf occupation may be advisable. Headaches may be cured by working on the, land instead of in an office. A change J of air for a fortnight is sometimes' the only thing that will do any good. A permanent change of residence isj sometimes necessary if the present abode is low-lying and damp.

ILL-HEALTH AND WILL-POWER. The action of the mind, particularly the exercise of will-power, has a great deal to do with disease, disability, and incapacity to work. It may be useful to describe what really happens when a movement of the body takes place. For instance, if I bend my finger a long series of causes precedes the actual performance of the movement. The bone of the finger move

of itself; it is moved by the tendon, or leader, which is attached to it. The tendon cannot move of its own, accord; it is moved by the muscle to which it is attached; and even the muscle has no power of movement unless it is stimulated to contract by the nerve which is connected with it. If the nerve is cut the muscle is paralysed. No nerve can convey a message to the muscle unless the message is started from the brain. The telegraph wire cannot convey a message unless the operator. starts the message from his instrument. And the brain cannot start the message without the mind wills to send it.

THE REAL FAULT. In many chronic invalids the real fault lies with the will-povyer. The important period of their illness is the first few weeks or months. If a sensible doctor and nurse encourage the patient to exercise his own will and make an effort to do things for himself, then his will gradually grows stronger and, in the end, he is cured. But if the patient is put under the loving but misguided care of his own family and friends they may spoil him by doing everything for him and shielding him from the smallest necessity to act tor himself. In these circumstances the will-power of the patient begins to grow feeble, and at the end of the year he has no will at all.

A CHANGE OF TREATMENT. Some time ago I attended a man who had a slight accident some years ago. He got it into his head that his was a. very, very serious case, and unfortunately his wife encouraged him in his erroneous belief. She waited on him hand and foot and made a perfect baby of him. She was a most devoted wife, and honestly thought she was doing her best for her dear husband. The poor went from bad to worse. I suggested that he should go away from home and be treated in a nursing establishment. Of course, I was called a hard-hearted brute. However, I got my way, and in the nursing home he actually had to crack his own egg in the morning. He had to walk a certain distance every day without a stick. Every time he said in a dismal tone of voice that he was a wreck and had better be thrown on tbo scrap-heap he was gently but firmly corrected. His will-power was so flabby, that it was a long job to get it back into working order. At the end of three months his wife was allowed to see him, and I am happy to relate she ’was delighted with the progress he had made and encouraged him to go on with the good work. The patient wanted to go home, and was informed that he would be regarded as cured when he could pull the roller four times up and 1 down the lawn. He did it there and then. Yes, it is the will that wants stimulating. The effect of the will on muscular movements is sometimes, almost miraculous.