BODILY HEALTH

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 November 1936, Page 14

BODILY HEALTH

A REMEDY FOR UNREST. Greater attention to bodily health as a remedy for political unrest was suggested by Lord Horder in his inaugural address at the bicentenary session of the Royal Medical Society in Edinburgh recently, says the “Daily Telegraph.” He visualised the ideal Ministry of Health as a Ministry of Public Happiness. Should not the political feverishness of recent days in the East End of London be the concern rather of such a Ministry, he asked, than of the Home Office? Too much canned food .for the mind was leading to beri-beri of the soul, concomitantly with the physical malnutrition which, being more obvious, alone attracted attention. The position facing them, added Lord Ilorder, was “appallingly, transparently, unpalatably simple.” “Let vs,” he continued, “state the desiderata in terms that are clear: “(1) Enough of the right food and drink. But it is no good telling people to ‘drink more milk’ if they cannot get it. At present milk costs 2d a gallon to make walking stick handles and lOd a gallon Jor human food. The problem of distribution must be tackled.

“(2) Easy access to fresh air. “(3) Shelter, but shelter at a rent which leaves something to buy food with, the proprietary jerry-builder notwithstanding. “(4) Leisure for play. “(5) Noise control. “(6) Giving each human being a chance before he is born, and, after death, the decent disposal 'of his body in the best interests of his fellowmen.” Referring to physical training, Lord Horder said that it was very much the doctor’s job, though in schools, and in other places where youth collected, tho sergeant-major and the scoutmaster exercised valuable functions. Pride should be taken in physical fitness.