“SHOPPING-BAG NEURITIS”: MANY WOMEN SUFFERERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22698, 24 July 1948, Page 6

“SHOPPING-BAG NEURITIS”: MANY WOMEN SUFFERERS

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 24. There was no doubt whatsoever that the health of women in New Zealand over the past eight years had incurred a steady deterioration, and the manifestations of this had not been vague, hut evident In a specific ailment, known to doctors as “shopning-bag neuritis", said a leading medical practitioner. "This new ailment has become very widespread and has been steadily increasing since early in the war," he said. “It seems inevitable that this increase will continue.” The symptoms were acute neuritis of the right arm and shoulder, lie said. "It is no joke." lie commented. "Far too many married women have been crippled with it It is general among all age groups except very young women.” New Zealand had not been the only country where this ailment had been noticed. It had initially received its name in Britain, where many women were sufferers from it. "Never before have I seen women so tired and enervated.” he said, "This is beyond a doubt attributed to '.he conditions under which they have lived over the past years. "There has been hard labour for women for years,” lie continued. “They are unable to obtain help in the homes, most of them are in need of holidays, which for many are impossible because of their famiiv obligations, and their general health has inevitably suffered."