HEALTH NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 1 May 1928, Page 7

HEALTH NOTES.

PERSONAL HYGIENE. CARE OF THE BODY. (Contributed l>v Department of I Health.) I From a health point of view, the I terms' 1 ‘ cleanliness ’ ’ and ‘‘personal hygiene” are practically synonymous. Personal hygiene 1 is a distinct aid to health, and, therefore, to efficiency. There can thus be no question of its importance. Wo much so that instruction in personal hygiene is of inestimable value in. primary schools in order that lifelong habits of right, living 'may be inculcated in each individual. Wo may now consider what steps must be. taken to keep the various parts of our body in good order. CAKE OF THE SKIN. The skin, by surface radiation and evaporation, regulates the temperature of the body. It is also an exretorv organ, as it contains' innumerable sweat glands, whose ducts wpeij on the surface. There are other glands of the skin—.sebaceous glands. The skin is therefore exuding sweat and sebaceous matter which, mixed with shed epidermic scales' and scurf, accumulates on the surface, and must be periodically removed if the body is to bo kept in a clean and wholesome condition. Home of this .matter penetrates into the underclothing next- to the shin, thus rendering periodical changes of underclothing necessary. Dirty skin and dirty clothes are not only disagreeable to the senses, but are injurious to health, as they lessen the excretion of' waste materials on the surface of. the body, and therefore throw more work on the internal excretory organs. TJ.n-

im rm; —ocleanly people in whom the skin is too clogged with .dirt- to perform its functions' are ;ilso more 1 table to chill than those whose .skins' arc clean. To keep the skin in good health a hot bath should be taken at least once a week, preferably at night in order to avoid chill. Cold baths are less cleansing that hot, but more stimulating and invigorating. The best time for a cold bath is on rising. Very young and delicate people do not as a rule stand cold baths' well, and for them a daily tepid sponge is preferable. Swimming baths .are of great value. Not only do they afford opportunity for acquiring a valuable accomplishment, but they provide physical exercise in a form tha t is most, potent for the promotion of health. Where school baths have been instituted they have been found to load not only to greater cleanliness, of underclothing and person among the pupils-, but to increased self-reliance, better moral tone, better mental attainment, a,-ml most decidedly better physical development. Special attention to the care of the feet is essential, as 1 a large amount <of perspiration is given off by the sweat glands on the soles of the feet, even in the voidest weather. . This, together ; with the scales which collect in, the spaces between the. toes, must be daily removed by washing, as otherwise the feet rapidly become offensive. ; Other parts of the body which require . special attention are those .parts where t perspiration is most active, such as in , arnupit and in the groin. The head < should be thoroughly washed at least. , once a week. j A good deal of the: soot and dust in ( the atmosphere of large towns is prevented. from 'reaching the lungs by be- t coming lodged in the nasal cavities just , within, the opening of the nostrils. Tito , nose therefore performs the useful -tune- j thins of a filter, but like other kinds of ~ filters it should be periodically cleansed, j It is important therefore that children t should be taught the proper use of the a handkerchief and that they be one our- v aged at- all times to breathe through the nose. e Wit AH IN

\ I'jKiMliN. Dirty skin a rid clot king a ttract lic( I’liore arc two kind's of lien common]; infesting the human body, the .hem louse infects the hair of the head. Th louse (ped'ieul'us corporis'). The heai lose infects the hair of the head. Th female lays numerous eggs—-nits— Which are attached to the shafts of tjn hair. The embryos tohe some eight o ten days to batch out, and then a-ppea: as grown lice. Hence measure's, taken t< get rid of lice must be carried out thor ouglilv for at least ten days. Lice bi.ti the skin and suck blood, the bites in ducing great irritation, which leads t't scratching, and the formation of sores accompanied by painful enlargement oj the neck-glands. The body louse re seinblcs the head' louse. It lives anc breeds in the creases of the garment; next to the skin, and also sucks' blooc from its victim. Both head and body lice arc transferred from .person to per son bv close contact or by the wearing of infested' caps or clothes. The effect of these vermin is much more serious than would at first appear probable, as the intense irritation inflicts' much loss of rest and consequent nervous disturbance on the sufferers. Head lice is best got rid of by cutting tile hair very short and thoroughly saturating it with kerosene overnight. Next, morning the hair should be washed thoroughly' with soft soap and hot. water, and then combed with a finetooth comb. The removal of nits can be assisted by dipping the connb in warm vinegar. Body lice are destroyed if the garments they infest are baked or disinfected by steam heat- « hack of personal cleanliness predisposes to skin diseases such as ringworm, impetigo contagious, and scabies or itch. Clean people may become infected from dose contact with a sufferer. Those conditions' d'eniand prompt, medical treatment. -foils should be kept short and their cleanliness ensured, by a. thorough scrubbing with a nail brush in hot soapy water. "Dirty nails often carry infection tu i lie food. Small children, for in-

stance. of t«*n re-infcet themselves with thread worms (by convoying the ova into the mouth from flirt underneath their linger units. CARE OF THE TEETH. .Decayed teeth arc a potent cause of. disease. A person with 'bad teeth swallows poison with each mouthful of food. A 'dirty mouth and foul breath are most repulsive, as well as injurious to health. Hence, care of the teeth is important. Teeth should be brushed after each meal if possible, especially the last thing at night. Meals should be ended by food of a cleansing character, c.g., salivary stimulants such as lettuce, celery .apples. Clothing should ire light and loose so that it does not interfere with free bodily movement. It should be adapted to the climate and seasons of the year. Underclothing should, lie changed at least once a week. For young children, especially, simple garments are desirauje. as they are more readily kept iu good order. No child is properly clothed who lias not a handkerchief. This is a most important article, both for health and cleanliness. Item ember that dirt decreases physical efficiency ami takes away self respect. Cleanliness not only gives bodily comfort and health, but "contributes towards a - spn-so of personal dignity,, and hehee adds greatly to one’s pOwFr of achievem&nt.