MEDICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12991, 7 October 1905, Page 6 (Supplement)

MEDICAL NOTES.

HEALTHY GIRLS. It is no longer fashionable with the fair sex to feign delicacy, nor are the girls of the coming generation actuated by an insane desire to appear fragile and genteel at the expense of health. The scores of buxom, bright-eyed young ladies one ill meet upon any of our "public thoroughfares any afternoon is ample evidence of the truth of the assertion. No longer do the fail ones seem wan and nale to look upon, nor is their style of locomotion suggestive of effort; but, on the contrary, nearly all seem strong and lithe of limb, and with cheeks suffused with the ruddy glow of health. Doctors generally agree that there is far less of sickness among the sex than had formerly been the case, and this could be attributed solely to the glorious practice young ladies had of late acquired of testing their capabilities as pedestrians, and in engaging in other forms of light physical exercise. It is to be hoped that the good work will go on. FRESH AIR NAPS FOR BABY. An outdoor nap for baby has become necessary as a fresh-air tonic, sensible mothers placing their babies in the open air for a daily nap. Precautions may be taken in the winter to wrap the child in such a manner that it will derive nothing but benefit from this practice. Some mothers may choose the housetops as a safe and suitable resting-place for their little ones. If' these are not available, a wide window ledge.- well secured and protected, will serve as well. This little nest may be protected from rain and sun oy a canopy, and every precaution must be taken for the child's safety. Even the perambulator, screened from a too violent wind, placed in the back garden is good. In cold days it is best to wrap the baby in light yet warm blankets, after the fashion of the squaw mother. ' ' MISSIONARY DOCTORS. The Year Book of the Livingstone College, London, provides an interesting re? cord of the last year's work of the institution, and calls attention to the good service which it is performing. The object of the college 'is to provide medical training to missionaries who are about to commence work in various parts of the world, so that they may carry to the natives of uncivilised lands some of the advantages of good medical attention along with the messages of religion. It is conceivable that the primary object of the mission-workers will be the better accomplished if they" are able to minister skilfully to the -physical needs of their converts." The college very properly devotes special attention to tropica] medicine, is well equipped in laboratories, and provides full facilities for hospital study. It deserves to be better known both to intending ■ missionaries and to the • charitably inclined, for its object is a good one. HOW CONSUMPTION BEGINS. There is often used the expression that So-and-So's consumption began . with a bad cold. This is true, if we mean by that that the cold only acted as a, condition which weakened the lung and laid it open to attack. Colds do not of themselves give us the disease; otherwise we should all be consumptive. When, our lungss are healthy the germs we breathe die in them. If the lungs aire weak, on the other hand, the germs will find a lodgment , breed and multiply, and so cause the disease. There is one part of our lung which is specially subject to form the breeding-place of germs. This is the top or apex of the lung, or the part under tho collar-bone. The reason why this part is so apt to form the commencement of the disease' is • because it is not used in breathing to the same extent as the other parts. We really only inflate it when we breathe deeply, so that we get a useful hint here, namely, that all exercises that brace back the shoulders and favour the filling of the top of the lung will tend to prevent consumption. Such exercises, should be carried out in every school in the land,' and thus fortify boys and girls against the attack of this fell disorder.