MEDICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13727, 18 April 1908, Page 7 (Supplement)

MEDICAL NOTES.

DEFORMITY AMONG SCHOOLGIRLS. A recent report submitted to the London County Council shows *- startling prepon- % fesnOß of deformity umoig schoolgirls, as compared with boys. This is attributed to I the heavy burdens that the former have to carrr- When schoo is over the boy may nifty, but the girl hus to help mother. She lifts weights too heavy for her, she lugs about heavy babies, and she does not get the natural and healthy exeiolse of childhood. The poor working mother, crushed beneath an intolerable weight of cares, looks upon her daughters as little slaves--, and quite naturally tries to put part of her load upon ahem. Day nurseries are the remedy by one London paper. V". FRESH AIR. Even though cold weather is here, keep the windows open. Impure air and darkened rooms are often the cause of poor health. One feels much better in a clear atmosphere with the sun shining brightly. Keep the window in the sleeping apartments open enough tc give sufficient fresh air. Even thou"!) the room is indicated and cold, the window should be open just the same. A deeper will soon breathe up all the fresh air, and if there is not a constant supply of oxygen, he simply breathes over and over again the poison tin-own oil* by the long'*. Every morning the bedclothes should have a thorough airing in the sun. Plenty of sovering is necessary, but it should be light n< weight. There is no warmth in heavy home-made coverings, eswjciflijy after they have been, washed once a: twice. PLAIN* RULES ABOUT EATING. Some people do not obviously suffer from . dyspepsia, but have rheumatism, sick headaches, and other plain results of indigestion. If they have force of character enough to observe- the following rules, most of them will be benefited : — Never oat unless you are hungry, and cease to eat as soon as your hunger is satisfied. If you do not feel a craving for food at meal time, skip the meal entirely. 2. Eat simple foods and Dot a great number of different articles at My on© meal. 3. Chew all food thoroughly. It is hard for the average patient to •apply this rule. It may be well to direct thai each particle of food be chewed a given number of" times before swallowing, say 25 times. When this rule has been applied for'several meals, patients will confess that tiiey never in their lives have masticated food properly. 4. Do not use great quantities of liquid at meal times unless there is an intense and imperative thirst. A little warm liquid at meal times does not barm, most people, though it is unnecessary if jufficient water is taken between meals. READING AT MEALS. The effect, which reading at meals has on the digestion depends entirely on the nervous temperament of the person. The man whose life is wrapped up in his business or profession is apt to bring his worries to the table with him. His brain is working at full pressure all during the meal proper, as well* as during his coffee and_ smoke after it. To do serious thinking, the brain demands its full blood supply, so the blood-" vessels of the digestive tract are deprived of some of the extra amount which they need during all digestion, and particularly at its start. The best plan for a man who thus retards his digestion bv going on with intricate business worries during hie meals is always to eat with someone with entirely different interests from his own. The casual conversation resulting wid be no effort for his mind, so his brain will have a rest, at the same time that his digestive organs are given the best chance to complete their task. The next best pian is to quiet the brain and reduce its demands on the blood supply of the body by reading some light literature at meals. It should be easily followed, so as to put no strain on. the mind, but net so engrossing as in any way to interfere with the mechanical part of eatingthe slow and thorough mastication of the mouthfuls taken at regular intervals. Except under these circumstances reading at meals cannot be anything but harmful to the health.