WOMEN AND HEALTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18218, 11 October 1922, Page 11

WOMEN AND HEALTH.

DR. TRUBY KING'S LECTURE. BUSINESS GIRLS' STANDARDS. " Good health is of greater importance to women than to men," said Dr. Truby King at his lecture on "Health Standards for Business Girls," given under tho auspices of tho Y.W.C.A. and the Plunket Society at the Y.W.C.A. hall last evening. Women, said Dr. King, either as heme makers or out. in tho world earning their living, were mainly dependent on the state of their health at every turn. Owing to less hardy and robust rearing they had not generally tho margin of reserve strength that men had to come and go on. Irregular habits and irrational modes of life undermined a woman's health more swiftly and more surelv than in the case of men, and soone'r or later invalidism resulted. Regular habits, plain, healthful food, fresh air, daily open-air exercise, and the invigorating stimulus of the cold bath were all means conducive to building up a sound constitution. In Britain said Dr. King, many people with money paid a yearly visit to some sanatorium, where they placed themselves voluntarily under a benevalent despot, wno ordered them out of bed early in the morning and enforced simple, regular, and rational habits, with the result that after a month's stay their health and energy were restored and they were enabled to return to their natural avocations and enjov life again. Without going to a sanatorium everyone could be his own ruler and live under f-ensible self-made regulations, which would ensure, not only health and fitness, but success and happiness in life. . ' ... ~ In the routine of everyday lite tne transgressions and omissions of women were even more striking than those of men The incessant drinking of strong tea was considered by some physicians to bo almost as harmful as alcoholism btrong tea not only affected the digestion, but was a potent cause of all-round nervous instability. Though wholemeal bread was known to be much better than white bread, only one out of every 1500 loaves consumed in the Dominion was made of wholemeal. ~„*'«.. i On the subject of teeth. Dr. King spoka stronglv as to the difference between those of tho present generation of Europeans and the old-time Maoris/who never Tost teeth through decay. The average consumption of nearly J,lb. of sugar a day ihroughout the Dominion was a potent cause of indigestion and decay of the teeth, and every effort ought to be made to cope with this evil and prevent the excessive use of sweets, especially the taking of chocolates, biscuits, and cakes, between meals. The speaker especially emphasised the importance of a plentiful supply of raw vegetables, such as lettuce knd mustard and cress, and referred to the fact that the latter was now grown for daily use by Arctic explorers as a safeguard against scurvy. The need of outdoor exercise was emphasised, as fresh air and sunlight wero the greatest stimuli that could be given to the body, and incidentally to the mind and to the enjoyment of lifo. Dr. King then showed some lantern slides illustrating various points in his address, and answered some 20 questions on health asked by members of the large audience that had closely followed the address.