HEALTH COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1915, 3 August 1888, Page 37

HEALTH COLUMN.

First Departures From Health,

As I have mentioned dyspepsia — or, in plain English, indigestion — I may just, as well say at once that this complaint is one of the very earliest symptoms of departure from health.

Its advent is usually very slow, but none the less sure ; and as it depends .on so many different causes, it is correspondingly difficult to get rid of. The patient at first treats himself ; his stomach, he believes, is a little out of order, and an aperient or antibilious pill or two will soon set that to rights. Very likely he does feel relief for a time, though his trouble returns ; and in his next attempt at self -cure he probably thinks he needs setting up, He is below par, he needs an extra glass or two of generous wine with his meals, and tonics. In nine cases out of 10 this plan of mending matters is a mistake, for the stimulant will not improve the liver, which is already overworked, and the tonics induce constipation. For this new symptom more aperients are taken, and so matters go from bad to worse ; and, do what hd will, the sufferer finds it impossible to " drive the disease out of his system," |as it is called. Well, he goes to a doctor at last with as jaunty an air as he can assume ; he only " wants a little medicine," he says, •• to put him straight." Oh, that blind faith in physic I

He almost feels ungrateful to the doctor because he asks him questions that show he wants to probe the disease to the root, and find out the cause; for everything lies in that. The doctor will, of course, administer medicine, bub he will also be careful to tell his patient what to do, and what to take and avoid.

If, when symptoms of indigestion come on, we would at once commence to live by rule for a time, it is unlikely we should require either to go to a doctor or to take medicine. For remember this, Nature is very kind, and the removal of the cause for departure from health will usually enable her to get to rights again without further interference.

I am not writing an essay on dyspepsia, so need not give its symptoms ; but I warn the reader against the abuse of aperients, tonics, and vinous stimulants as cures. Plain diet must be taken, and not too much of that ; and anything that is known to disagree must be carefully avoided. It may be well to give up even tea and coffee for a time, using cocoatina instead. Improvement is sure to follow; but mark me, do not be misled by this improvement, and jump to the conclusion that you are well, and that it was the tea or the coffee that was to blame for your trouble. The giving up of any stimulant— of course tea and coffee are stimulants — nearly always results in temporary improvement ; and this latter may be made permanent by careful regulation in diet. Above all, do not take much fluid of any kind, either with meals or at any other time. A cupful of hot water, with a squeeze of lemon and a small teaspoonf al of glycerine, drank about 10 minutes before breakfast, may do much good ; and, at all events, it is harmless.

A cold is a departure from health, and shouldreally be attended to at once. Donotlet it cure itself. Get rid of it soon. Do not feed it, though, but starve it. One cold after another nearly always ends in thickening of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes, and before you are aware of it you become the victim of winter cough. The morning tub (cold, I mean) is a very sure preventive of colds. Never overclothe nor over-heat yourself. The neck should be kept cool. Keep away from fires indoors if you are subject to colds.

Cough, if not the result of simple laryngeal or bronchial catarrh, may mean a very serious departure from health ; and the sooner one sees the doctor in such a case the better. Do not be afraid to consult him. Remember, it is only those that delay who suffer in the end. I do not advise you to rush away to a physician with every trifling ailment, but — it is better to be sure than sorry.

Many people would benefit much by taking cod liver oil for a month or six weeks about the changes of the season. Probably the diet would have to be lowered a little, and an occasional mild aperient taken.

Getting thin is another serious departure from health. One generally does lose weight in winter, and regain it in summer ; but a slow aud steady decrease in weight calls aloud for medical interference.

Want of sleep and restless nights are symptoms which cannot be overlooked. The cause must be found and removed. The trouble may certainly arise from overwork and worry combined, but in most cases the stomach' and digestive system are the roots of the evil.

Nervous people worry most, but they also work most. Well, the question one is inclined to ask himself when he feels something wrong with his health is, "Am I overworking myself 1 " I would answer thus : If you really enjoy working, it cannot injure you very much ; but, on the other hand, if it is forcework, and you find little pleasure in it, then it will tell on your constitution.

But many people cannot afford rest. Well, but wonders can be done by taking exercise ; by breathing only fresh air night and day, ind^jrs and out ; and by careful regulation' of the diet. In conclusion let me entreat of you, as you value your happiness, not to neglect first departures from health. — A Family Physician, in " Cassells' Magazine."

— A clergyman said he never knew a rogue who was not unhappy. Of course not; it is the rogues who are not known that are the happy ones.

— Minister : " Don't you know it is wrong to work on Sunday?" Boy (digging worms): " This is a necessity. A feller can't go fishin' 'thout bait."

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