INFORMATION FOR WORKING WOMEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 30 October 1890, Page 13

INFORMATION FOR WORKING WOMEN.

It is a boast often heard that there are a greater variety of occupations open to women nowadays than ever before. Yet the fact is not without its drawbacks, for women are thus tempted into scores of positions for which they are not fitted, with much consequent misery. Thousands of girls especially in America sit all day hammering at type-writers and telegraph instruments, stand on their feet for a dozen hours at a stretch in shops aud stores, and bend over desks at some sort of writing, till their muscles and head ache together. In both England and America they labour in factories long hours over hard and monotonous tasks, often in a fearfully bad atmosphere, and for small wages. When they break down, the expense of having physicians, coupled with other costs of illness, is apt to consume their little savings. Therefore any information which will enable them to lessen such an outgo must be welcomed by the host of working women.

On this point a recent letter received by us may throw a ray of light. The writer says : — " When a woman has to depend upon her fingers solely for a living it is a terrible thing to fall ill, even though it may be only for a few days or weeks. This was my own situation when I was first taken ill about 10 years ago. It began with what I shall have to describe as a heavy, sinking feeling at the pit of the stomach, and a sensation of giddiness and faint ness whilst at meals. On rising from the table I would often be attacked with palpitation of the heart, which beat so I didn't know what to do with myself. Some days I would not eat a mouthful of solid food, so much afraid was I of the pain it gave me. I have gone without food for three consecutive days and nights, till I thought I must surely starve. At the same time the desire to eat was so great I could have clutched eagerly at the hardest piece or stale bread. I got so bad I had to lie in bed for days, and grew so weak I could scarcely raise myself on my elbows. I consulted doctor »f ter doctor ; I think I must have had not less than a dozen altogether. One calif dmy illness by one name, aud the others by other names. No two of them agreed as to what it really was that ailed me. None of them did me any good, though my money went fast enough to pay them and to buy the medicine they ordered. " One day I saw in the Christian Age an account of Mother Seigel'fi Curative Syrup. Yet how could I believe in it ? I bad trusted and hoped, and been deceived so often. Unless — which seldom happens— people gtt the right medicine at first, it is a wonder to me bow they ever get it all. What made me feel that Mother Beigel's remedy might be of some use I don't know ; but I thiuk it was because it was discovered and made by a good woman who bad been cared by it hereelf. At ft!l events I sent for it and began to take it. Up to the time when I write this letter I have taken it seven weeks, and the change it has produced has astonished all who know me The pain about my heart is entirely gone, and I gain strength every day." Note — The writer of the above letter requested that her name should not be published. We feel bouud to respect her wishes, although we have no doubt she will consent to our giving her name and address to any of her own sex who may desire to write to her, either directly or through us.

A somewhat similar case is that of Mrs Annie West, of Manor road, Bournemouth, Hants, who writes under a late date: " I desire to inform you of my wonderful recovery after taking Mother Seigel'B Curative Syrup. I was so low as to be unable to rise from my bed, and thought I 3hould never stand on my feet again. But by the blessing of God, and the use of the Syrup, I am so far recovered as to be able to return to my work. lam a poor widow and have to work for my living, and have on one or two occasiona Bold some of my things to buy Seigel's Syrup. For years I could not keep eny food dowu and suffered from terrible headache. Now that lam Hell omie more, I shall soon earn back a hundred times over the price of the good mediciue that drove away my complaint." 4

The Colonial Office have taken a step towards tbe ultimate attainment of a uniform patent law. They have asked the leading colonial Governments if they are prepared to notify to the Imperial authorities, and other colonial Governments, all patents and trade marks registered within their respective jurisdictions, and to record, free of charge, the patents, designs, and trade marks notified to them by the Imperial and by other colonial governments,