HEALTH COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 48

HEALTH COLUMN.

_, Obesity. Many plans of diet have been recommended in the treatment of obesity. They all agree in a considerable limitation of the amount of starchy and saccharine food prescribed— dry toast, biscuits, or rusks being recommended in place of ordinary bread, milk and sugar beinj? prohibited altogether, and vegetables strictly limited ia amount. By some much importanoe is attached to the strict limitation of the quantity of the liquid, particularly at meals ; others recommend that plenty of tea, coffee, water, and the like should be consumed; but nearly all agree in the recognition of the advisability of taking but little alcohol. Most authorities recommend that meat should be taken in small quantities, and not more than once a day. While there are various views as to the quality of the food taken, there is a tolerably general consensus of opinion as to the quantity ; and it is the height % of folly for a patient. to imagine that he oan (by avoiding a few particular artioles of diet) at one and the same time indulge largely in the pleasures of the table and grow thin. The famous formula of Mr Banting, by which that gentleman was able, to reduce his weight nearly three stone in the course of a year, has been adopted by many people since his time. He recommended: for breakfast, some 6oz or 7oz solid food (meat, or fish and toast), and 9oz of liquid (tea or coffee without milk or sugar) ; for dinner, lOoz or 12oz solid food, with lOoz of wine ; for tea, 2oz or 4oz solid food (fruit and a rusk or two) with 9oz of tea ; and for supper, 3oz or 4oz of solid food, with 7oz of wine. This diet probably goes to an extreme in the exclusion of fat, and is somewhat liberal in the matter of alcohol. It suits some people, but it is advisable that a severe regimen should not be adopted save under medical advice. — From Oassell's Storehouse of General Information.

Healing Oil phom Hens' Eggs.—Extraordinary healing properties are attributed to a new oil which is said to be easily made from the yolk of henß' eggs. The eggs are first boiled bard, and the yolks are then removed, crushed, and then plaoed over a fire, where they are carefully stirred until the substance is on the point of oatching fire, when tbe oil separates and may be poured off. One yolk will yield nearly two teaspooafuls of oil. It is in general use among the colonists of South Russia as a means for curing outs, bruises, &c,

Crossing the Limbs When Sitting.-— It really seems as if the women could not be allowed to do anything without being told it is injurious. Yet is it well to heed such suggestions as the following, which is doubtless true. Women who sit with their legs crossed, to sew or read, or to hold the baby, are not aware that they are inviting serious physical ailments ; but it is true, nevertheless. When a man crosses his legs he places the ankle of one limb across the knee of the other, and rests it lightly there. A woman, more modest and restricted in her movements, rests the entire weight of onolimb on the upper part of the other, and this pressure upon the sensitive nerves and cords, if indulged in for continued lengths of time, as is often done by ladies who eew or embroider, will produce disease. Sciatica, neuralgia, and other serious troubles, frequently result from this simple cause. The muscles and nerves in the upper portion of a woman's legs are extremely sensitive, and much of her physical structure can become deranged if they are overtaken in the manner referred to. "

Headaches — Dr. Lauder Branton bad recently published a paper on headaches, some of the conclusions of which may be of practical interest during the " muggy " weather when headaches are so extensively prevalent. What are the most common of all causes of headache? Visual defects and decayed teetb, according to Dr Brunton. Oar fogs and depressing atmospheres are, we are convinced, the fruitful originators of many of the severest forms of headache. On the subject of remedies, Dr Branton speaks with much confidence of antlpyrin. Many medical men and their patients have ex* pressed disappointment with the results of the administration of antipyrin. The cause of their disappointment we are assured is the defectivene3S of their physiological knowledge. When once the headache has obtained a thorough grip of the patient his stomach ceases to secrete gastric juice or to absorb either food or medicine. This is true and obvious in tbe case of bilions headaches, but; not ot all headaches. Absorption, being entirely arrested, it is clear that whatever drag we give by the mouth there can be do physiological action, because ib lies like a stone, unabsorbed in the stomach. Distressing .headaches at this stage oan, therefore, only be successfully treated by subcutaneous injections. There is, however, one very obvious moral here, er rather two. The first is that sufferers from headache should have their eyes promptly dealt with; and the Becond that the moment they are threatened with headache, and long before the pain comes on, they should resort to a proved remedy, antipyrin or another, in order that) it may be well absorbed before* .arrest of absorption sets in. — Hospital.

— Father (to son who is leaning over the theatre gallery railing) : " Take care, Johnny, and don't fall. It'll cost yon a shilling more in the pit."

— Miller : " I satisfied myself last night of the truth of the saying that a ' black cab is the sign of death.' " Munchausen : " How so 1 " Miller : " Why, a black cat began mewing under my window, and I killed it."

— Stumped Him. — " The reason," said Mr Knowall, " red is so obnoxious to the bovine race is that their eyes are fixed on the green grass all the time they are grazing, and the red colour strikes their retinas with a violent shock." " Pa," eaid Tommy, " why doesn't it work the same way with horses 1 "