HEALTH COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2295, 24 February 1898, Page 48

HEALTH COLUMN.

Water Sterilised ey Aluminum. — The fact is demonstrated that aluminum is as excellent a puiifier of water as there is. The salts of this metal are insoluble in water, and, consequently, it is plain that when these salts are formed the water can be strained and the impurities removed therefrom. Perhaps the most practicable method of purifying water by this means is the trough method, as it is called, the trough being composed of plates of aluminum and zinc or iron, ' Gin or Bin apart. One end of the tack affords an entrance for the volume of water, which passes over the top of one plate and thence j under tha plate next to it, this being accomplished by the fact that the elevation of the \ several plates is different. In connection ; with this tank, or trough, there is an elec- ! fcrical generator of moaerate size, and, though ! aluminum will not form the negative pole of \ a current, the other plates used will. Now, : as it is always the case that when an electric current cornea in contact with water in this j manner it decomposes a certain portion of the fluid, as it were, the result of such de- i composition is that ozone is formed and oxygen freed — the meaning of this being the absolute extinction of life in any microbes or organic matter which ihe water might contain, leaving it — after meeting the purification the salt 3of aluminum occasion— a3 clear and healthful as the water which flows from the purest Gpring. Fruit and Health — Each year paople grow to appreciate more fully the value o£ fruit, and eat it, not as a luxury, but as a staple article of food. Fruits are nourishing, refreshing, appetising, and purifying, and consequently have effect upon the health. Yet there are difierencos. Grapes and apples ate h'ghly nutritious. Grapes usually agree with the most delicate persons, for they are so easily digested. ; Nothing is easier to digest than a baked | apple, taken either with or without cream. Oranges, lemons, and limes are of great value as a means of improving the complexion, and they are especially good if taken before breakfast. Ripe peaches are easy of digestion and are sustaining. Nothing is better j to enrich the blood than strawberries, which contain a larger percentage of iron than any other fruit. Fiuit with firm flesh, like apples, cherries, or plums', should be thoroughly masticated, otherwise it is difficult to digest. The skin of raw fruit should never be eaten. Never swallow grape stones. Stale fruit asaa unripe fruit should never be eaten, and v«ry acid fruit should not be taken with farinaceous foods unless the person has vigorous digestion. Offensive Peespibation. — Bromidroßis, or ill-smelling sweat, may occur in persons who suffer from profuse perspiratiorj. It is usually localised. Waterproof coverings for the feet increase the difficulty. The sweat has no smell when first secreted, and the factor is probably due to a micro-organism. Treatment of the trouble must consist of the most scrupulous cleanliness, the feet beirg frequently washed and the stockings being changed before the sweat witb which they are soaked has had time to decompose. The plan adopted in the German army of rubbing the feet with mutton suet mixed with 12 per cent, salicylic acid is very useful both as a correcting factor and in preventing tenderness (Morris). When the soles of the feet ara thickened and tender a i uselul plan is to powder the stockings and boots with very fine boric acid every day, the boots being fitted witb cork soles, which should be washed in boric acid water every | day (thin). The local form of bromidrosis depends on the decomposition of the fatty acids, which occurs more rapidly than ia normal owing probably to the influence of bacterium f ce< idum. Most cases would yield to the following treatment : — Before sleeping a strong but good quality of washing soap can be dipped in water and rubbed directly on the skin affected by offensive perspiration. A wet towel or wash mitten can then be uaed to rub this lather into the mouths of the sweat glands, and the lather can afterwards be washed perfectly off with warm water. This encourages the mouths of the tubular sweat glands to empty their contents already begun to decompose, and a second washing in the morning will leave nothing foetid. Ifc is the oily nature of perspiration that blocks the glands and is so hard to wash off. To prevent harshness of the skin or tendency to tak« cold from, lack of the natural oil an antiseptic ointment like the tallow and salicylic acid could be rubbed in during the day. In time the micro-organism seems to be exterminated in some cases after steady treatment of this kind.

— One of the choicest delicacies in Jamaica is a huge whita worm found in the heart of the cabbage palm. It tastea, w&en cooked, like almouds.