NATURE'S REASON FOR PAIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2403, 22 March 1900, Page 50

NATURE'S REASON FOR PAIN.

When one of Dr Abernethy's patients remarked that it gave him great pain to lift his hand to hi? head, the eminent physician responded that, m such case, he was a fool for doing it. The observation was both brutal and unprofessional. The very fact that the act wn-i painful indicated a condition calling for medical treatment ; and to provide THAT, ii he could, va* the doctor's duty.

►Still, one might get on in comparative comfort without lifting his hand to his head, if that were the only source of pain about him. But when a bodily operation which is absolutely indiSPEx.s MSLE to Li¥E. becomes constantly painful, the situation is vastly mora ppiious. And that was what happened to Mrs Emma Elwen. as related in her letter herewith printed for our information. "In the spring ot 1839." she says, "I began to feel weak and ailing. From being a strong, healthy woman, I gradually lost all my strength and energy. My appetite was poor, and all food gave me pain."

Be good enough for a moment to fix your mind on that statement. Nature has so arranged that all necessary ac» or movements ot the body shall be painless, if not distinctly pleasurable. Were it otherwise, we should avoid them to the extent of our power, and. so produce incalrulable mischief. And, above all, the act and consequences of eating were meant to be, and in health are, one of the highest, of our physical enjoyments. This l?dy. having suffered from her food, then, signifies a state of things unnatural and dangerous.

'"I had fulne c s pnd pain at the chest," s'to continues, '"between the shoulders and down my back. I had also a deal of pain at my side, and my heart palpitated so much hat I got but little sleep or rest on account of it. My breathing -na» short and difficult. I was unable to do uny housework, and often wished I were dead."

Th° words. " I wish I were dead," are often, on the lips of the victims of what seems to be hopeless disease, and they are sad and chilling word" to fall on the ears of those of us who love them. They make us look despairingly around for the help which is so slow to come, and too frequently never comes at all. 13 there, then, no medicine which has power to save?

"I grew lo be so weak," adds the writer, "that I was from time to time confined to my bed, and at other times had to lie down on the couch. I lost flesh rapidly, and was like a mere skeleton — my clothes HANGING upon me. For three years I suffered in this way. no medicine that I took doing me any good.

"In February, 1892. the Rev. Mr Knight, of Bishop Auckland, recommended me to take Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup. Acting on his advice. I procured a bottle from the Cooperative Stores at Bishop Auckland, and after taking it T began to improve. My appetite returned, and food agreed with me, and I felt easier than I had done for years. The pain at my heart was less severe, and I gained strength every day. ''Seeing this. I continued to use this remedy, and gradually I recovered my health, GAININGthree stone veight. Since that time I have kept in good health. My husband has also benefited by the use of Mother Seigel's Syrup when suffering from indigestion. You are at liberty to publish this statement as you like. (Signed) (Mrs) Emma Elwen, Primrose Hill, Newfield, Willington, near Durham, October 30, 1896."

If Mrs El wen were the only woman in the district wherein she lives who had suffered in this manner, the fact should excite the interest of the intelligent reader, but there are multitudes of others all over the land, all over the world. Her ailment was not heart disease, it was not any form of consumption, it was not rheumatism. It was dyspepsia — the disease that counterfeits most others and has many of their most painful symptoms. It it idle to say that dyspepsia might be prevented, for we are not yet wise and careful enough to prevent it. Some day we may be. At present, however, it is inspiring to know that Mother Seigel's Syrup cures it even in its woist stages. Still, it is better to cure it when it first appeahs. Watch yourself, and use the Sj-rup ox the DAT xoub FOOD AND TOU DO NOT AGREE.

Mary Ryan was committed for trial at Brisbane a few days ago on a charge of murdering her infant child. It is alleged that the child was buried alive.

A concert was lately given at Avarua, Rarotonga (Cook Island), in aid of the British war relief fund. A speech was given by Taraare, the leading chief of Avarua, explaining in Maori why the concert had been held. He brought to their minds the calamities that might happen to the wives, children, and mothers of those brave men killed in defending- Britishers' rights. What would become of them when the head of the house was gone? He would urge upon them all to dip deep down into their pockets and pay like true Britons. A collection was taken Up, au4 tii© ayy* received was £5 2s 3d*