HEALIH COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2734, 8 August 1906, Page 67

HEALIH COLUMN.

Dietetics: lite Qaestfe*r of Alcohol.

The study of dietetics has reached th« dignity of polite learning. Time was when the -intimate processes of life were tho province of the specialist, when digestion and other unobtrusive offices of Nature were regarded rather as unfortunate (as being vulgar) accidents of our being than as attractive stimuli to conversation at the dinner-table. 'But we have changed all that. The pros and cons of vegetarianism, the role of alcohol in the body, the origin of uric acid and its malevolence, all these) are items of a liberal education nowadays. This change of attitude is in part duo to the insistence of science, sometimes pointing true, but often deflected by" the ignorant misapplication of superficial knowledge ; in part to the progressive urbanisation of the people. This la6t factor may appear sufficiently foreign to the subject; but it is not 60. No careful observer will deny that we _are becoming more sensitive) as we become 'more urßan/ We have, by prolonged intellectual application, educated our receptive centres to so .Tiigh a pitch of irritability that every minutest stimulus finds an exaggerated reflection in conscioucness. , The 'proper attitude of, science towards the use of alcohol is consequently one of the dietctio problems of the day. An immense accumulation of experience demonstrates that long-continued ingesffon of alcohol, except in strictly regulated doses, results in a tissue-poisoning. But the caprice of individual tissues and the varying influence of different modes of life have greatly complicated the issue.

Mpst of us number among our acquaintance some person who, in spite, of a prolonged and generous use of alcohol, etill maintains good health. Such people are a public danger, stumbling-blocks for weaker Brethren, exceptions who confirm the rule that alcohol very readily becomes a poison. It is idle to attempt rigidity as to the limits of safety, but much physical exertion enlarges these limits and » sedentary life 'narrows tltem. The quantity of alcohol which is capable of oxidation in tho body in one day is approximately represented, according to scientists, by two ounces of brandy, or whieky, half a pint of claret, .or a pint of bottled beer, figures which show that science is not generous in the matter of alcohol. In the public estimation intoxication is held to. be a measure of the evil effect of alcohol; & pernicious error, since many a man habitually exceeds the limits of harmless drinking who has never been drunk in his life. It cannot be too widely known tfiat an occasional gross excess, with intervals of real moderation, ie much less hurtful than frequent "nipping." It is not for nothing: that life insurance offices offer specially favourable terms to total abstainers'; can the suspicion of sentimentalism be lightly levelled against such purely business corporations? — Saturday Review.

A Common Complaint. — No9e -bleeding im sometimes caused by a bump or knock, or it sometimes pecurs without this in the case of nervous children. A piece of ice wrapped in cotton placed on the bridge of the no«e and the back of the neck will often give relief.

Salt end Health.— People drink too little water, they do not know what a real, good, healthy thirst is, btrL should cultivate one by plen+y of fait, both in their food and in us natural state. It takes the place of a tonic. If the woman who has flabby flesh anfi a hollow clie6t will form the habit of eating plenty of 6alt meats and fish, thereby ci eating a thirst for water, she will put on srcod healthy flesh in an astonishingly shot ■'lime. •

Try Hot Water. — Hot water has far mor,e medicinal virtues than many believe or know. Because it is so easily procured, thousands -think it valueless. The uses of hot water ere, however, many. For example, there is nothing that so quickly cuts 6hort congestion of the lungs, soro throat, or x-heumatism as hot water when applied promptly and thoroughly. Headache almost always yields to the simultaneous application of not water to the feet an<J the back of the neck. A towel folded several times and dipped in hot water, quickly wrung out, and applied over the painful part in toothache or neuralgia, will generally afford prompt relief. A strip of flannel or napkin folded lengthwise, dipped in hot water and wrung out, and then applied round the neck of a child that >as the croup will sometimes bring relief "ia a few minutes. A goblet of hot water taken just before rising, before breakfast, has cured thousands o/ indigestion, and no simple remedy is more -widely recommended by physicians to dyspeptics. Verj hot water wilL stop dangerous bleeding*

For Restless Sloepere. — "A comfortable night's rest depends as much on the bed as on th-e 'ieepcr," was the dictum of an old physician. "There is, of course," ho said, " a well-founded prejudice againefc feather beds. But they have their good points. If they were more uecd nowadays they would banish a. great deal of insomnia, especially in the case of ueople with jaded nerves who require perfect ease. _ Th« resllcas sleeper ehouldf try a thin bed of feathersvor down, keep it well shaken up, and sleep in a cool room. The next step is to find the correct pillow. Brain workers and- all full-blooded people should sleep with the head well raised, for it is not judicious to elecp with the blood rushing too easily into the brain. As a rule, the pillow should be very eoft. Many people are kept awake by hard, unyielding pillows, they don't always realise th» fact. It is odd, by the way, how people differ in their sleeping requirements. I once had a patient who never slept bo> soundly as on a large cheet with no mattress and a horsehair bolster for a pillow !'* Home-made Cures. — A poultice of salt mixed with the white of an egg makes * powerful drawing; poultice. For toothache dip cotton -wool in a solution of salt water aud camphor and insert in the, tootb. Onion syrup prepared by 6prinkling sliced onions with sugar and taken in teasppontul doses every 15 minutes until relief is obtained is a favourite home remedy for croup To remove proud flesh from wounds or sores, take a piece of alum th« Bize of a walnut and pulverise- it, sprinkle m> little of the powder over the affected surface, and it will destroy the proud flesh and leave the sore in good .shape for rapid healing. A liniment for sore muscles or sprains is mado of a quart of pure cider vinegar, about half as much turpentine, and two egg's. Add the eggs and turpentine to the vinegar and let stand for 13 1 horns, when it will be ready for use.