The Country-Womens Corner

Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 17

The Country-Womens Corner

By

Jean

(Special for the Otago Witness.)

The poor, oppressed, honest man Had never sure been born. Had there not been some recompense To comfort those that mourn.

Sooner or later in life one must spend a period in hospital, and once the benefits of these institutions have been proved, a good deal of suffering and anxiety is saved by going without delay to obtain the best of treatment and advice.

Once in hospital the regular routine and business-like arrangements seem to banish all thoughts of personal anxiety. On all sides patients are seen in every degree of advanced suffering. Then after the experience of the operating theatre comes the long dreary time of convalescence. Many people fail to realise the importance of the treatment meted out to patients while they are regaining their strength after illness. Tn many cases the invalid is taken home in the belief that there will be a better chance of recovery when he can be attended by his own people, but a few day's of home nursing sometimes prove the difference between professional and amateur nursing. Something is overlooked or neglected, the patient gets a relapse, and has to return to hospital. The fear of expense is often fhe cause of a patient’s removal from hospital before he has recovered from the effects of an operation or severe illness. But it is better to have patience and endure the discipline of obeying instructions rather than suffer for want of care after receiving the benefit of the latest medical and surgical skill of modern times.

We cannot blame the convalescent for wishing to be back in familiar surroundings, and the delight which the sick person finds in beholding again the flowers and the green stretches of grassy fields. A few weeks ago the countryside was bare, now it is a sheet of emerald with the sheep and lambs grazing everywhere. Among the articles in the current magazines that are of interest to farmers, is “ John Ellman of the South Downs,” in My Magazine. Just now we are all interested in sheep, and we read with pleasure of the y'oung Englishman who did for _liis sheep on his father’s farm on the South Downs what Bakewell had done with mutton and wool for the Leicester breed. Some months ago My Magazine dealt with this last-mentioned agriculturist who enriched British agriculture by selection in breeding and so doubled the value of the domestic animals in England. The information that is set down in such an interesting fashion by Arthur Mee is common knowledge to every one in the country, but that is all the more reason why we should lay these facts to heart and strive to build upon the work that has already been done. In the course of the article we are proud to notice a paragraph dealing with our own country': —

“ The success of Ellman in serving the table with superior mutton was accompanied by a similar improvement in the amount and quality of the South Down Wool. This double success, continued down to the present day, is traceable in many parts of the world, perhaps the most significant evidence being that 90 per cent, of the Canterbury lamb exported from New Zealand to Great Britain is of the South Down breed, and New Zealand sends us more than 50 per cent- of our importation of mutton.”

The articles also describe the character of this remarkable man. He was a model employer, an examplary private citizen, an ideal public man. “He maintained in Glynde a school for the education of his labourers’ children. He was a sportsman and a capital cricketer. Though he was offered a title he refused it, and preferred to be known as a plain farmer, proud of having the best cultivated farm in Sussex.”

One convalescent declared that the greatest benefit in being nursed at home was that one could settle down to read. In hospital one requires to keep cheery and to be always on the alert to make a joke or give a word of encouragement to overworked nurses and doctors. This friend had been reading “ A Strong Man’s Vows,” and for the rest of her enforced leisure read through the lives- of famous engineers. Besides the skill and training that are required for this profession, there are chances of travel and adventure in all parts of the world among all kinds and conditions of people. All this makes delight* fill reading and is more entertaining than' the imaginary adventures that have often very' little to do with real life.

THE COUNTRY GIRL’S CONCERNS.

A farm girl who was being teased because of her knowledge of sheep opened “ The Victorious Mile ” of Lettice Miln Rae at the concluding chapter. There she read of the charming idyll among the flocks in the mountains of Tuscany. Away from the city of Rome with all its sin and injustice the great leader finds true greatness among the primeval conditions of mountain people. In the history of sheep raising, wool produc-

tion, and marketing, there is much to interest any intelligent person. This is not merely a pastime for an idle hour, but the sale and exchange of everything connected with this part of our primary production must be carefully studied so that we may get the best return for our labour.