The Pahiatua Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1932. HARD TIMES AND HEALTH.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11981, 23 February 1932, Page 4

The Pahiatua Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1932. HARD TIMES AND HEALTH.

In spite of distress and poverty and want of food, t'ie amount of sickness seems definitely to be less than it was m more prosperous times, and the Director-General of Health stated, when presenting certificates to nurses at the Wellington Public Hospital, that in, practically all the hospitals there were fewer patients than at any time in the experience of the Department. A report from the American Hospital Association noted that the same thing was true or America. The explanation • that .a larger number of people cannot afford to be ill at once comes to mind. But especially as far as America is concerned, the decrease may be partly due to the fact that people arc Jiving quieter lives and have been compelled to abandon the rush foxpleasure and excitement which, with its consequent late hours and lack of leisure, cannot fail to be injurious to the physical system. It has been estimated that during the boom of 1929 the amount spent on amusement in the United States was 21,045,000,000 dollars. This not only irvolved a hurried scramble and rush from one amusement to another, but it also led to much unwholesome feasting and the neglect ot the simple wholesome diet which has so much to do with a healthy vitality. Doubtless many people at the present time are not getting a suffioieny of nourishing food, and this cannot fail to have a deleterious effect, especially where children are concerned. But many others who have. merely found their surplus in-

comes reduced have returned to the gospel of thrift, the simple life and moderation in pleasure which characterised the pioneers who built up Britain overseas. We are frequent toxoid that at the present time we need a moderation in luxury, in the pursuit of pleasure and in private expenditure. To some extent this is being forced upon us by the stiess of circumstances, and it may help us to a greater resignation, in tlie race or, this not wholly voluntary Lenten discipline to feel that our health is likely to benefit thereby and our hospital bills lowered. It appears, however, that the depression is being accentuated amongst doctors and nurses, as there are fewer calls for their services. Their misfortune is the greater from tlie fact that they are scarcely likely to have the whole-hearted sympathy of the community m thei rplight.