GAVE AWAY THE SHOW.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10886, 29 September 1913, Page 4

GAVE AWAY THE SHOW.

Not all of the 7,000,000 who endure the fogs and grime of London are laughing, but a goodly number of them are amused at the solemn dissertations of eminent physicians in regard to fresh air and ventilation, and a curious sequel to them. The kernel of the thoughts of the doctors was that few people know what ventilation is, and few of those who do know even halfventilate their living and sleeping rooms, and then several of them went on to speak forcefully in regard to the moral and physical value of open windows. A newspaper wag thought he would investigate the dwellings of the doctors, choosing Harley Street, " homo of medical specialists, and where almost every other house is occupied by a famous doctor." There lie made a rare find. Of nineteen windows in the house of one of the learned advocates of open windows only one window was open. In a large corner house, occupied by several physicians and having forty-three windows, only seven were open. Out of 795 windows counted in Harley Street, only 19-5 were open. Of these 7 French windows were wide open, 112 were lowered slightly from the top and 75 were open from the bottom, yet the doctors and many of their families were there, for the time was "office hours," and also the dinner hour, when it is to be supposed the dwellings would be numerously occupied. This can be explained by the notable fact that while physicians may give the finest and most scientific treatment and advice in regard to health for others, they, partly on account of the exigencies of their profession, are careless of their own health. Possibly this is as it should be, but when they give to the public sage advice touching the virtuo of the open window they should see to it that the newspaper wag is not prowling about on the out-side of the domiciles practising simple, but entertaining mathematics.