MOTHER AND HOME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16323, 12 January 1921, Page 9

MOTHER AND HOME.

It is absolutely necessary to remember that co important are tho results for good or evil of the observance or violation of hygienic laws, that a person of delicate constitution, inheriting w eak organs, who is careful in the daily habits of life, will enjoy better health and much, greater immunity from transient ills than another blessed with a strong constitution, but cither ignorantly or defiantly ignoring the body’s demand for proper care. These needs arc not great, but they are constant end everyone who does not satisfy thorn must pay the penalty in some way. Need for Good Food.—Good and wholesome food to repair the wastes of the body is, of course, a necessity ; but cast-iron rules for its healthful selection cannot be given, because one man's lood is another man’s poison. People in good health and blessed with good digestion can eat, with moderation, almost anything they like, provided they have the good sense to choose thing® which agree witlf them, and those which contain the kind of nutriment their bodies require. For example, the strawberry is. for a majority of persons, a most healthful fruit: but there are certain others whom it affects most unfavourablv, acting almost like poison, and if fondness, for tire berry, under these circumstances, leads to repeated indulgence, very unpleasant—even painful—results follow. _ A r alue of Experience. —*A true mofner, prompted by her love, should be willing to make sacrifices for her child, and she should take wise counsel and fit herself for the task of bringing up tho little one God has entrusted to her. Experience is a wise teacher, hut one may buy experience very dearly, and one can benefit bv the experiences of others as told in books for mothers and teachers in wiser fashion than by making experiments in order to determine the relative value of fundamental truths. Keep Healthy.—Tt is an absolute dutv of the expectant mother to lead a. healthv and as far as possible a happy life, and to be constantly watchful over everything that may affect her own or the ‘child’s health. Physicians of our day declare that calm and restful surroundings and a cultivation of pleasant thoughts on the part of the motlirr-to-bc. will have a great, influence upon the future of the child she is to bear. Certainly, too, food, exercise, sleep and rest must he carefully considered bv the prospective mother, not only for her own welfare, but that, the lookedfor bairns shall he healthy, strong and vigorous at birth.

The Linen Cupboard. —’When contemplating the re-stocking of linen, first of all consider what and how to buy. At the outset, it may be said that it is wise, if possible, to buy linens at sale times. All the big bouses have bonafide bargains to offer in bed linens, etc., at their half-yearly clearance sales. In all large towns the housewife will b© well advised to take careful note of the summer sale catalogues sent out from the firms. Many a soiled article, “as good as new ” when washed. may be snapped up at a ridiculously low figure. and all the reliable firms make a genuine ‘reduction in their ordinary stock at their clearance sale seasons. AN e assume that the housewife is neither very poor nor very opulent, but that her house is kept going on a comfortable but. moderate Table Embroideries. AN hen we have our treasured stock of table embroideries in use, it is essential that they should be most carefully laundered.' They must never lie sent with the general “wash,” but must either be done by the mistress of the house herself or bv some, responsible person wlio can be trusted to take the necessary precautions. The chief thing to impress upon the mind is that each succeeding operation, washing, rinsing, ironing, must be swiftly and briskly carried through. Everything must be to hand for immediate use, lor delicate embroidery will be ruined if immersed too long, or allowed to dry m too tardy a fashion. , ,

(.'are in Laundering.—Make a lather of some pure white curd soap or of a first-class washing powder, and when this is thoroughly dissolved in hot water reduce the temperature to just below biood heat, about 90cleg FaJir. Then put in the embroidery, and work it about till thoroughly clean. It must on no account be rubbed. Rinse in tepid water two or three times over, and to tlie last rinsing water add a. heaped-up dessertspoonful of salt to each quart of water. Squeeze gently in the hand, and then lay between two clean, drv pieces of linen or towelling, and wring with Very tender care.

t hose Colds.—Before anything was known of the science of bacteriology, there was a prevalent idea that a cold in the head was the sole result of a chill : but we are now led to believe that cold is an infectious disease which has really very little to do with cold weather, although it is true that “chill** will lower the vitality, so rendering one more susceptible to the microbes ot cold which are floating in the air and waiting for a suitable “ culture ground.’’ We breathe into our lungs every day. without, a doubt, deadly microbes ; but they do not kill us. because our constitutions are resistant and sufficiently healthy to nullify their effects; but if the vitality of the body is lowered by. say,.insufficient feeding, chill, or—in cases of older persons—from overwork, then the depressed tissues are conquered. and the malady gets a bold. Helping the Groupy.—Should the little bairn- suffer with croup, it will .be found that a teaspoonful of ipecacuanha win 4, given immediately the child crows, and the dose repeated every live minutes until he vomits freely, is a great benefit. A bran or linseed meal, poultice should lie placed on the chest whiH a hot bath is being prepared, fcift him into a, warm blanket, give Innv a. fresh poultice, raise the head and shoulders up to assist breathing, and coothe him to sleep.