The Modern Girl Does Not Favour A Lily White Skin, But Seeks Deep Sun-Tan.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18938, 7 December 1929, Page 19 (Supplement)

The Modern Girl Does Not Favour A Lily White Skin, But Seeks Deep Sun-Tan .

For the bather who bathes where those competent to advise him tell him to bathe, there are thus few dangers in surf swimmir j. Cramp is a danger that a surf club member cannot protect the swimmer against, though, of course, he can rescue him as soon as the cramp seizes him. There would be a great deal less cramp if the fact was more widely realised that, no matter whether it attacks you in the foot or the leg or the arm, it has usually the one place of origin—the stomach. Swimming too soon after a meal is the most common cause of cramp. A full stomach doesn’t agree with cold water combined with vigorous exercise, so don’t overlook the fact that, though you may not realise it at the time, you are usually exercising very vigorously all the time you are in the water. Under such circumstances the demand made by the limbs and the other outer portions of the body on the blood supplv is such that the stomach is robbed of its normal quantity for digestive business. Then there is trouble. The stomach is a pretty tough member. It doesn’t go out of action, but it sees that some other part of the body does. Thus, cramp in your toe may be only indigestion after all, but the fact is scarcely likely to be much consolation to your bereaved relatives. Entering the water when the body is too hot from violent exercise on land, such as running a long distance to the beach, is a prolific cause of cramp. There is a big temptation to rush into the water while still perspiring freely, but it is better not to. In comparison with the number of people who bathe, however, the cases of cramp are very rare, and with the exception of individuals who seem predisposed to cramp, it may be dismissed as one of the very minor perils of surf bathing. For the average person it will be sufficient if he does not bathe too soon after a meal, does not enter the water when the body is too hot, and does not stay in the water for unreasonably long periods. Against the perils which the bather is well insured against in any case, there is all the joy and all the health that surf bathing brings to enter up on the credit side of ledger. The fascination of it grows on one, so that the lure of the beach becomes always stronger. To be a surf bather is to know what the glory of a really fine day means. You live every minute of the day, with every sense keyed and every faculty active. What marvellous medicine for a sick man to find health And, it’s free!