TALKS ON HEALTH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 83, 8 April 1933, Page 17 (Supplement)

TALKS ON HEALTH

BY A FAMILY DDCIOE.

TUBERCULOUS GLANDS. Cases of tuberculous glands ia the neck arc very common, though many of them could be prevented. All tubercular lesions are due to a tiny microbe, so minute that it would take abo-it ten thousand microbes placed nose to tail to make an inch. So that we must begin our discourse by explaining that these microbes, which float in Uro air, must be scotched at their source and. origin. The most important origin of tubercle bacilli is the spuum of patients suffering from consumption. It is criminal for the phthisical person to spit in the street. A pocket spittoon must be used. Our main object in life is to do everything to germs that they don’t like. No germ appreciates carbolic disinfectant or enjoys being burnt alive, so we cremate them and carbi'.ie them on every possible occasion. Yur little girl has lumps in the neck, hss she? Well, the germ that caused these lumps came from the lungs of a consumptive patient who spat on che pavement outside your house; and il' you catch him. you have my permissi in to thrash him. The Vulnerable Point. Now, why is the neck specially marked out as the seat of the swollen glands Why not the armpit, or the back of the knee, or anywhere else? Because the germs get into your children’s necks through unhealthy throats, enlarged tonsils, and the sockets of decayed teeth. Oh! you parents, you parents’ I wish some of you could sit by my side as I examine a hundred children in the schools. How many have neglected unhealthy throats? A round score. How many have rotten teeth to act as doorways for the entrance of germs? Far too many, I tell you. A large percentage of your children need dental care, despite the insistence of school and other doctors that the children’s tooth require attention, and you arc too thoughtless and too lazy to walk through the open door of the hospital, where there is nothing to pay, and get the job done. The stock answer you give me is, “Oh! but the child never complains.” Good gracious! Do you expect a little girl to write a complaint to the papers, or make a speech in the market-place? It is true the ’’ild doesn’t complain;

she just lies patiently on her back in the hospital and smiles when the nurse kisses her good-night or tries to laugh when the young doctor brings her a dolly. A careful mother foresees calamities and avoids them; she docs not wait for complaints, for then the harm is done. Do not, however, run away with the idea that we must all fall victims sooner or later to some germ •or other. Nothing could bo farther from the truth. Stand up to the germs and light them. Your weapons must be good food, fresh air, sunshine, exercise and sleep. Mental Patients. IVhen a patient is discharged from a hospital for mental diseases, the prevention of a relapse lies with the relatives and friends. It is best to avoid all mention of the patient’s affliction, and life in the asylum should not be discussed, and. of course, all joking or gossip about his condition should be rigidly avoided. The two great essentials arc that the patient should have plenty of nourishing food, so that good, rich blood can be supplied to the brain; and he should have plenty of sleep. Constipation, is also a danger to be guarded against, but it should be remedied by diet, by drinking plenty of water, and .taking walking exercise, and not by everlasting pills and buckets of nauseous medicine. If the patient is sleepless,’ a medical man should be consulted at once. Kindness and Forbearance. All wo-”'- and annoyance should be spared the patient, and unnecessarj’ cares should never be placed on his shoulders. Kindness, patience, and forbearance are what he needs. His surroundings should be bright and cheerful. At the ver” first sign of strange habits, eccentric behaviour, or delusions, the medical man should be informed. Although the patient may not be able to return to his work, it is a wise plan to give him something to do. He might take up a hobby, such as gardening or photography. Alcoholic liquors should be absolutely forbidden —alcohol inflames the brain, and may be the cause of a relapse and life-long confinement in an asylum. There is no reason, why a man should not recover completely .from an attack of mental disease, provided he takes reasonable precautions. A return to his old life and habits may result in a relapse, but he on~ht to learn his lesson after one attack, and regulate his life. Temperance All Bound. The temperance movement has done much good, but. unfortunately, its activities are directed' only against intemperance in drinking alcoholic liquors. How about intemperance in tea-drinking and, more important still, intemperance in eating? 1 am President of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to the Digestive Organs, and I want you. all to beeome members. Now, auntie, own up; you were so tired when you came home from that temperance meeting that you bad to take four cups of strong tea to restore your jaded nerves. Lot us have temperance all round—in alcohol, in tea, in food, in opinions, and in language. I am convinced that a system overloaded with tea and excess of food is in a worse condition than a system which has only to tackle a pint of beer. Alcohol does no good, and we are all, probably, better without it; but I can’t allow the anaemic, tea-swelling brigade to join the ranks of the temperance movement without gently protesting. Disease Carried by Animals. In the case of infectious diseases occurring in a house, the cats and dogs should be carefully watched. The fur of animals is well adapted for tht carrying of infection. Diphtheria and scarlet fever, as well as measles and chicken-pox, may be carried by domestic pets. Children are fond of hugging and stroking pets, and of putting their faces near them. Much as wc all love pussy, her place is not in the sick-room. For the Complexion. Two matters must receive attention: one is the face itself, and the other is the general health. As regards the general health, you must go early to bed, sleep with the window open, eat slowly and at regular times, avoid indigestible food, such as sweets, pickles, pork, pastry, tinned food, currie, and strong tea; and keep in the fresh air as much as possible. As regards the .face, I warn you it means taking trouble, and if you do not want to persevere with the treatment, do not begin. Take a jug full of boiling water and steam the face for about ten minutes, trying to press out the blackheads. Tho massage should be of a pinching nature, not so hard as to hurt, but hard enough to press out the contents of the little glands of the skin. Then the face must be carefully wiped with a very soft sponge or with a piece of cotton-wool, using warm boracic lotion. If the face is very red with inflamed pimples, use calamine lotion. instead of boracic. This process repeated every night makes a wonderful improvement in the complexion.