STAND BACK AND THEN LOOK.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9945, 22 January 1900, Page 1

STAND BACK AND THEN LOOK.

"Madam," said a wise old physician to a woman who had brought a leeble, anaemic, and poorly developed daughter to him for examination. "Mndnm, the treatment of this girl should have been begun two hundred yenrs ago.' ' "Sir," she exclaimed, "I don't understand what you mean." "Protttbly not, madam," replied this student of men and of medicine, "and you wouldn't even should I try to explain it." How do you best see a picture on the wall' Why, by staading- back and looking through your hollowed fist oi through a tube. Well then, let us first read Mrs Cooinbes' letter, and afterwards get a little of what painters call perspective on it and see if we can underdei stand tho lesson it teaches. "In the spring of last year, 1895," she 3ays, "I had an attack of pleurisy, which left mo low and weak. Subsequently I could not get up my strength, do what I would. My appetite was poor, and after eating I had severo pains about my cheit, at my side, and between my shoulders. I had muscular pains in my arms and shoulders — in fact all over me. I got little or no sleep, and felt quite worn out in tho morning. "As time went on I got weaker and weaker and was scarcely able to get about. I came to be so low that I thought I should never bo better again. I saw a doctor and took medicines, but nothing did me any good. "In December (1895) my sister, who live 3at Oxford, told me of tho benefit sho had derived from Mother Seigel's Syrup. I got a bottle from Mr Cooper, chemist, Oldbury Road, and after taking it found great relief. I could eat well, and food agreed with me. "I now gained strength, and after taking four bottles was well as ever and free from all pain, muscular or otherwise. I Ehow others who have been benefited by the same medicine. You can publish this statement as yon like. (Signed) ! Charlotte Coombes, 377, Oldbury Road, West Smethwick, Birmingham, October 6th, 1896." That is her letter — a plain, truthful, and well-written lettei. But what do we see behind the simple facts as she sets them down? Is there anything suggested by that attack of pleurisy she speaks of? Was that the beginning? No. Pleurisy is the name given to an inflammation of the spaces or cavities in which the lungs rest. When the inflammation attacks tlie lungs themselves we call it pneumonia; if the bronchial tubes, bronchitis; and so on. But they 'are the same thing, from the same cause — namely, impure blood. When the blood is thus polluted, tho smallest provocation — a slight cold — may set up any of the above ailments. Rheumatism (which Mrs .Coombes had) belongs to the Bame group or family of maladies. But how comes that impurity or corruption of the blood in which these things arise' I'll tell you; in the hope that you will remember it. Indigestion, dysp~rma, fermentation of, food in the ?toin.irh, torpid liver, which leaves tho bile iicids iv tho blood instead of removing them, poisonous dirt and filth from the btomach getting into the circulation —that's aliens the trouble comes from. So wo see tliat in cases of pleurisy, etc., there is always what the doctors call a "history" of dyspepsia. Although this lady had keen dyspeptic symptoms after the pleurisy, a previous imperfection of her indigestion— whether she realised it or not— laid tho foundation for the pleurisy, tho rheumatism, and all that followed. Now that is what we see as we stand back and look. And this is the practical use you arc to make of tho knowledge: Take care of the condition of your stomach, and tho first day you feel anything wrong with it, resort to Mother Seigel's Syrup without waiting to find out whether you are going to be worse or not. When your house takes fire you don't wait to see how bad it is likely to bo; you stop it immediately. Do so with indig'.stiou. Tho old doctor was right in what he said to tho woman about her daughter. Tho girl couldn't help the neglect ot her ancestors, but we can do something towards taking care of ourselves.