STAND BACK AND THEN LOOK.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue IV, 27 January 1900, Page 147

STAND BACK AND THEN LOOK.

“Madam,” said a wise old physician to a woman who had brought a feeble, anaemic, and poorly developed da ugh ter to him for examination. “Madam, the treatment of this girl should ha.e been begun two hundred years ago. “Sir," she exclaimed. "I don't understand what you mean." “Probably not, madam,” replied this student of men and of medicine, "and vou wouldn't even should I try to ex plain it.” How do you best see a picture on the wall? Why. by standing back and looking through your hollowed fist or through a tube. Well, then, let us first read Mrs Coombes’ letter, and afterwards get a little of what painters call perspective on it ami see if we can understand the lesson it teaches. “In the spring of last year. 1895.” she says, “I had an attack of pleurisy, which left me low and weak. Subsequently I could not get up my strength, do what I would. My appetite was poor, and after eating I had severe

pains about my chest, 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 the morning. “As time went on I got weaker and weaker and was scarcely able to ge’ about. I came to be so low that I thought I never should be better again. I saw a doctor and took medicines but nothing did me any good. “In December (1895) my sister, who lives at Oxford, told me of the benefit she 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 know others who have been benefited by the same medicine. You can publish this statement as you like. (Signed) Charlotte Coombes, 177. Oldbury Road. West Smethwick. Birmingham, October Bth, 1896.” That is her letter —a plain, truthful, and well-written letter. 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 the 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. the smallest provocation—a slight eold —may set up any of the above ailments. Rheumatism (which Mrs Coombes had) belongs to the same 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 rememner it. Indigestion, dyspepsia, fermentation of food in the stomach, torpid liver, which leaves the bile acids in the blood instead of removing them, poisonous dirt and filth from the stomach getting into the circulation—that’s where the trouble comes from. So we see that 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 digestion—whether she realised it or not—laid the foundation for the pleurisy, the rheumatism, and all that followed. Now that is what we see as we stand back and look. And this is the practical use you are to make of the knowledge: Take care of the condition of your stomach, and the 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 be; you stop it immediately. Do so with indigestion. The old doctor was right in what he paid to the woman about her daughter. The girl couldn’t help the neglect of her ancestors; but we can do something towards taking care of ourselves.