Brief Talks About Health Matters.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8, 24 August 1907, Page 55

Brief Talks About Health Matters.

FALLACIES ABOUT DRUGS. DANGEROUS PRACTICES. DANGEROUS PRACTICES CONDEMNED. There is perhaps no more foolish or pernicious custom than that of drugging oneself with medicines of Which we do not know the exact mode of action. This habit has been fostered of late yen's by the equally reprehensible practice of ladies’ papers and the general Press'supplying prescriptions for this, that, or the other ailment on request.- Needless to say, such prescriptions are often quite unsuitable to the applicant’s requirements' as the journalist who undertakes this responsible task has never seen the person for whom he is prescribing.

For this reason, if for no ether, we never in any of our papers give actual prescriptions or mention any but the most 'simple and homely remedies. Doubtless '=ome of our readers wculd ilke to asumc the place of their family physician, and with an air of grave superiority dictate to those whom we have never once seen what diugs they ought to swallow for any particular disease should it happen to attack them. We would remind such persons that’ the treatment of disease cannot be a-pn-dueted on such haphazard principles. No, the medical attendant must first see and examine his patient, and then select' the remedy best suited to that particular case. Many people fondly imagine' that each disease has a particular remedy assigned to it, and that all the doctor, has to do is to recognise the disease and.then prescribe the corresponding remedy. The physician has much more to do than this, for he must select out of a do: err or more remedies the One best suite! to the patient’s particular condtion, and not only so, but he must see that the patient gets the remedy in a sufficient amount and in proper combination, otherwise it may do harm.

The ideas some people have regarding drugs and their uses are simply astounding. Thesq notions have been perpetuated for generations, So that at the present time they are deeply rcoted in the minds of the laity as they never were before. There are many drugs which the man in the street makes use of only to his ultimate hurt, and yet this practice of self-drugging goes on apace. We trust in,, this short paper to be able to point out one or two drugs in particular which are greatly abused by the publie at the present day in the hope that some good may result, and that those of our readers who have fallen into this bad habit will be induced to break it off once and for ever. CHEMICAL ‘ FOOD.” We heard of a doctor the other day who asked a woman what her child was having in the' way of food, and she replied, “ Porridge, milk. eggs, and chemical food! ” We wonder how many of our readers imagine that the red stuff called by this name is really a food. It is not a food, but a medicine in the truest sense. It is astonishing to find liow often children are given this medicine under the impression that it is an excellent tonic. So it may lie in certain eases, but it is by no means suited to every child who is run down in health. While on the subject of tonics we may refer to the abuse of tint old-fashioned remedy called Easton's Syrup. This is likewise often taken without counting the costs. It. should never under any circumstances lie taken save under medical advice. It contains one of the most powerful pojsona known, and has now to be lain lied “ poison ” in compliance

with the Act regulating the sale of poisons. This mree labelling is, however, of little real value so long as the public are not aware of the fact that this syrup is essentially a dangerous substance. If any reader eares to take the risk, by all means let him go on consuming such remedies, but we are bound to warn him of the consequences which may ensue. COD LIVER OIL EMULSION. One of the most curious delmions under which the public rest at present is to imagine that there is only one cod liver oil emulsion. Unfortunately there are many, and some are comparatively valueless. Our readers would be well advised to consult their chemist before purchasing as-to which, in his opinion, is the most reliable. We always advise pure cod liver oil, but if this cannot be taken on account of its taste, then nothing can surpass malt and cod liver oil. DANGEROUS PRACTICES. Many people fall into the habit of taking opium in the form of laudanum. The latter is a very dangerous drug, and ought never to be 1e >t in the house, “ jmt for emergencies ” as it is very apt to be taken when cure unnecessary. Then, again. uly-.-.e is a drug which is. often t >.' c : t> relieve pain or cine diarrhoea. "N<w. this' drug <ontams .both, ehloio'or u aid morphia, and is .accordingly, an e. t. cly dangerous liquid. ■ We almost tremblji .whep-we think of the .risks run by ti e indiscriminate use of laudanum and ehltrroJyrjc by ignorant men and women who think they are clever in being able to treat themselves when ill. The same remark applies to such drugs as bromide, sulphonal, and the like, which are often used as remedies against sleeplessness. No one can predict the evil effet ts of such powders when taken save on the prescription of a medical man who has actually examined tl-.o patient. It is considered clever on the part of Mbs. Smith that she is able to tell her neighbour to give her child a bromide powder because it is having fits, bi»jt Mjs,. Smith will not 1e . respon il.de, of course, if the child suffers in consequence. Again, Mr. Jones is considered as.a knowing fellow because he suggests sulphonal as a remedy to his friend who complains to him that he cn.il never sleep at night; but this same gentleman will look very foolish indeed if lie friend has to send for his doctor because the stdphonal which he has taken on th‘> advice' *#l this irresponsible advi-er has led'th’ the development of serious symptoms/' ABUSE OF PURGATIVES. We frequently find persons who complain of chronic constipation, and who arc constantly swallowing castor oil or caseara. This is a stupid practice which we only mention to condemn in the strongest possible terms. This u-e, or rather abuse of sueh drugs only favours constipation. Constipation, in fact, is best treaded not by drugs at all, lilt by regular habits and a properly selected dietary. Hundreds of people simply keep their constipation going by taking, drugs under the belief that they are do ing all they can to cure it. 'lf drugs must !>c taken, let the one. sdectert 1 be' pure water taken before breakfast,' ami again before retiring for, the night. This cannot possibly do any, harm,'tend not infrequently produces excellent reunite. PAh'MNQ ON PRENCRU’TIONS. Who not met the man or woman who is alway : ready to give jbu their

own doctor’s prescription when you are. ill? This is mistaken kindness. 1 Pause for a moment to reflect what, this silly custom means. It signifies that the prescription carefully prepared or Mr. X. by his doctor is handed over to Mr. Y. because the latter happens to eon;plain of somewhat similar symptoms. As a concrete example, take, ray, a cough mixture. The cough in the one case may be due to heart disease, in the. other it may result from some throat affection. If the mixture which was used in the first case is given to the man with the throat ailment it will certainly cause alarming symptoms in the latter. And yet this habit of passing on prescriptions is pursued every day. QUACK REMEDIES. Just a few words on quack remedies. It goes without saying that gallons of quack fluids and tons of quack pills are swallowed by the public i:i this country every year. And little wonder when onreads the glowing advertisements of these fraudulent produets. It is a veryeasy matter, however, to make statements about anything in print. It is quite another matter to prove the truth of these assertions; and yet men and women are found who take everything for granted and spend their money on that which satisfieth not. To put it mildly we may say. that quaek remedies always cost a hundred per eent more than their real value. All the<q. grand, advertisements Iqive.to ba paid for, and tlie poor deluded sufferer is made to contribute to the erst pf their publication. ~5Ve have, of co.ur.sq, only toughed the fringe of this great and important subject, but perhaps enough has been sii I for the present to awaken in the minds of our readers a sense of their great responsibility in using drugs on their own initiative and advising their friends and neighbours to do the same. Then, again, we sincerely hope that none of our readers will, after perusing this article, be so foolish as to buy quack mixtures, pills, or ointments. “When really ill. consult your doctor,” is sound advice which no one who lias any respect for his health and well-being can afford to neglect. A half-crown given to a medical man wil be a mor ■ profitable investment by far than twice the amount spent in the purcha-o of some high standing tut utterly worthless advertised panacea. <s><s><s> Have Women a Sense of Humour? (By Lyndon Orr.) THE “GENTLER SEX” HAS MORE MALI U E THAN MELI A ; W N ESS. MORE WIT THAN HUMOUR—THERE ARE. HOWEVER. MANY STRIKING EXAMPLES OK HUM OUR AS EXPRESSED BY WOMEN WRITERS. Oikt upon a time a misguided man remarked to a group of feminine listeners that women had no sen-p of humour, whereupon one of them immediately retorted? “Of course, women have no sense of humour. If they had, they couldn't take men seriously." There is a good dewl that is instructive in this incident. If a woman had declared to a masuline audience, that m*‘n hove no sense of humour, it is not likely that any of them would have made so •»lev< r a scply. In fact, they would probably have said nothing whatsoever. Most of them would have taken it merely as a personal opinion; and the nst of them would have chuckled quietly over ro sweeping an assertion. The snvift teiort which the woman made showed that

at least she had abundant wit. The silent enjoyment of the men would have shown that they did in reality possess a sense of humour, and it would h’ave been quite as effective an answer, in its way, a the tart epigram which the woman uttered.

One reason why men think that women have no sense of humour is, indeed, found in the very fact that women usually become angry when you tell them that they cannot take a humourous view of things. Some years ago this question was raised in newspaper discussion, and all the women who took part in it were obviously, indignant. They said and printed many caustic comments; but they took the thing so hard and their sayings were so sharp as to prove that the ladies themselves were quite out of temper. Miss Kate Sanborn, whose story “Adopting an Abandoned Farm” is often very humorous, defended her sex -against the charge with abundant iiony and sarcasm. Her thrusts were keen and her epigrams were witty. But the nature of her defense and her coun-ter-attack upon men made it plain enough that even her own undoubted humour had very decided limitation, instead of poking fun at the men who

accused women of a lack of humour, she berated them. Her weapon was not the lariat, but the deadly lame; and she pieferred -malice to mellowness. In a generai way, therefore, if is not unjust to say, of women, ps a sex, that the- quality. of. wit ,is qjivirs in great abundance; w-lmueas Um quality of humour.* though- it be not licking, js less often 'Seen in women than in men, and is fur less sure. A.ud this is natural enough when we. consider what wit is and what is the nature of pure humour. Wit is swift and sharp. It, leaps forth suddenly like the rapier of a ready duelist. It glitters a moment and then sends its thrust straight home. It depend upon surprise; it essence is ingenuity; its appeal is. wholly to the mini. Humour, on the other hand, in its highest form is almost a sixth sense, •ami is therefore very hard to analyse. It consists wholly in a peculiar point of view, and it makes its way into the mind fir more slowly than wit. One enjoys it deliberately as though he wen- pb asuiably savoring some ripe and sunny vintage, some rare old wine which much be sipped with deliberation so that not an atom of its fine bouquet, shall be Inst. A certain slowness of comprehension often goes with humour, and even heightens its effect. At a brilliant flash of wit, one cries out in admiration. At a mellow piece of humour, one smiles a gradually broadening smile, which ends perhaps in a hearty laugh. W it must be condensed; humour may be diffused over many senlenc.'s ami even many pages. Of it there are numerous vaiir ties, from the quiet, genial humour of Addison or the quaint fancy of Lamb to the broad tun which is best exemplified in Dickens. WOMAN AS A WIT. Kenieiiiheiing this, we can readily understand why women should have more wit than humour. They are more sensitive than npni. Their minds are nimbler. Their thoughts Hash instantly to an intuitive oOrttfrabion. Heme wit is far more natural to them, and they have hardly the intellectual patience to create or tn enjoy the h ss obvious ami more duHbejate moods off Jiumour. When we contrast women with men in this ies|H«ct, B iM’ like contrasting the French as a pedplr with the English. The former have always been famous for their wit apd the Jattrr for their humour. The FfebcJt mindlucid, tnerrurial.;alert. ypr” instantaneous iinpressions. I l»r mind is lent

agile, more given to ruminating, and therefore less receptive of what is new • nd striking. So there is no wit in the ■world to be compared with that of La Rochefoucauld, of Scribe, and of Voltaire; while there is no humour in any literature which quite equals that of the English writers whom I have already mentioned, an<l that of Steed and I'ielding. of Goldsmith and of Holmes. What is usually spoken of as "American humour” is very often not humourous at all, but is essentially marked by wit. The writings of Mark Twain afford abundant instances of both wit and humour, even though they are usually classified as belonging wholly to the second category. When he joins the dignified to the ludicrous in order to excite our mirth, when he startles us by some unexpected turn of phrase or thought, then he is simply witty. On the other hand his drolleries, conceived with an air of perfect gravity and put forth as though with a sincere simplicity—these are really humour, as when, in "The Innocents Abroad.” he describes his experiences in a Turkish bath or tells of how he wept at the grave of Adam. The same thing is true of Lowell, whose "Biglow Papers" are at times irreverently witty and at other times replete with the richest humour. But though the French as a people •re more witty than humorous, and though the English as a people are more humorous than witty, it would be a very sweeping statement if one were to assert that the French possess no sense of humour. The innumerable comic scenes in Moliere’s plays and the fact that his countrymen enjoyed them with an intense delight would prove the contrary, not to mention the abounding fun in Daudet’s tales of the immortal Tartarin and his Algerian adventures, his faithful camel and his Falstaflian stories of his prowess as a hunter. HUMOUR AND WOMEN WRITERS. Precisely in the same way would it be absurd to hold that women have no sense of humour. The pages of literature—and of very great literature at

that—are enough to vindicate them from the charge of being merely witty. There are touches of humour to be found in all j.he novels of Jane Austen—in the love affairs of “Catherine Morland” and the flirtations Of “Isabella Thorp.” In “Mrs Poyser.” George Eliot has given to the world a richly humorous type, quit? worthy-to-be set jreside some of the most comic of the characters that Dickens drew. And so in her “Middlemarch” there is not only observation but real humour embodied in the sketch of “Mr Brooke” —that inconsequential, superficial, self-satisfied squire, “who used to know a good dead about this sort of thing some time ago.” though at any given moment his knowledge about anything whatever is wholly scrambling and uncertain.

Again, the most amusing kind of humour is to be found in some of the chapters written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Whatever one may think of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” as a polemical novel, there are scenes and incidents described in it which will make anyone laugh with unrestrained enjoyment. Topsy —that impossible little piccaninny, mischievous, exasperating, and yet with a human heart —is droll to a degree; and scarcely less so is the primly conscientious Miss Ophelia, who undertakes to train and civilise this little waif of Africa. In quite another vein, yet with scarcely less effect, has Mrs Stowe uncovered a golden vein of fun in the theological portions of “The Minister's Wooing.”

If we were to cite contemporaneous examples, the list of women writers who have shown the gift of humour might be lengthened out indefinitely; but the name of Mary Wilkins may serve alone as an admirable and convincing proof of what can be achieved by women in this field. Her New England characters—her prim old maids, her village boys and girls, her “hired men,” her pedlars, and her grocers —are drawn in such a way that all their humorous possibilities are seen. And in drawing them she has shown a mastery- of the supreme and finest type, in that the fun is often mingled and inseparably blended with that pathos which is never entirely re-

mote from the creations of the greatest humorists; since humour itself springs from an inner sympathy which lies very near the source of tears. ❖ $ ❖ Clothes Made of Paper. The day is not far distant when it maybe the fashion to wear clothes made of paper. At first We shall be incredulous and sceptical, but with extended knowledge there will come enlarged faith, and in selecting our new summer suitings the preference will -probably be for the very latest ‘’paper cloth’’ patterns. The new cloth is named t>y its Saxon inventor “xylolin.” It is a paper yarn that has been successfully used in a wide range of textile fabrics. The utilisation of paper wood fibre in this new and practical way, and the extreme cheapness of the new material compared with other yarns now in use is really a remarkable achievement. It should be understood that xylolin is a wood fibre spun into a paper thread or yarn, and may be woven into any desired fabric. It is primarily' a thread or yarn, and is employed exclusively in weaving. The thread is not brittle, it does not have a hard surface, and it neither shrinks nor stretches to any appreciable extent. Having certain resilient qualities, it cannot be readily crushed or dented like paper, and on it moisture has practically no effect. It is a serviceable substitute for cotton, jute, linen, and even silk. When bleached the yarn is of a snowy whiteness, and at first glance cannot be distinguished from cotton. It can be woven to appear as homespun linen. Being paper, it can be more readily dyed in delicate shades, far outmatching the range of colours to which cotton or silks are susceptible, and vastly more than those of linens.

Among the various fabrics in which the greatest amount of work has thus far been accomplished is the making of rugs and carpets, and at the factories

of the inventor paper floor coverings ar* woven in great quantities. In Saxony the yarn of heavier quality, woven into beautiful designs, is found to possess advantages over certain classes of floor coverings. Some idea of its adaptability {or towels may be gathered from the fact that last year alone 7,000,000 pieces were made and sold, and it is likely that not one purchaser in a hundred But thought he was buying linen towelling at bargain prices. «><?>«> Grumbling Children. We cannot expect our children to ba cheerful and gay if we constantly set them the example of grumbling. I ain sure we have all noticed that some children gradually take this tone from their mother, until the habit, with or without cause, is firmly established. They sea discontent printed on the face which ought always to be pleasant, and tha same lines form themselves on their own little faces, almost unconsciously. I overheard a child say to her nurse, one day, recently. “ Don’t you find it (presumably some duty) a bother? Mother says everything is a bother! ” Now, that child would never have thought of such a thing if the idea had not been suggested to her by her unwise parent. Have you never passed a group of gossiping women, and noticed the expression on the faces of the little ones who are standing by, listening to the remarks, complaints, and detailed anecdotes, etc., of first on woman and then another? Small wonder is it that the little girls grow up into loud-voiced scolds. Even in their play their tones lose their childish cadence, and are transformed by mimic anger into harsh unlovely sounds. As there is a time for everything, so there are occasions when it is necessary for you to show dis pleasure at something which has occur.e 1 to annoy you. But having once spoken out plainly about it, say no more, especially in the presence of the children, who are born mimics, and are quick to t?ke their tone from yours.