Health Notes for the Farm.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 57, Issue 6, 20 December 1938, Page 558

Health Notes for the Farm.

Contributed by the Department of Health.

Let Health Accompany You on Your Holiday.

THE spirit of holiday-making is I abroad, and at this season of the year probably none of us ever outgrows a quickening of the pulse as we look forward to a change from the ordinary routine of life and a way of escape from overwork and ennui. An individual who is harassed by the recurring problems of everyday life tends to lose his true sense of proportion and to become unable to concentrate upon his work or to find a pleasure in it._ In other words, he becomes stale. His remedy is to take a holiday and crowd into a few days many pleasurable experiences denied . in the ordinary routine of life. • It does a person good to get away from the same old kitchen stove, the shop or office, the cow-shed, the schoolroom, or whatever the daily, occupation or environment may be, even if it be for a day or a month. No one need be ashamed in taking a necessary holiday, provided it is a healthy one ; it is the decadent, type of holiday which is a stupid waste of a precious opportunity. A Complete Change. . As a general rule, for a holiday there should be a complete change from the ordinary environment, and a person who lives near the sea should, if possible, go inland, while the inland dweller should go to the coast. Having • chosen •_. the location, what is done afterwards depends largely on temperament and taste. . Love of the sea is ingrained in the blood of our people, and even many who dwell by the sea still choose seaside resorts for their holidays. -The beach is incomparable, with its opportunities for bathing, for exposure to the sea and the wind, and for easy walking exercise. It should be remembered, however, that while sunlight is one of nature’s most beneficient agents, injudicious sun-bathing may. be not only harmful, but even dangerous.

In . large institutions in England and on the continent in which sun-bathing is carried out as part of the regime and under medical direction extreme care is taken to prevent ill effects, and the skin of the patients is exposed to the direct rays of the sun only by degrees and for gradually increasing periods. It is most important, then, that bathers should refrain from too sudden and prolonged exposure of the body on hot beaches. This applies particularly to those with fair hair and skin, lacking in protective pigment. Hygienic Camping. Camping is becoming increasingly popular, and provides a cheap and simple holiday with practically an unrestricted choice of locality. The very popularity of this type of holiday, however, demands the observance of certain elementary rules on the part of the campers in the interests of themselves and those who come after them. . The. sanitary requirements of a good camp, include provision of safe water, protection of food from dust, flies, &c., and the satisfactory disposal of all waste matter. The organized camping-grounds established or. approved by local authorities provide for all these, and in such cases the duties and responsibilities of the camper are simplified. These camps can only be established according to the provisions of the Camping-grounds Regulations 1936. However, many will elect to camp in more remote places, where they themselves must assume direct responsibilities in these matters. The camp-site should be carefully selected. Swamps and stagnant pools which are likely to be breeding-places for mosquitoes should be avoided. Shade is desirable, but a place should be chosen which will be reached by the early morning sun and to which the breezes

have clear access. The sides of the tent should- be raised during the day when weather permits, so as to expose the tent-site and contents to the purifying influences of sun, wind, and fresh air. Waterproof ground-sheets are invaluable articles of equipment to rest on by day or to put beneath the mattresses at night. Mosquito-netting may be advisable where insect pests abound. The Camping Diet. The diet of campers is necessarily , of a ■simple nature, but it should not be too concentrated, and must contain a liberal supply of milk, fresh vegetables, and fruit. Water from wayside streams may or may not be safe, according to its source and whether it has been exposed to human pollution. It is safer to boil the water, and this precaution must always be taken unless it is from a source which is known to be uncontaminated. . Meat may be kept fresh and free from flies by placing it in a safe constructed of butter-muslin stretched over iron hoops and hung from a tree in a cool spot. Butter may be kept cool in an unglazed pottery dish covered with wet muslin. Milk should be carried separately and kept cool. When babies are bottle-fed, great care should. be exercised in the preparation of the milk on arrival in a new district during a holiday. On this matter the advice of the local doctor or Plunket Nurse might be sought. Immediately. a baby refuses to take its food or shows signs of intestinal trouble it is wise to obtain expert advice. ' ; Camp wastes should be disposed of in such a manner that they will not pollute the soil, , contaminate water-supplies', attract rats and mice, or furnish a breed-ing-ground for flies. A spade is an

essential article' of camp equipment. A good motto is “ burn and bury.” The true lover of nature will always leave a scene as clean and beautiful as he found it. / Exercise in the Open Air. - Exercise in the open air is a recognized aid to health, and one of the principal objects of the holiday is to become physically fit. In all cases exercise should be regular and appropriate to the individual. Moderation should be the key word ; excess may be harmful. Those of mature years should not indulge in violent athletic activity during their holidays unless they are already fit and in good training. It should be remembered, also, that even the youngest and most ardent holiday-maker is better for proper rest and adequate sleep. . Clothing during holiday should be based' on comfort. The requirements for hot weather are looseness of texture, lightness of weight, and the capacity for air circulation. The movement of air over the body is of great assistance in promoting a feeling of wellbeing, in imparting tone to muscles, and in stimulating circulation and body processes generally. Guard Against Accidents. '.Unfortunately, the holiday season is not free from risk. . Every year the sea

and rivers take their toll of victims who, through carelessness or over-confidence, bathe in unsafe waters. Holiday-makers must exercise proper care, as non-observ-ance of common-sense precautions only result in disaster. Children, particularly, should be properly supervised. The road also claims its victims, but enough has been said in other quarters to emphasize the importance of ensuring that the rules of the road are obeyed and that every vehicle is safe from point of view of brakes and steering-gear. Minor accidents are always liable to occur, and the holiday-maker should carry a simple first-aid outfit. A few sterile bandages, some cotton wool, boracic lint, a common antiseptic, some simple ointment, and tincture of iodine should be enough for the purpose. The Troublesome Mosquito. All cuts should receive immediate attention. Mosquito-bites may be a source of intense annoyance. There are various repellants, of which one of the most useful is oil of citronella. This should be lightly smeared over exposed surfaces of the body. Where bites have occurred the irritation may be allayed by bathing in a weak solution of water containing sodium bicarbonate, commonly

known as baking-soda. ' Tincture of iodine may be painted on subsequently to prevent development of infected sores. When camping or picnicking, lighted matches or cigarette ends should not be thrown on dry grass or bush, as this is one of the most common means of starting a fire which might have a disastrous consequence. The greatest care should be taken with spirit lamps. Insurance Against Illness. In conclusion, it should be remembered that a well-spent holiday can be regarded as a sound investment and an excellent insurance against illness. The motoring enthusiast need not let his car deteriorate his muscles, for it can be used to carry him to the starting-point of new, delightful walks. There is no tonic like exhilaration. Let the holidays be something more than a question of what is for,breakfast, dinner, and tea. Draw close to nature. Heed the call of the sea, or the countryside and the mountain-tops, for in their presence the body tends to grow strong, a natural vehicle of health, and the mind is invigorated so that to live is keen delight. ❖ ♦ '