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White Ribbon, Volume 11, Issue 124, 15 September 1905, Page 10

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Spring Pick me ups. By M. Ellsworth Olsen. Spring tonics, pick-me-ups, and medicines of all kinds are in general demand. Even those who ordinarily eschew such things often resort to some popular nostrum, when, with the passing away of cold weather, there is an apparent “ letting down ” of the system. It is thought to !>e a safe thing to do to take a little physic in the spring of the year. Some think it wards off sickness, others tha it helps to give general tone to the body. Unfortunately, hopes of this sort txmnd up in a Untie or two of patent medicines, are likely utterly to fail of fruition. Nevertheless, there are some real tonics which, taken according to direction, will accomplish great things. It is no doubt the fact that people generally feel some loss of energy with the approach of mild weather. The liver seems a little sluggish, the circulation is slow’, the digestion unsatisfactory, appetite lags, and the whole system seems not quite up to the mark. Oh viously something should be done to bring about a letter state of things. What shall that thing !)e ? Let us ask first, What Shall We Take ? If you are really tired, and have been under heavier strain than you can bear, then the thing for you to take is rest. If your work has not l>een excessively hard, and your lack of energy is owing mainly to a sedentary manner of life, combined with the common “ let down " associated with the approach of warm weather, then you need to take more fresh air, to breathe fully and deeply. Another internal remedy when the body is having “ the blues ” is to tat

plentifully of oranges, apples and other iruits that have a remarkable effect in quickening the life forces, and at the same time getting that greatly sought after boon, a clear lit ad. A breakfast composed alone of fruit makes an excellent l>eginmng for the day ; it certainly is all that ever should !>e taken if one has eaten a late supper the night before. Buoyancy of spirit, a cool head, warm extremities, and general good health are largely matters of diet. But in prescribing things to take the morning dip must not l>e overlooked. Oh, how much brighter the world looks, how small the perplexities, how keen the sense of reserve power to the man who is just reacting from a cold bath. Verily those who are not acquainted with this truly wonderful *ALrir Pit o4, are missing one of the best of tonics. If you have not the courage nor the vigour to begin with the dip, adopt the wet-hand rub, which consists in wetting the Ixxly thoroughly by means of the hands dipped in cold water, and then rubbing dry and warm with a bath towel. This may also be done a part at a time to prevent chilling. In every case it should be done rapidly, and it will be most effective if preceded and followed by a few minutes’ brisk exercise, especially expansion of the chest.

Water, the reader may l>e reminded, is valuable taken internally as well as externally. Suppose, in lieu of the U'jal spring tonic, you imagine you are taking the cure at llomburg - drink two or thiee glasses of water l>efore breakfast, and indulge in a morning walk; take another dose an hour l»efore dinner, and again l»efore retiring in the evening. The effects may surprise you.

Of course, if there is constipation, the bowels should l>e relieved by means of the enema. Elimination must t>e good all round , a few vapour baths might not come amiss if there is a tendency to clogging ot the system. So much for the things that are to l>e taken—the passive treatment, if you please. For probably the vast majority of Good Health readers there is something eveu more important, the question, namely, What Shall We Do? T here are some things to be done in springtime if we would avoid spring sickness, biliousness, and unpleasant effects generally. First, we must gel our windows open, and Mood our living rooms and iiedrooins with heaven's fresh air. Secondly, we must get out of doors as much as we possibly can, and imitate the active lives of the birds and other wild animals, who find the spring the most healthful and enjoyable part of the year. Thirdly, we must take vigorous exercise, set the blood tingling through the body, and get every corner of the lungs filled with oxygen. A good deal of the sluggishness of the stomach and liver and other organs is due to lazy legs and indolent indoor habits. For healthy men and women the most delightful way to spend a half holiday should i>e by taking a fifteen mile cross-country walk, or a fifty mile ride on the bicycle. Motoring is a good thing, too, but is hardly active enough for a soundlimbed man.

Another thing to do is to cultivate earnestly and persistently an upright, vigorous carriage. Ail kinds of work, mental and physical, Income easier and pleasanter when the terrible stoop is

overcome, and the worker has learned to keep his lungs well expanded. A cheery outlook on the world, —a determination to look on the bright side of things, is also well worthy of careful, systematic cultivation. Every earnest, cheerful thought has an influence for good on all the organs of the body; on the other hand, dismal, gloomy thoughts tend to bring about diseased conditions—in fact have the power to create these things. “ A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Things We Must Not Do.

If we would have the best health, we must not abuse our Ixxiies. The stomach must not l>e filled with rubbish, just because a depraved appetite calls tor it. Alcoholic drinks must not be indulged in, for they leave after effects of a harmful character. I'ohaccostnoke has no proper place in the category of man’s needs ; it may well lie banished from the life. Its place will be more than filled by that exquisitely sensitive state of the system which is in perfect health, when every nerve quivers with the jov of living. lhe smoker thinks he is indulging himself, but in reality he is denying himself a hundred natural and thoroughly satisfying healthy enjoyments for every w hiff of the nauseous nicotine. Real Spring-cleaning Finally, then, put yourself thoroughly in touch with nature; set your physical house in order, do some real springcleaning, and you will have no occasion to patronise the tsotile cure. You will not want any pick-me-ups t>ecause you will l>e ’ all the time, and not “ down in the dumps.” —English Good Health.