The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 17, 1901, Page 6

oop AFALTH AND s RoLesr o= IeaceviT _B_;V e (Copyright.) EMEMBER that the stom- ach requires regularity in its function and rest. Ac- cordingly, meals at regu- lar hours will find this organ pre- pared to receive and digest them. Earlier than the regular time the stomach is unprepared, for it has not had its mecessary rest. Later than the regular time the oppor- tunity is lost, because the desire for food disappears as if food had been taken. Remember that any amount of food taken in excess of the body's legitimate demand becomes a for- eign and injurious substance in our organism, capable of produc- ing disorder or disease. Among the latter we find headache, bilious- ness, gall stones, jaundice, various forms of skin disease—eczema, hives, boils—dyspepsia, congestion of the liver and brain, kidney trouble, gout, obesity and rheuma- tism. The evil effects may be man- ifested either immediately, gradu- ally or later in life. Overeating, especially if habitual, is a sin, which penalty is always sure to fol- low. Bear in mind that high living as- sociated with want of exercise is the natural generator of gall stones, stones in the bladder or kidneys, gout, obesity and many cases of Bright's disease. The late Czar ‘Alexander I1I went to an untimely death through this cause, notwith- standing his robustness. Follow as a rule amired diet, without allowing too great a dis- proportion in quantity between the various classes of food. A mived diet should have two bases, namely, the class of the articles of food and the amount of nutriment they con- tain; that is to say, not only the species have to be mixed, but also the concemérated with the more di- lute foods. For instance, a proper- ly mized dict for a healihy individ- ual showld contain animal food, 'sfarchy food (cereals), green vege- tables, fruit, salt and fluad. By animal food is meant meats, fat, poultry, game, fish, eggs, but- ter and milk. A small amount of fat or butter is mecessary in the diet. The most concentrated starchy foods are rice, oatmeal, cornmeal, wheat, corn, barley, sago, tapioca, rye and arrowroot. These cereals, when made into bread, become less concentrated, and in this form rank with beans, peas, lentils and chest- nuts. Potatoes and parsnips are the most dilute of the starchy foods. Oatmeal should not be taken oftener than three times a week. Among the albuminous foods we find that those most concentrated are the meats, eggs, cream, cheese, gelatin and gluten flour, while milk and the stalks and leaves of vege- tables are dilute. It is a note- worthy fact that eggs particularly, and milk to a certain degree, are complete foods in themsclves, that is, are the most suitable single foods, for they contain all the nour- ishing principles required for the maintenance of life. Milk, hotwo- ever, as single food is suitable only for infants and sick patients. In selecting an ordinary mixed | diet the occupation of the. individual | or family should, as far as possible, be taken into consideration. For instance, a person who performs | hard work, walks or rides a great | deal on horseback or bicycle, can easily dispose of a rich or concen- trated diet. Whereas, he who does little manual work, sits most of the | time, and takes little or no exercise, consumes but little, and therefore needs little of the concentrated foods. An abundant diet, consist- ing chicfly of the goncentrated foods, is quite unappropriate to the latter, and leads to gout, obesity, gall stones and predisposes to apo- plexy. Positively avoid a habitual diet composed too exclusively of ome kind of food, such as meats or cere- als; such a diet leads inevitably to disease. Many cases of sickness, palpitations, scurvy, skin discases and headache are directly due to this improper diet. Bear in mind that sugar and all sugared or syrupy substances, un- less sparingly used, are the most in- jurious of the foods in ordinary use. They render digestion imper- fect, and by their seductive taste are liable to induce overeating. Eat sparingly of fruit, pre- serves, veal, pork, young lamb, kid, ham, bacon, sugar, vinegar, spices, fats, oils, fried foods, pastries, cakes, rich desserts, strong gravies, hot freshly baked bread and foods which. form adherent pastes. : Awoid indulging in strong coffee or tea, or alcohol. Milk, plain or mineral water, weak coffee or tea, chicory, coffee made of cereals, light beers or diluted wines, are by far preferable. Awoid cold food, except in hot days; avoid ice cream in the colder seasons. ool only well chewed food. The teeth were made for that special purpose; if they are poor or missing, seek the dentist’s aid. Awoid -violent exercise and se- vere mental exertion jfust ufter meals, but a moderate exercise, as & walking, will aid digestion. Wash your hands with soap and water before each meal, even if they do not appear unclean. Brush your teeth inside and out- 2 side at least once a day, and rinse your mouth after each meal. When your stomach is out of order give it a rest by fasting half a day, or by taking only a little fluid : 3 food. Dried beans, in order to be fit for the stomach and harmless, must be softened by sbaking and cooking to a crumbling condition. Remember that the healthiest meats are beef, mutton and poultry, and that beef and mutton are most casily digested and wholesome when broiled, roasted or stewed, not fried. Lean and emaciated persons, especially those who follow labori- ous occupations, should take some food just before bedtime, unless their stomach is deranged. The di- gestive organs are able to digest and assimilate food during the night. Hunger during the night is sometimes a cause of sleeplessness. Take at least a total of two quarts of fluid per day, be it water, milk, coffee, tea, soup, beer, wine, etc. These bland fluids. are blood purifiers, they wash out the impuri- ties of the body. Remember that pure water is the most natural and wholesome bever- age. A glass of pure water every morning before breakfast will go far toward preventing sickness and extending life toward the cen- tury mark. The drinking water, when sus- pected to be impure, can be rendered dangerless from disease germs by boiling or by adding to it a tea- spoonful of either sugar, brandy, whisky or glycerine, or two tea- @ it T is said that the best behaved children are those which exist in the imagination of unmarried women, theory children, so to speak. It is needless to say that such per- fect creatures are not to be met in every-day life. . ‘With few exceptions, the ordinary child’s life is governed by an exceed- ingly loose rein. Children are allowed too much indulgence, and always in the wrong direction. There are very many instances in which children early learn to take advantage of an indulgent parent, and in the learning are fostered deceit and other evil pro- clivities, The child who comes to know that petty thieving will be overlooked by an appearance of con- trition is laying a splendid founda- tion for a life of crime and its inev- itable punishment, and, poor little mite, he has nobody to warn him. A careless bringing up is the cause of many a failure in life. Children who are accustomed to rule a house- hold expect to rule the world by the same arbitrary methods when they become men and women. Defeat they accept as they took opposition from their parents—with-.a very bad grace. They generally refuse to make an- other attempt with different meth- ods, and there you have the failure. Should you spend time to analyze the causes of a large proportion of the divorce cases, you would undoubtedly find that over-indulgence in child- hood plays a very important part. The wife has been a petted, spoiled daughter, and, with an exaggerated opinion of her own importance, ex- pects her husband to assist in main- taining it. Perhaps he, too, had been spoiled by foolish parents, and ex- pected more from his wife than she was able to give. And an unthinking Judge talks about incompatibility of temper and severs the matrimonial ‘bond. American children are said to be the worst mannered little people in the world. They contradict their elders, break into the conversation at will, demand - first attention at table and regulate their hour of re- tiring to suit their fancy. I have seen Awoid cold drinks at meal time, except in hot days. 'Avoid uncom- fortably hot drinks. Avoid eating at irregular hours. Never overrule your appetite, which is the best in- dex of the amount of food you need, except in the course of dis- eases that require a special dict. Satisfy your appetite, not your gluttony; satisfy your thirst, not your craving. Salt your food sufficiently, be- cause salt is an aid to digestion, but not more than meeded to suit the taste. Eat less rapidly and chew your food more. The stomach wants were postponed. They go to the fam- ily table before they are old enough to eat, and begin at once to learn naughty tricks. They refuse to sleep without rocking as infants and will not remain in slumber unless the whole household becomes silent and uncomfortable. They keep the pa- rents close at home by having tem- per fits whenever they note prepara- tions which mean a departure. In fact, they are tyrants from the cradle, if they have parental permission to exercise their power. And the per- mission is often forthcoming, you may be sure. The main cause of the trouble lies in the excess of parental care. If children were left a little more to themselves they would be better off. Some rules there must be in every family, but let them be as few as pos- sible. The simpler a child’s life the children for whom the meal hours. spoonfuls of lemon or pineapple Juice. . Never forget that fresh air, sun- shine, sunlight, exercise and cold sponging or bathing in summer are natural remedies of supreme value in poor appetite, dyspepsia, anemia, consumption, any run-down condi- tion, mervous affections and dis- turbances of the mind or mental distress. 3 When mentally depressed, grieved, anxious or ireful, take a cup of strong black coffee and seek diversion in the open air. Avoid by all means brooding over your troubles indoors. Remember that moral sickness is closely allied to bodily sickness, as cheerfulness is to health, because the condition of the mind influences to a very great degree all functions of the body. Excessive excitements, be they emotional, sorrowful, tragical or wildly enthusiastic, are equally harmful. Any excitement disturbs - the equilibrium of the internal func- tions, especially digestion. Calm, peace and cheerfulness without un- due cxcitement are essential to health and longevity. SSSSEES cide for both the mind and boa'y.. In the evening hours the mind should be allowed free and unre- strained sway among relations of a different character. A diversity of thought, especially at this time, is as necessary to the mind as a variety The old adage, “Variety is the of fo0d to the stomach. The ad- spice of life,” is very true. To it we should add, “Variety is the con- miration of flowers, plants, pictur- esque nmature, the singing of birds, servator and strengthener of the 4, contemplation of the waves, the mind.” The mind kept in narrow sport of children, etc., after the quarters, with little or no change j,rc of duty, is resiful to the of relation, develops but very slow- ,yind. The person who broods over ly and inadequately. The mind business, family or social matlers, kept at constant work and deprived oy pymities, ruins his health and his of an occasional change of relation ;4. degenerates very early, and is The fact that a business man liable to exhaustion or insanity. A _ formerly used to work gladly, t'/angc of relation or scenery gives full of energy and good will, now relief and rest to the mental worker, feels disinclined to work, and be- and is indispensable to him at least ;. .c cqsily tired and irritated at once a week. In winter as well as the least rt{tts?, is evidence enough in summer he should therefore take a stroll every Sunday beyond the close walls of the city. Besides this, the benefit of a semestrial or yearly wacation should invariably be sought. Working beyond the regular hours, as is the custom of certain individuals, who do not let up until late at night, is a slow sui- L e e e o e e e 2 R e i B S T Y RENDING THE TWIG. By Mrs. lartha Taft Wentworth. (Copyright, 1900, by Walter B. Guild.) 3| : i i better, and simplicity cannot obtain where there is excessive fussiness. A healthy child has few needs—food, | sleep and recreation are about all out- | side of the necessary clothing. Food | is provided by the parents with the clothing, nature looks after the sleep- ing part of the programme, and the child is able to furnish its own recre- ation with a little assistance in the matter of toys and opportunities to use them, Children should early be taught the value of regularity in meals and slumber. There should be stated. pe- ricds for both, and nothing of a trivial nature should be allowed to | interfere with either. Positively, a child’s health and happiness depend on these two habits. It is better to arrange the meal hours so that chil- dren can be fed by themselves until their table manners have been formed and their presence will be a creditable addition to the family table. Believe me, this i{s the easiest way in which to teach the use of napkin, knife, fork | and spoon. Fearlessness is a trait which chil- dren bring into the world. It is killed out by parents and attendants who seek to rule children through fear. It is a precious gift which ought to be fostered to maturity, for it is the best weapon with which to fight for suc- cess, The fearless child is usually the truthful, honest youngster who grows into an honorable mamber of society. Nobody has ever been able to explain why the possession of a fearless spirit keeps at bay the mean little traits which often bring ruin in later years. But everybody acknowl- edges the fact. Respect for elders is not a com- mon trait among American children. The Turk honors his mother above every woman in the world, - and shows it by remaining in her pres- ence in a standing position and with uncovered head. It is a ceremony he observes with no other woman. The Chinese mother is the head of the son’s house and his wife is her slave. The Japanese greatly honor their elders and some of the English- speaking .nations are fairly decent in the matter. French children are models of obedience and respectful courtesy to their parents, and a few Americans are beautiful examples of the wise ruling of careful parents. ‘We do not meet them very often, but we remember them long ‘after the disagreeable images of badly bred children, too common for comfort, have faded away. It is a rank injustice to a child to allow it to reach the age of discre- tion with an undisciplined mind and a set of bad manners which will make its path through life a thorny one. ‘His knowledge of his shortcomin, is sometimes sufficient to block his way to success. Give the children a fair chance, my friends, by supplying the best possible foundation—there will be inhaled should be packed around the neck and the entire face left uncovered. little to fear for the structure they will build upon it. that he has been wearing out his nervous energy by a too constant work. When in bed for your night rest see that your breath has a free egress. The bed clothes should never be drawn over the chin, for in this position they obstruct the current of the expired air, and as a result part of the latter is again. The bedclothes In order to allow sleep to come, put aside all interest in this world and hush all active and exciting thoughts as soon as you are in bed. Sleep eight hours a day. Do not forget that you will sleep much better in a cold than in a warm room; also that the excess of heat arising from unduly warm coverings iterferes with sleep. Do not neglect your house drains or allow cesspools around your welling-house, . particularly in summer. Never throw the refuse or con- tents of chamber vessels near the water well, for these filter through, aided by the first rainfall, and pol- lute water. Epidemic and con~ tagious diseases are thus transmit- ted. If your sight is normal, when reading or writing hold your book or paper fifteen inches from your eyes and you will be in no need of glasses before the age of 50. Change your underclothing at least once a week, and take a cleansing bath with friction of skin as often. A bath with friction is a preventive of disease; it pro- motes the elimination of the morbid material, equalizes the circulation of the blood, soothes and quicts an unbalanced nervous system, keeps the skin healthy and clears the mind by unloading the brain. Let the users of intoxicants be warned that when the harm done by an immoderate use of alcohol is felt, it is already irreparable, ex- cept in few cases, where some im- provement is obtainable if this in- toxicant is givew up. It is extreme- ly foolish to say, “I partook copi- ously of alcoholic drinks for twenty years,” or “I smoked profusely during one-half of my life and never felt any bad results from it.” Remember that the ill effects of these practices are most commonly felt in later life, and that the con- ditions to which they give rise are remediless. ' When wishing to air a room, lower the upper window instead of gs | raising the lower one, because the warmer air being the lighter al- ways forms the upper layers, which can not be dislodged by the fresh and heavier air entering the lower part of the room. 4 DENEATH THE ~w SCA (Copyright, 101, by the Christian Herald, New York.) HE idea of successful submarine navigation is so attractive, and its pos- sible applications in of- fensive and defensive naval opera- tions are so great, that for many years most determined efforts have been made to produce vessels cap- able of meeting the chief require- ments of such craft. There are at the present time several types of vessels said to be capable of success- ful navigation below the surface at moderate speeds. Of the future of wvessels of this class it is not possible to speak with entire certainty, because of the pos- sibility, or even probability, of im- provements in other lines, which will directly affect the submarine vessels. To be entirely successful it is mecessary that a submarine boat adapted to naval purposes should have a high surface speed, a reasonable submerged speed, per- fect control, both in the vertical and horizontal plane, when on the sur- face or submerged, efficient ventila- tion of the interior, satisfactory ac- commodations for the personnel, and a considerable field of vision when submerged. What has al- ready been accomplished in the sub- marine vessels at present in service both in this country and abroad demonstrates the entire practicabil- ity of obtaining all that is desired in many of these features. We may reasonably hope that the developments which the past has seen in steam mavigation and the advances in armor and armament of vessels of war, may find their counterpart in the future develop- ment and improvements of sub- marine vessels of all kinds. [ e R s ] ; NEXT WEEK: Science of Health and the Functions of Our Organs. L e THE SUNDAY CALL. e o g agilioey