THE BRITISH PHYSIQUE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 64, 10 December 1918, Page 2

THE BRITISH PHYSIQUE

WHAT THE WAR' HAS REVEALED. Professor Keith, lecturing sit the Royal Institute of Public Health, recalled the alarm caused after tile Boer War by General Sir tfrederic Maurice's statetiieiit us to tlie physical deterioriltioti ot the English people. The General prophesied tho extinction of the English race at no distant date; the Government of the day unpointed an Inter-Departmental Committee to inquire into the' matter, but its valuable report on physical deterioration found that there was "no cadence" to support the theory; though much phylcept of the nature of theft' disabilities.. It advised that evidence of an exact and scientific kind should bo taken, and there the question rested.- But the Prime ■Minister's recent statement that tho war would have been won.by now.by. the help of tho million Englishmen who wero not hut might have been fit 'to hear arms lias brought it again to the front. Now, however, we have n' machinery entirely lacking in 111(11 for determining the problem. Already before _ the war the inspection of school children afforded a means of obtaining statistics by which the growth of the younger members of the community should bo ascertained and preserved for comparison with- subsequent periods. The 'introduction of conscription presented us with a mass of figures with regard to the men of the country, who. are. graded -to. various degrees of fitness, • while a record is also kept of the nature o :fthe'ir disabilities. Some of these figures are misleading, because they deal with a residue, leaving out of the question those volunteers; :the flower of the race, who joined the Armj in the first years of the war. But.the Ministry of National' -Service* will.survive in times of pence,"and will make this kind, of census of. the physical conditions of the men of the nation its chief work. We. now expect to find among a thousand men from a healthy, population about 700 Grade I men, about 200 fit for., garrison, duty, •75.. fit only'for sedentary occupations, and 25 totally incapable. How we compare with other nations is uncertain, but it would appear that Germany, who rejects Glasses 3 and i of these categories, finds IGO men in them against our 100. This is not a military question alone—a man unlit to bear arms is unfit for many of the ser-. vices of:peace;.and after'the'war we are prepared to undertake the physical education of the people, and by better-hous-ing and other methods to raise the standard of fitness of our whole population. But we shall work iii the dark unlesswe have exact information as to the physical condition of our people at a given time, and unless we have it in a form which will admit of. comparison between different periods and different nations.; The 'conjoint board of scientific societies is arranging a- common scheme of measurements and statistics which will enable the United Kingdom and the United States to avail themselves of:the. figures of both nations. Tho Eegistrar-General will, it is hoped, co-ordinate the National Service figures with those-of tho Board of Education. ' ' This will leave only one hiatus, not mentioned by Professor Keith, but nevertheless enormous; there will be no figures with regard'to women. In the discussion which followed the lecture,, this was pointed out, and the belief expressed that tlie health statistics of the female population might'go far to redress; the balance in favour, of national physical prosperity. However that may be,.the institution of a national stock-taking' in the matter of health is one. that every thinking wpmtfn must have at heart.—"The Queen." ' j - ■■ ■

Mrs. V. Townsend, one. of the faithful patriotic workers at the:, Town Half during tho war period, has returned from a visit to Sydney, and yesterday was at work'again at the : hall after-her holiday. The Soldiers' Mothers' League'-in ■Auckland has forwarded the following resolution to the Minister of Defence,:- "That the Hon. the Minister of Defence bo urgently requested to demand that tho Home authorities do not overcrowd our home-coming transports bringing our returning soldiers, as in view of the present virulent infection such overcrowding would tend to increase the--present deplorable death-rate of our boys." .

The Auckland "Herald" slates that Miss Bagley'ci department at the Public Health Office shows but little lessening or activity, despite the fact that there is not now the strain of attending the overwhelming city appeals. The calls that come from the country are still urgent and continuous, and have .frequently had to go unattended for somo time from the fact, that Mies Baglcy has not the nurses to send, and has been, for the timo being, at a loss to know where to find them. However, each appeal is boing met as soon as it is humanly possible to do so.

The wedding took place, in St. Marks Church, Remuera (Auckland), on November 27 of Mr. Stanley W. Poole (a member of the Main Body) nnd Miss Birdie Wcstwood. The Rev. W. Beatty performed the ceremony, and the. church had been beautifully decorated by the friends of the bride. Attending the latter were Miss Hazel Peel, Miss lonia Westwood, and Miss Muriel Foote. The best man ivas Mr. Malcolm Eobb.

Tho St. John) Ambulance Brigade Overseas and Red Cross Society (Star Boating Club Shed) will closo their depot on Friday for the Christians holidays, nnd it is'hoped that all goods will be sent in by Thursday.

The 'lion, secretary of tho St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas and Red Cross Society lias received a request from Lady .Tekyll, president of the St. John Ambulance Warehouse, London. for walking sticks for wounded and crippled soldiers. It appears that several of their sources of supply are now failing owing to timber being cut down nnd commandeered for Government purposes. Contributions of sticks for sending Home will be gladly welcomed by the society in the Star Boating Club Shed.

According to an Australian paper Dr. Robertson, chairman of !lhe Victorian Board of Health, has -suggested that tt might be possible to gel women, as a precaution against influenza, (o wear the yashmak, or veil, adopted' by Aral) women. Beneath it could be worn two or three pieces of gauze, which would «ivo ample protection against infection. Tie suggests thai the yashmak might, first be' worn by some prominent woman. This would make it fashionable, and it would then become a custom with a utilitarian value.

Among those who were present at tho deputation which waited upon Sir Francis Bell in connection with women's right to sit fori Parliament were Lady Stout, Mrs. Houldcr, Mrs. Andersen, and Miss Seaton, while apologies were, received from Mitt J-inglaml, Mrs. Corliss, and Mrs.. A.. 11. Atkinson.