ARE STRANGERS WANTED IN OUR CHURCHES?

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2114, 2 December 1880, Page 3

ARE STRANGERS WANTED IN OUR CHURCHES?

To the Editor of the Globe. Sib, —For some time past I have been in the habit of visiting different churches of various denominations in and around Christchurch, and from the treatment I have received I have come to the conclusion that the various churches are only intended to contain their own select few. In every church or chapel I have entered I have found great difficulty in getting a seat; I have, in nearly every case, been allowed to stand during the hymn time without anyone either offering me a book or without being allowed to overlook, though I have noticed it is not because the books are scarce. It cannot be because the churches do not want money (at least, as they are always asking for more, it does not seem as if they are over-wealthy), but certainly their treatment of strangers is not the way to draw money from their pockets. It is to be hoped that the church officers will see their way to remedy this state of affairs; for if strangers are not treated better they will get their gospel at the open air stand. Cathedral square, where they can leave when they get tired of standing, without interrupting the rest of the congregation, or go minus altogether. While on the subject, I have noticed that even after the voluntary has been played more than one seat holder, coming in late, will often request the occupant of his or her pew to relinquish its possession, to the annoy - ance and disturbance of minister and congregation alike. Yours, &c., NOT A 3d-BIT CUSTOMER.

Tho following letters appeared in this morning’s issue of the “ Press ” : THE TURKISH BATH. TO THE EDITOB OP THE PBESS. Sib, —As a medical man I should like, with four permission, to offer a few remarks upon the skin, its structure and uses, and its functions, together with the use of the Turkish bath. The vital functions of the skin, in their relation to the animal economy, were formerly greatly underrated, because not properly understood. The investigations however of modern physiologists, aided by powerful microscopic agency, have clearly revealed its truly wonderful organism, and demonstrated how all-essential its sound and active vitality is to the due performance of the functions of healthy life, and also how it is designed as a medium through which, in oases of disease, the internal orgonism can bo safely reached and acted on. The skin in the popular acceptation of the term, is considered as only one simple substance, but in reality what in ordinary language is called the skin, is to the physiologist known as the epidermis, the outer or scarf skin, underneath which lies the cutis vera, or true skin. In health the skin is the seat of various secretions, which seek the surface of the body to be eliminated as exorementitious and deleterious matter from the system. These secretions are collected in small glandular organs, which are seated just beneath the cutis, or true skin, and are diffused over the whole surface of the body to an extent that is truly marvellous. From these glandular organs innumerable minute tubes, popularly called “ the pores of the skin,” convey the secretions through the epidermis or outer scarf skin, to be exuded in sensible or insensible perspiration. When nature has destined the pores to perform such an important office, it can be readily understood how essential it is to health that the normal action of the pores should not be obstructed. This becomes more clearly apparent when we consider the minute organism of the skin and the marvellous system of pore sewerage which nature has provided for the healthy maintenance of human life. Dr. Erasmus Wilson, the eminent anatomist and physiologist, in his “Practical Treatise on Healthy bkin,” says:— “ To arrive at something like an estimate of the value of tho perspiratory system, in relation to tho rest of tho organism, I counted tho perspiratory pores on the palm of the hand and found 3528 in a square inch. Now, each of these pores being an aperture of a little tube of about a quarter of an inch long.it follows that in a square inch of skin on the palm of the hand there exists a length of tube equal to 882 inches, or 73Jft. Surely such an amount of drainage as 73 ft in every square inch of skin, assuming this to be the average for the whole body, is something wonderful, and the thought naturally intrudes itself—What ifithis drainage were obstructed ? Oould wo need a stronger argument for enforcing the necessity of attention to the j skin ?” In truth, the contemplation of the structure

and functions of the skin, when viewed with the eyes of the mind, is almost overwhelming, and the words of the poet break upon our memory : “ In human works, though labour'd on with pain, 8 A thousand movements scarce one purpose gain. In Q-od’s, one single can its end produce, Yet serves to second, too, some other use.” One word more as to the importance of the skin in the animal economy, and that word a summary of its functions and principal vital attributes. The skin is a sanitary commissioner, draining the system of its impurities. Viewing: it in this way, and recognising its just claims to consideration, as an important animal organ, we are led to the conclusion that the skin is a part of the digestive system, and that it will be perceived how vitally essential, a sound condition of it is to the enjoyment of good health. When its functions are imperfectly performed the whole body necessarily suffers. The heart, the lungs, the liver, the stomach, the brain, the nerves, the bowels, are imperfoctlynourished, and their vitality is moreover oppressed and weakened by the matters with which the blood is loaded. Thus a weight is placed on the very springs of life, r. hile it is only by restoring the healthy action of the skin that this weight can be taken off. We will now proceed to show that no means have as yet been discovered at all comparable with the Turkish Bath for maintaining the intricate, delicate and wonderful organism of the skin in a sound normal condition, strengthening its action, and enabling it to discharge efficiently the vital functions with which Nature has entrusted it. Erasmus Wilson, a man of undoubted professional eminence, made a personal trial of the bath, and was induced to study its nature, action and effects. A thorough conviction of its superlative value followed, because his mind was superior to the prejudices engendered by preconceived opinions, and was open to receive truth. Dr. Erasmus Wilson further says, “ I discovered that there was one bath, namely, the Turkish, that deserved to be set apart from the rest—that deserved, indeed, a careful study and investigation. The bath that cleanseth the inward as well as the outward man, that is applicable to every age, that is adapted to make health healthier, and alleviate disease, whatever its stage or severity, deserves to be regarded as a national institution, and merits the advocacy of all men, and particularly of medical men—of those whose special duty it is to teach how health may be preserved, how disease may be averted.” My own advocacy of the bath is directed mainly to its adoption as a social custom, as a cleanly habit, and on these grounds I would press it upon the attention of every thinking man. But if, besides bestowing physical purity and enjoyment, it tends to pre'serve health, to prevent disease, and even to cure disease, the votary of the bath will receive a double reward. By availing ourselves of the hot air bath we can promote the purification of the blood, for which exercise would be otherwise indispensable. A healthy tone can be imparted to a jaded and sickly appetite, and the digestive organs strengthened. In fine, by judicious use, the bath can be made to supply, in a large degree, the place of outdoor exercise, and it thereby becomes an incomparable artificial preservative of physical and mental health. Yours, &c., Mbdioax. Man.