HOW TO BE HEALTHY

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1928, Page 4

HOW TO BE HEALTHY

THOUGH CIVILISED. By Sir W. Arbuthnot Lane, C. 8.. '.A1.8., F.R.C.S. Though wo arc regarded by other nations as the pioneer people in outdoor sports and games, in many countries to-day we find that, they have bettered our instruction. I am not thinking now of the purely professional side of sport, or the winning of oliniiipionflliips, but of the ways in which physical training and games' are organised for the average Public schoolboy and university man One of our most experienced anaesthetists told me that the Public schoolboy of about 16 years of age made the biggest risk in operations, because lie was badly fed. badly drained, and badly trained.

Since 1 first began to draw attention to the wrong dietaries and very' inadequate sanitary arrangements in Public schools and other institutions for young people, T have received overwhelming evidence from correspondents that these evils are widespread—though one does not forget the ever-growing number of schools in which these requirements are being fully met. In still fewer, however, is proper attention given to physical training. Doctors are only too familiar with the cardiac and other changes resulting from the very casual and imperleet treatment of the Imys. There is seldom any thorough or caretul examination or classification of the hoys, ami usually a master with no medical training is left to determine wliat games shall lie played, and what: form of exercises shall he taken. Bo.vs are thus frequently forced into modes of exercise seriously detrimental to thenhealth, which in many cases is completely ruined. a‘ LESSON FROM CANADA. In the United States and Canada, on the contrary, the utmost care is taken, both in the schools, and universities, to ensure right diet, sufficient sanitary accommodation, anti appropriate training for all boys. In the University of Toronto, lor example, T saw not only a magnificent gymnasium, bathing pools, etc., but also the system of carolu! examination by medical men, specially trained for this

purpose. In the early years of the university course some form of exercise is practically compulsory, but it is always! graded according to individual capacity. and with a definite relationship to the nhysique of the individual 11s disclosed by examination.

If some of the- great Public, schools of England would send a Hilly qualified man to Canada and the United States 011 a mission of inquiry, ho would return fully charged with most valuable information, which could he applied with the greatest advantage to our Public school system. Only the innate conservatism of our educational authorities stands in the way. We still go 011 aiming at. producing athletic prodigies, instead ol cultivating the physical well-being of the average schoolboy who is to become the backbone of the nation. Other nations have leapt aiiead of us in many sports for the simple reason that they have learnt the lessons of modern science, and applied them to the organisation lif physical exercises.

MINERAL SALTS. 7 have been asked by a reader ol these articles to say a tittle submit the niece cf mineral salts in Ihe diet. A well-known dietetic scientist has been (rood enough to supply me with the following information. Small amounts only of these salts are required, but they are of such supremo importance that dentil would soon ensue if these quantities were entirely withheld. Emits., vegetables, and milk are the main sources of ail the mineral dements. lint the amount of each which is present in dill'ciont loods varies enormoiisi v.

A food which is a rich source of one mineral element may lie a poor source of ( fliers, e.g.. milk is rich in calcium, but poor in iron. A mixed diet is therefore best to ensure the right amounts and proportions. Faulty coc king easily reduce or destroys tlie amount of mineral salts in vegetables, etc. One authority states: “A diet poor in fruits and vegetables is almost certain to lack phosphorous and iroil, and a restricted milk supply

must mean shortage ol the constituent especially important to children and pregnant mothers, namely, calcium.” BONE FORMATION. The hones and teeth arc largely composed of mineral salts (compounds of calcium and phosphorus). while iron is necessary for the formation and right action ,;f the blood. Without t'>e present e of those salts in the diet, therefore, tooth and b sues cannot lie formed nroi'ci ly ; nor can the blood perform iis duty as oxygen carrier for the body. The beating, canning. bottling, r r matrriug of fo"datulF.- dc's not harm the salts. but modern methods of milling remove them from sue h foods as (lour anil rice.

A diet which consists largely of these over-refined white cereal foods cannot possibly provide all the mineral salts necessary to growth and health. The vital secretion of the thyroid gland is. impossible without salts containing iedino. T bus we seo what an essential part is played by these substances in maintaining health.