PURSUIT OF HEALTH

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4499, 2 September 1930, Page 1

PURSUIT OF HEALTH

P'HYISICIIAiN’S AiDVIOE. CONDEMNATION OF FADS. THE WAY TO LONGEVITY. Winnipeg-, August 27. At the conference of the British Medical Association this evening Dr. Robert Hutchison, Physician to (lie London Hospital, read a paper on “The Pursuit of Health.” He commented on the present health fads, dieting, exercises, fear of microbes, etc., and said: “The more you pursue health the more it lines from you.” Dr. Hutchison said he considered health was sooner found in an easygoing life that scorned worries a- • bout being fit than in a life that was a succession of physical jerks, calory counting and germ avoidance. “Ytfhat we need as individuals,” he said, “is not more knowledge, but a change of heart.” The speaker characterised as cant the catch phrase about a nation’s health being a nation’s wealth, 'and said a. country’s greatest asset was character. “Let us cultivate character,” he said, “and let health look after itself.” DIET CRANKS ATTACKED. “The diet faddist,” s'aid Dr. Hutchison, “is- perhaps the commonest and most malignant crank or faddist. The scientific truth about all this diet business is: Eat moderately, taking an ordinary mixed diet, and do not worry about anything else. Likes and dislikes, however, should Ibie listened to. They are nature’s indication of what probably agrees or disagrees.” The speaker laughed at food fads and said: “Leave- raw vegetables, except salads, to herbivorous animals and let calories look after themselves. Do not scrape your inside with much roughage, as it is more likely to do harm than good.

“Ffuit is not very ,nourishing, milk is bulky and bilious. Vegetarianism is harmless enough, although it is apt to fill a. man with wind and self-righteousness.” HOW TO MAKE CHILDREN HEALTHY. Under the heading of the overanxious Dr. Hutchison included toocareful mothers. He said: “An infant now is regarded as a, job for the combined knowledge of a chemist, a physiologist and a public officer of health. Some persons credit to this super-care the decline in infant mortality, but 1 could make out a case for its being the result of the replacement of the horse by the motor-ear or of the invention of dried milk. “Give infants happy homes, the companionship of other children, plenty of plain, simple food and do not take too much notice of them. Send them early to Ibed and leave the rest to ehanele.” Sir James Buryis - Stewart, Senior Physician at Westminster Hospital, ■ in another address outlining the ways to a lengthy* life, said he considered heredity by far the most important factor. He regretted that the lack of birth control permitted the reproduction of far from perfect specimens. Other ways were the. public hospital and the family doctor. HEALTH OF IMMIGRANTS.

Tiie section of tlie association devoted to migration within the Empire discussed the.problems involved. It was generally agreed that Canada and Australia must stop immigration for "the present until their economic: conditions have /been stabilised. A paper in this section was presented Iby Dr. J. iS. Purdy, Health Officer at 'Sydney, sponsored by Sir James ©arrett, of Melbourne. It was further agreed that the medical inspection of immigrants should Ibe limited to a certificate from a responsible medical authority, so that an immigrant would not lie.likely to (become a burden on the State; that a. meticulous examination. was not necessary. Finally it was agreed that a Dominion Government, while extending every facility to migrants and assisting- them with their passage money, should inform them that after their arrival in that Dominion the responsibility for their success or failure must resit, with' the migrants and not with 1 the Government. 'Professor Dixon, of /Cambridge, discussed drug addiction. Dr. Robert Hutchison is physician to the Children’s Hospital, Croat Ormond Street, London, as well as to .the London Hospital. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. Formerly he was chemical assistant to the professor otf physiology at Edinburgh University and later demonstrator in physiology at the London Hospital Medical College. He was Goulstonian lecturer to the Royal /College of 'Physicians in 1904.

Dr.’ Hirtblison’s publications include : “Food and the Principles of Dietetics,” “Patent Foods and Patent Medicines,” and “Lectures ou Dyspepsia.” .