GENERAL NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 18 October 1918, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

The King of the Belgians has conferred upon Mr. Hoover, the American Food Controller, the title of “Citizen of Honour, tand Friend of the B'elgian .Nation.” This distinction, which is uuprecedtented, states Reuter, has been conferred on Mr. Hoover in recognition of the great services rendered by him to the stricken population of Belgium, and in view also of the fact that, as a member of the United States Government, Mr. Hoover is unable to accent any decoration or title of nobility. A few days ago (wrote an officer in France to the London Daily News) Fritz dropped a large bomb near a small wood just behind our line. For many yards around the trees were blown down by the force of the explosion or cut down by bits of flying metal. Some hours afterwards some soldiers walking within 20ft of t. huge crater heard the flutter of small wings, and, looking down, discovered a lark’s nest, containing four eggs, which the bird had just left. r The frail home had survived the levelling blast of destruction, and its (brave little mistress was carrying on. The mayor of an up-country town in New South Wales went to Sydney and tarried long. After being absent from three consecutive meetings, the rest of the council passed a vote of censure on him. Next meeting he was in his place and did things. After the reading of the minutes he asked fiercely, “Who proposed that motion of censure?” “I did,” said one of the aldermen, and before he could state the reason he was silenced by a clout from the irate mayor. No one replied, all thinking discretion the better part of valour. “As the motion has not been seconded I rule it out of order,” said the mayor, “Therefore the minutes are incorrect,” he said, as he tore the leaf from the book. One of the dangers of influenza (says a specialist) is a premature return to duty. It pays to take three days to get your strength back. The days are not lost if they spent ih~a sensible attempt to cultivate health. A special watch should be kept for cough ,spitting of phlegm, or a pain in the side, and a doctor’s advice must be sought if any of these signs persist. Fresh air is one of the finest antidotes to influenza and every other form of disease. The garden makes the best sick-room when the days are warm. Place the chair in the sunniest spot. Put a blanket, spread open, on the chair, then let the patient sit' down and wrap the blanket round him. He will come to no harm as long as he is kept warm. The last thing we want the influenza patient to do is to breathe his own infected air over and over again. If it is impossible to get the convalescent patient into the air, keep the ventilation of the room as sweet as you can. Once or twdpe in the day cover up the patient warmly and open every door and window in the room so that fresh air can rush through every corner of the room. Breathed air is exhausted gas. Exhausted air gives death not life.