HEALTH BROADCASTS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 8, Issue 198, 9 April 1943, Page 3

HEALTH BROADCASTS

Sir-The other morning at 7.30 I heard a health talk which I assume was given under the auspices of the Health

Department. It was recommended that we drink about four pints of water a day and that this quantity of-water would be especjally beneficial in cases of rheumatism and high blood pressure. I have always understood that dampness is bad for rheumatism, and my uncle attributed his rheumatism to drinking too much water with his whisky. My aunt has high blood pressure, and her doctor advised her to be very moderate in the amount of fluid she drank, and she said her nights have been much more comfortable since she followed this advice. As I have not been’ feeling too well lately, I decided to try the advice, and to drink four pints of water. On measuring this, I found it came to 11% glasses. I thought I would be able to manage it if I drank one every hour. I had my usual two cups of tea at breakfast and at 9.0 a.m. I drank, with some difficulty, a glass of water. At 20.0 am. I had the greatest difficulty in forcing myself to gulp down another glass. I had a bloated, unreal sort of feeling, and was quite unable to take more than a sip of the usual glass of milk that I had at morning tea time. I watched the hands of the. clock with increasing dread as they neared the hour of 11.0 am. It took me a quarter of an hour to swallow the third glass of the nauseous, revolting, tastéless fluid,

The mid-day glass was even more of a strain, and I felt that water was coming out of my ears and oozing at every pore. I also had to undo the top button of my trousers and the bottom button of my waistcoat. I ate very little of my lunch, and was*able to take only one sip of the tea that I usually enjoy so much at lunch time. It is now 1.30, and I sit with my 1 p.m. glass of water about one-third consumed, in momentary fear that what I have taken will be rejected by my protesting, gurgling stomach, which seems to be swimming in a turgid sea of fluid. I write to you, sir, to see whether you can help me with your advice. I wonder whether I could have made a mistake in measuring the number of glasses that four pints will fill. If it is good for my health, I would certainly like to carry out the instructions, but I doubt if I shall survive another glass.

WATERLOGGED

(Wellington).

P.S. My brother has just telephoned that he had a limit divvy from his bookmaker and wants~me to sink a couple with him at 5 o’clock. You should have heard his gasp when I regretfully but firmly refused. {The following reply has been made by "Uncle Scrim’"’: " ‘Waterlogged’ did not listen carefully, or he would have learned that the amount recommended included the liquids normally taken in the form of tea, milk, coflee, etc. Beer was not mentioned.’’).