HYGIENE.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 1, 1 May 1895, Page 6

HYGIENE.

On sending round for reports to the various Unions, I found that the subject of Hygiene has been put altogether on one side, excepting perhaps at Napier, where Miss May Yates was engaged to give two lectures on Hygiene. Dunedin hopes to take up this branch of work during the coming year, and Hokitika writes, asking for helpful information, which I have despatched tc the Secretary of that Union. Attention has been drawn to the urgent necessity of Government appointing properly qualified Meat Inspectors at the various centres. The alarming increase of cancer in our own immediate district compels us to face this question. The Rabbi of the Auckland Hebrew congregation has kindly placed at our disposal some facts, showing that cancer and consumption are extremely rare among the Jews. “ Scientific authorities,” he says, “ agree that we owe our comparative immunity from disease to our meat inspection, which has been carried out since long before the Christian era.” The Rabbi of the Wellington Hebrew congregation also writes, saying, “ that during his term of seventeen and a-half years not a single case of cancer has occurred among his people.” Out of the 6767 deaths registered in New Zealand during 1893, there were 1061 caused by cancer and tuberculous diseases, two ailments which are very common amongst cattle. These facts point to the value of the Jewish regulations for the slaughtering of cattle. I may also mention in connection with my department that I sent an article to the Ladies’ column of the Southern Cross condemning the present harmful custom of wearing heavy clothing depending from the waist. As a consequence of which, so authorities tell us, we have serious displacement of the internal organs, as well as ather aches and pains too numerous too mention. I have also pointed out the diseases—such as cancer of the breast, etc. — which may be traced more or less directly to the irritating pressure of that monstrosity, the corset. Sybilla Twemlow.