MEDICAL.
A. J. Pattison.—There is no drug known which will reduce corpulency without harm. Very few drugs indeed influence obesity at all, and the few drugs which do have an influence cannot be taken with safety. Look at the drug you suggest, for instance; bromide of ammonium is an exceedingly powerful drug. It has no influence whatever upon the absorption of fat, save that which results from its depressing effects upon the organism. Even if it did cure corpulency, it would be inadvisable to take it, for, however annoying obesity may be, it is nothing compared with the condition which arises from taking bromide habitually. Have nothing whatever to do with drugs, they will only do you harm. It is by dieting and exercise that obesity must be kept in check.
A Winter Sufferer.—A few weeks ago we gave a long answer about chilblains. The remedy you suggest, hazeline, is an exceedingly useful application to unbroken chilblains, especially in those cases where chilblains develop in persons in whom the circulation is perfect. It is less useful for chilblains connected with anæmia or feeble circulation. It should not be used as a dressing for broken chilblains.
Clairette.—We will give the treatment of “relaxed throats” in full as we have not given advice on this subject lately. Avoid talking too much. Avoid highly-spiced food, cayenne pepper, sauces, pickles, etc. Do not take very hot or very cold food, nor boiling soups, nor tea, nor ices, nor iced drinks. Avoid draughts as far as you can. Never sleep with your mouth open. Do you breathe through your nose? If you do not, you must have your nose seen to. Mouth breathing is the commonest cause of catarrh, and relaxed throat is only a mild form of chronic catarrh. The best applications for the throat are a two per cent. solution of alum in glycerine and water, and a one-in-eight solution of menthol in paraleine. These may be used either as paints applied with a brush to the throat, or as a spray with an atomiser. Gargling is no good whatever, for in this process none of the solution can get further back than the tonsils. An astringent lozenge, such as the rhatany and black currant, or the compound liquorice lozenge, is very useful, and will relieve the cough and soreness, and diminish and relax the expectoration.
A Martyr to Dyspepsia.—Fruits vary very greatly in the ease with which they are digested. Taken as a whole, uncooked fruits are difficult to digest, and should only be taken by dyspeptics in moderation. The most digestible of fruits are grapes, especially the yellowish-green ones. It is hardly necessary to tell you that you must be careful not to swallow either the seeds or the skins. Apples and pears are fairly easy to digest, but of course they must be peeled and cored. Raspberries, mulberries, blackberries, currants, and gooseberries are also fairly digestible if they are fresh. Perhaps if these fruits did not contain seeds they would be very digestible. Stone fruit is difficult to digest. Melons, pineapples, meddlers and wall-fruit rarely agree with dyspeptics. Strawberries agree well with some persons; in others the first dose of strawberries in the year is followed either by symptoms resembling mild typhoid, or else by a peculiar nettle-rash. Every summer we have quite an epidemic of nettle-rash due to strawberries. Nuts should never be taken by dyspeptics. Oranges and lemons are digested easily by most persons. Fruit is undoubtedly more wholesome and less liable to disagree if it is cooked: but some persons cannot bear the flavour of cooked fruit. Dried fruits are very indigestible, for they are dry and hard and impregnated with sugar. Jams and marmalade are very good, and may be partaken of by most dyspeptics.
Lydia.—The chief sulphur waters are those of Harrowgate and Strathpeffer in this country, and Aix-la-Chapelle, Kissingen, Enghien, Bonnes Barèges, Cauterets, and Challes abroad. Of these Harrowgate and Aix-la-Chapelle are the most popular and the most generally recommended. There are “baleanologists” who think that each and every mineral spring has special virtue of its own; but to the ordinary physician the natural waters are arranged in groups, of which the various constituents are much alike. For most things one sulphur-water is as good as another, but do not expect any of them to do what it is advertised to do.
Emily Cave.—Certainly, if you are healthy and like gymnastics, by all means join a gymnasium. But don’t overdo it and tire yourself out. Remember that at your age you must start very gradually, and beware of overstraining yourself.
An Italian Girl.—Obviously it is to your parents that you should go for advice. If you lay your troubles before them, they will counsel you. It is impossible for us to help you in the matter. We advise you to read the article on “Blushing and Nervousness,” which we published a short time back.