Violet.—In an article called “Diet in Health and Sickness,” published in this magazine the year before last, you will find information about the treatment of obesity. The chief points to attend to are:—reduce the quantity of farinaceous and sweet food; avoid alcohol in all forms, and only take liquids of any kind in moderation; take plenty of exercise and avoid all drugs and nostrums.
Ladice.—1. One attack of eczema does predispose to others; but it is quite possible, indeed it is probable, that you will completely overcome the disease in time. The application that you are using is good, but the following is better, viz.:—lime water, olive oil and oxide of zinc, equal parts of each, shaken up into a cream. This forms a very soothing application. Is your hair free from scurf? Eczema of the face often follows from seborrhœa.—2. April 8, 1868, was a Sunday.
“An Old Reader.”—We are sorry to say that we can give you but little help. The description of your illness is not sufficiently lucid for us to come to any conclusion as to what is wrong with you. And your account of the present trouble with your legs is also so incomplete that we can make nothing out of it. It may be due to flat-foot or sciatica, or one of a vast host of conditions. You had far better see the doctor who attended you during your last illness, as what you have now may be only a sequel to that disease.
Cat Tony.—Eustachian obstruction sometimes ends in complete deafness. More often partial deafness ensues. It is a very difficult complaint to treat. Complete cure is the exception rather than the rule; but some improvement is usually gained by medicinal measures. Sometimes it gets better of its own accord; but it is foolish to rely upon its doing so. Though certainly dangerous to hearing, it is not of itself of any vital danger.
Sybil.—You tell us that you weigh 9 st. 12 lb., but you neglect to state your height. How is it possible for us to know whether you are stout or not? 9 st. 12 lb. is certainly rather heavy for a girl of seventeen; but then everything depends upon your height. The weight is nothing extraordinary; and as you say that your health is perfect you had far better take no notice of your condition. Unless really necessary, it is better for stout persons to remain as they are than to attempt to reduce their weight by means which must of themselves injure the health.
A Subscriber to the “G. O. P.”—Obviously you must be careful not to overtire yourself or get wet, since these bring on the attacks of neuralgia. During the attacks cover the course of the nerve with cotton wool, and take ten grains of citrate of caffeine. A small blister or other form of counter-irritation may give you relief; but it must not be used when the attack is acute.
GIRLS’ EMPLOYMENTS.
Wood Violet (Civil Service).—A well-educated girl, such as the one you describe, is wise to try to enter the Civil Service at the age of sixteen. Under the new rule she is eligible from sixteen to eighteen for one of the posts of girl clerks. These girl clerks receive a salary of £35 the first year, £37 10s. the second and £40 the third. They can afterwards be promoted to the rank of Female Clerks, if they have shown themselves to be possessed of superior intelligence, otherwise they become sorters. The advantage of entering the Service young is, that a girl understands the routine of office work by the time she is old enough to hold a clerkship, whereas women entering for a clerkship as outsiders have their duties to learn. A Female Clerk begins at a salary of £55, and may eventually obtain a maximum of £100, and further may be promoted. A Female Sorter, in London, receives 12s. to £1 a week, and in the provinces 10s. to 21s. 6d. a week. There are also prospects of promotion for sorters. The examination is held in the ordinary English subjects, together with French and German. Edinburgh would be the nearest examination centre for you. The examinations are advertised in the principal papers on a Thursday some weeks before the date fixed. You would doubtless see the announcement by watching the pages of The Scotsman. Having seen the advertisement, write at once to the Secretary, Civil Service Commission, London, S.W., asking for a form of application. This you return, with the necessary details respecting yourself filled up, and you will then be informed the precise address of the place of examination and the other particulars you require to know. We think we have now told you all that is necessary. We have only to add that a girl who intends entering this examination should now occupy herself more particularly in acquiring a neat clerical handwriting, in studying English composition, and in perfecting herself in arithmetic and geography.
La Comtesse (Dairy Work).—You would expend £5 very wisely, it seems to us, in taking a month’s course of training at the Reading Dairy Institute. You had better wait till the spring, as you suggest, and then devote your attention as closely as possible to the practical dairy work and cheese-making. From renewed inquiry which we have made on the subject we still learn that women licensed at such schools as this obtain excellent posts as dairy-maids and managers of dairies, and receive salaries of about £25 with board and lodging. You should try on the completion of the course to get an appointment in the dairy of some large landed proprietor, and you might be willing to forego something in wages at first in order to work under a competent superintendent. The Principal of the Dairy Institute, we imagine, must constantly be asked to recommend trained pupils. In any case you should consult him as to the whole question of your suitability and prospects before engaging to take the course of tuition.
Anxious (Suggestions).—If the sight of your one eye is thoroughly strong and satisfactory, you had better learn dressmaking. But if the eye is at all weak, it would be unwise to try it, and in this event cookery or laundry-work would be better. In the end we believe you will not be sorry that you have been considered ineligible as a shop-assistant. It is only in youth that a shop-assistant can be sure of obtaining employment; whereas the skilled worker at any trade can always earn her living.