STUDY AND STUDIO.
M. H.—1. The thought in your poem is very good, and you describe nature well and sympathetically. You need, however, to pay more attention to your technique. Your lines are frequently halting—
“’Tis sunset on the ocean, radiant with light.”
is an instance in point.—2. Water-colours would be suitable for painting on gauze or satin. No preparation of the material is required.
“Barty.”—1. Barty Joscelin, in The Martian, is a fictitious character, though some of his early experiences in France were probably drawn from real life.—2. We are not familiar with the books you mention, but no doubt you could obtain a list from a bookseller, or the publisher if you knew the name.
Sweet Seventeen.—1. Your writing is fairly good, but you should not leave a margin at the end of your lines. Try to write as freely as possible.—2. Inquire at the chemist’s where you purchase the sulphur ointment.
Norah T.—We have never seen a really good book of such dialogues as you require, but you might apply to The United Kingdom Band of Hope union, 60, Old Bailey, E.C., saying what you need. Twenty Minutes, by Harriet L. Childe-Pemberton, is a little book containing amusing dialogues for recitation, but they are not connected with “temperance.”
Student.—1. A charming book, though not a new one, about animals is Mrs. Alfred Gatty’s Worlds not Realised; and Parables from Nature, by the same author, contains much information mingled with beautiful allegorical teaching.—2. Apply to the National Health Society—secretary, Miss Lankester, 53, Berners Street, W., or to the St. John’s Ambulance Association, St. John’s Gate, Clerkenwell, E.C., for full list of books on nursing. We may mention Hints and Helps for Home Nursing and Hygiene, by Dr. Cosgrave, price 1s. (St. John’s Ambulance Association). We do not think you at all discourteous in your criticisms on the articles in question.
Hildegarde Winter.—1. It is rather difficult for us to advise you what music to practise without knowing your powers. There are books of “Short Voluntaries” (1s. each), by Edward Redhead, published by Orsborn & Tuckwood, 64, Berners Street, London, W., which might suit you. They are intended for organ or harmonium, but sound well on the piano. Book III. contains some charming easy music. Would Mendelssohn’s “Songs without Words” be too difficult? You should practise at least an hour a day and as much longer as you can, but we fear that without any tuition you will find it hard to make much progress.—2. The tails of your g’s and y’s spoil your writing; they are too long, and badly formed. You could easily improve your hand.
MEDICAL.
Gwen Lewis.—Goître or Derbyshire neck is one of those diseases which are “endemic,” that is, resident in certain localities. It is very common in some places, chiefly in the mountainous or hilly districts of Derbyshire, Devonshire and Wales. It is more common in the valleys than in the hills. It is supposed to be due to some constituent in the water, possibly excess of lime. Goître, however, is not very infrequent in persons who have never seen a mountain, and who have lived in districts which are decidedly not goîtrous. There are many forms of goître, and the treatment for each variety is different. Unfortunately, that variety which is “endemic” is most difficult to cure. If the patient can leave the district where the condition was developed, and live in a place where the disease does not occur, the mass will cease growing and often wither altogether. The rational treatment of goître is therefore to change one’s residence. Iodine, both internally and externally, is often advised for the relief of simple goître, and it does sometimes do good. Mercury is often occasionally used with good results. Surgical procedures have been adopted, but unless the growth is enormous or interferes with breathing or swallowing, and in other special cases, this treatment is not to be recommended. Friction, massage and electricity have been tried with practically no result whatever.
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Buttercup.—Careful and moderate exercise is what you require. All your troubles, including the curvature of the spine, will be improved by this means. Gymnastic exercises are extremely valuable, and if we can only impress upon you to be moderate, we have no hesitation in saying that you will derive great benefit from gymnastics. The dumb-bells, the clubs, the horizontal bar, and the other milder exercises are very helpful, but you must avoid all the violent, we might almost say furious, exercises which are far too commonly indulged in. Again, you must not give up walking for gymnastics, but let a little of one augment a little of the other. Avoid sofas and easy-chairs, for these tend to weaken the spine. Before doing this, however, we advise you to have your back examined to find out what was the cause of the curvature.
Mystic.—Beer poured over a red-hot horse-shoe will not cure dyspepsia. On the contrary, it will make it worse. What an extraordinary superstition!
Heath Phillips.—You suffer from acne undo............