Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-03-15

, out of order, b 'ings on chronic diseas
[ Of the digestive organs, and account
, in the opinion of scientific doctors, f,
the great mortality from diseases ,
. the stomach and bowels. One doctt
tells me that the only adequate e,
PLANTATION for the prevalence of ba
digestion is, aside from eating tn
much chile, Or the native pepper. tn
lack of a sufficient oxygenation of th
Iblood. At this altitude the uuantft
Of oxygen in the air is very perceptibl
less than on the coast. And the onl,
way to really oxygenate the blood is {,
take much exercise.
And here comes the rub. The peon1,
Will not take exercise. Doctors remon
sTate, urge long, smart walks. horse
| back riding and all sorts of brisk ex
ercses, but their well-to-do patients
after languid attempt to follow this
wise advice, give it up, and fall hack
INTO the INDECENT habits, into the saden.
tary life which the soft climate invites
One doctor, who takes his own medi.
cne, walking ten miles a day, and in
variably, on taking the street cars
standing out On the platform, tells me
that the race in the larger cities is
degenerating from insufficient exercise
and too much tobacco and alcohol
This brings Us to another cause of
Ill health. "Cantinas," or bar-rooms
have enormously multiplied here since
the railways came in, and the youth of
the city find the modern mixed drinks
too tempting. They smoke eternally.
and take perpetual "copitas," or drinks,
with the result, as several physicians
report, that the youth Of the city is be-
coming a1coholized. Of course all these
statements are to be taken without ex-
aggeration. There are hundreds of ro-
bust, active young men here, who 90
In for the wheel and other healthfuI
exercises and who do not drink. But
the fact remains, emphasized by the
daily press, which frequently laments
It, that there is too universal a con-
sumption Of strong drink. The ranch
ero, especially the planter i'm the hot
country. who is much out of doors and
persplres freely, can take aguardiente
enough IN a year to kill a student.
and not feel it a particle; but here in
the cooler elevated country, where per-
spiration is difficult the evil effects of
alcohol are not readily overcome.
One Of the ablest doctors here re
CARDS the masses Of the people as i'm
fed. They eat enough in GUAM
uty as a rule, he says, except among
the very poor, but of an innutritious
quality. Many people are continually
eating of the hot, spiced, highly con-
11mented articles Of food prepared in
the little street stands, most savory
and giving immediate salts /
faction to the cravings of the stomach.
out extremely difficult of digestion and
acking nutritive qualities. /
The upper class people and all the
well-to-do people usually have plenty
If meat and well-prepared, wholesome
GOD, and resident foreigners are care
u regarding the selection and prepara-
Ion OF their food, and hence have bet
er health. The Germans in business
lere retain their high color and adipose
issue, and show that one may, by feed
ng well and exercising, keep UP a
elatlvely high standard of health. The
french, always fond of good eating,
10 not put off their stomachs with con-
l1mentS and pepper. Resident English
nd Americans are likewise good Hvers,
S the phrase goes.