The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-31
Women Eat Too Much, Wear Too Little and Don't Work
 Enough.

"The ethics of my profession-" oo- served the physician. and then paused when I laughed. What's the matter?' said he.
 "Oh, nothing" I said, "only that the ethics are more honored in the breach than in the observance, and know ex- aetly what you are going to say-'Dont use my name'-as if l would although an interview without a mamie is usually of little consequence. But I promise, so here we go."
 "Well, in the first place. if I'm to talk to you about Feminine Foibles and Fancies,' the first thing that I shall posi- lively assert is, that women eat too much. wear too little and don't work enough said this eminent physician.
 Mercy but that is a scandalous state ment!" I shrieked. "Whatever do you mean?"
 Just this, my dear Miss Dolly: Within the last two weeks I have been called in to minister to scores of women, all of whom were afflicted in various ways and all of whom despite the differences in their symptoms, were the victims of a too, too, solid diet Too many parties too much rich, indigestible food-too little discretion about eating" he averred. I couldn't help laughing, because l had sat at a table very recently at a lunch con and before we began eating the four women at our table said that they were suffering frightfully with Indy" as 1t is commonly called, and ought not to eat a morsel.
 When the covers were removed after luncheon only the decorations on the plates went out to the buffers pantry So I couldn't help agreeing with the doc tor who seemed to know women so well. Now, let me tell you something else" said he. "Women hate to acknowledge over-eating. Why, when I prescribed for one patient a few days ago for terrible pains in her head I made her furious by asking her what she had eaten. She said, It's not indigestion doctor, but neu- ralgia When I questioned her I discov- cred that the day before she had been to four parties; a luncheon. two afternoon teas, and a dinner party in the evening and had eaten heartily at all four. You aren't amazed that she had sick head ache the next day, are you?"
 The physician went on to say that this woman's was no isloated case during what we call the season" and that women were over-taxing their strength their stomachs and their nerves day ir and day out, and that he was so busy with this sort of thing that he didn't know what to do.
 .I am asked" said he, "to prescribe for impaired digestions, impaired complex ions, depression, neuralgia, headache nervousness and many other ills. When l am consulted about these things usually give two simple rules: Don't over-eat and drink a cup of boiling hot water a half hour before breakfast ' linen you don't advise a quarter of peck of apples every day?" I vent tured.
 NO"
 Nor the juice of lemon taken without sugar once a day?"
 'Nor olive oil after each meal7'
 "No"
 I'm awfully disappointed. I expected you to prescribe lot of curious things and your remedies are the very sim plest things I ever heard of"
 That's the secret of good health," ob served the physician
 Regular hours, plenty of sleep, liv' out doors as much as 1t is possible ant drink plenty of pure water"
 ''Now then Doctor" asked, ''what i this you said about our clothesT" 1o O say that you do not approve What the trouble?"
 Would you approve,'" he quickly an swered, of any creature supposed to hay an atom of brains which would put mos of it's wearing apparel around it's neck an leave the parts of the body which shoul be protected with but the scantiest GOV erlng possible?'
 "Oh,'' I answered, "but we haven't ha any really cold weather this winter, doc tor and why should we bundle up l heavy clothes?'
 "certainly," he said, 'but there hay been a few cold days. ne of thes days I met my daughter going out and said to her, have you got your flanne pettcoat on?' She promptly exclaimed Why, father, flannel petticoats went ou of style years ago. Imagine wearing flannel petticoat with the new sheat gown. Why. you dear old fogy! You ar miles behind the times. Of course l real ized that what she said was true Blu it didn't change my opinion. And le me tell you exactly what constituted he ralment on this bitter cold day. A thi little waist of some cotton goods, elat orately intersparsed with lace, a mediur weight tailor suit, low quartered shoeI and the cobwebbest silk hose, huge flu muff and neckpiece."
 ''Why, that's what l wear the winte through" I observed.
 q imagined as much" said the docto And while you may not feel the effeci now what a rheumatic old age will yours!
 "oh! how dreadfulr I shrieked. shall immediately begin to wear quantiti' of clothes, to guard aganist this dreat ful calamity"
 well. that is 2 very sensible resol ton to make" was his answer An now as to my last grievance against u feminine element, let me say that if mo women had some good, wholesome wol to do, and they would do it consideration iy, all the mind cures and things of tn kind would go out of fashion immediatel