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45
and are too tired to understand that a daily action of the bowels
is a necessary adjunct to a healthy life and that constipation is
the cause of the most of the troubles of unmarried women. I
consider also that all girls of 18 should pass through a compulsory
training in subjects relative to motherhood, for comparing this
service with that of military service for men it certainly
maintains its equal national importance. Mothers are frequently
perplexed with domestic problems where there are servants, but
I believe these problems would cease to exist were housework
regarded as a business, and conducted with the order and
thoroughness that are maintained with regard to other business
affairs. A business it is and no mere plaything. It shocks a
public health official to think of the poor tools servants often
have to work with—tools old, worn and unfit for their purpose.
Lack of plan in housework is the cause of a great deal of muddle
and waste of time. Tasks are hurried through and slurred over
and nothing is thoroughly done although a person may be
working all the time. Therefore if people would try to introduce method in the home, things would go much more smoothly.
Baths and Personal Cleanliness.
It seems necessary whilst we are upon the subject of the
home that I should again refer to the recommendations of the
Public Health Committee that facilities for personal cleanliness
should be put in the way of the people. How far these
recommendations have been carried out it would be out of place
to state, therefore instead I beg to submit a few words on :—
PERSONAL WASHING ANALYSED.
To understand thoroughly even the commonest and most
ordinary things, it is necessary to analyse them into their
elemental constituents. This analysis is particularly necessary
in regard to those apparently simple things, which from their
very familiarity, we have ceased to study, and take it for