A great deal has been written about Victorian medicines, quackery and medical treatments. So the reader may be surprised by some of the common-sense articles that will be found in this particular collection! By far the bulk of our "health" collection comes from the columns of "Medicus" (aka Gordon Stables), a doctor who wrote for The Girl's Own Paper for more than 20 years.
Though Stables was a doctor, he had a host of other interests as well. He spent much of the year traveling the British countryside in a caravan, studying nature. So it may not be surprising that much of his health advice leans toward the importance of leading a balanced, healthy, and to a great degree "natural" lifestyle. "Medicus" rarely actually recommends medicines or medical treatments, but urges his readers to get more fresh air and exercise, eat healthy foods, and stop fretting about imaginary ailments.
Many Victorian writers (including "Medicus") pointed out the connection between good health and good looks. If one wished to be beautiful, the place to start was with one's health. Hence, this section also includes articles on "how to be beautiful" - how to care for and improve the health (and therefore the beauty) of the skin, hair, eyes, hands, etc. You'll also find articles on natural medications, herbal remedies, and toiletries and beauty products (such as toothpaste) that can be made at home. Some of these sound quite reasonable. Others do not. My advice in general is "don't try this at home!"
For those seeking information on the more bizarre forms of Victorian medical care, don't worry: We have a section on fads and quackery too!
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