GARDENING FOR WOMEN 81 



malady which dogs the steps of a nation's pro- 

 gress towards highly cultured, unlimited leisure 

 and freedom, masquerades under the old-fashioned 

 term " ennui " or the new - f angled names of 

 nervous exhaustion, break-down, overwork (!), 

 hysteria, decadence. 



I believe I am justified in saying that medical 

 men, who can appreciate the often aimless, hum- 

 drum existence of many women of the wealthier 

 classes and the debility of those in our large towns, 

 find in gardening a good agent for the removal 

 of such evils. Possibly a year spent in rising early, 

 out in sun and rain, with simple food, pure interests, 

 physical exercise, does more for some than many 

 medicine bottles, rest cures, Swedish movements, 

 and other modern remedies. The same may be 

 said for those who are mentally troubled — insane, 

 that is, in a legal sense. The managers of our 

 asylums are appreciating more each year the bene- 

 fits to be derived by occupations. In this instance 

 such interests act not only upon the individual, 

 but also upon the health of a nation. 



No one who has given the least attention to the 

 advances made in the modern treatment of pul- 

 monary tuberculosis can fail to recognise that open- 

 air treatment has proved to be of immense value 

 to sufferers from consumption, and that by its 

 means cure, in the real sense of the term, may be 



