A.M.D. writes:—­Could you kindly give in The Healthy Life magazine some suggestions as to the best method to follow in a case of stammering (slight) in a boy of ten or eleven years who has been rather left to himself, the hesitancy in speech being regarded as incurable?

This boy should be trained by someone who understands how to cure stammering.  The correspondent would do well to consult Miss Behncke of 18 Earl’s Court Square, S.W., who makes a speciality of treating such cases.

 WHY THE RED CORPUSCLES ARE DEFICIENT IN ANAEMIA.

A.M.D. writes:—­Is there any way, independent of diet, of increasing the red corpuscles in the blood?  I have tried walking nine miles a day, thus getting up free perspirations.  What of this method?  I did imagine that this resulted in a better condition of the skin, the latter losing in a measure the white and parched appearance.

A deficiency of red corpuscles in the blood, which shows in anaemia, is usually caused by self-poisoning.  When food ferments or putrifies in the colon, owing to faulty diet and other causes, certain toxins are created.  These become absorbed into the blood and there destroy the red corpuscles.  Walking is a good form of exercise, but it will not suffice alone to remedy this type of anaemia unless the diet and general habits of the patient are so arranged that the unsanitary condition of the colon is also remedied.  The correspondent will find, if she studies the replies to others in this magazine, many details as to diet, etc., for rectifying bad conditions in the bowels.

 THE CORRECT BLENDING OF FOODS.

T.B.W. writes:—­Is it inadvisable for a dyspeptic (and sufferer from constipation) to eat salad, or cooked vegetables, and stewed fruit at the same meal; also, do I do right in eating bread and butter (preferably crust) or hard biscuits with stewed fruit or soft vegetables, etc.?  Would you please inform me the best Still that I can obtain—­preferably one that does not require much attention, and is fairly portable, and that does not cost much to work?

 I do not believe that it is right to mix salads or cooked vegetables
 with stewed fruits.  It is better to take them at separate meals.

It is, in my view, equally bad to take cereals (i.e. bread, biscuits, etc.) with stewed fruits.  The reason is that cereals call for an alkaline form of digestion in the mouth which the acid fruits or the added sugar greatly retard.

 I believe strongly in the all-fruit breakfast or all-fruit supper,
 when fresh, dried, or even stewed dried fruits (possibly with some
 fresh cream) can be taken alone, without either cereals or vegetables.

 Cereals go best with salads and cooked vegetables, because of the
 alkalinity of the latter which harmonises with the salivary secretion
 intended for the digestion of grains.