Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

Volume 2. 1936

Letter ID: 1750

Sri Aurobindo — Nirodbaran Talukdar

October 13, 1936

My eyes, was T ever fat? And from fatness she has come to this!

It was one of those newfangled glandular explosives. Based on the idea that some gland (Thyroid, no?) growing hyperactive makes thin (and apparently keeps you so in spite of eating well – T’s case). There is. another which keeps you fat even if you eat only once a day (Suvrata’s case).

I couldn’t make out one word in your long letter [9.10.36] about T. Is it “Menses”?

Nonsense, sir! The same thing – thinness.

Have you said anything to T? She was alarmed by the silence of the doctors, so the Mother told her, indicating that it was not dangerous, only certain precautions against trouble etc. If you speak, don’t be vivid and alarm her.

You have not said anything about remedies. French Medical Dictionary says “lie down one hour after meals” (Mother had recommended that long ago) – Some contrivance for support of the viscera (rather bandaging in this climate) – abdominal exercise for strengthening walls (parois) so as to support viscera. But if person thin, then “cure de lit” and fattening before any remedial course. T would kick at “cure de lit” I am afraid.

X says her right arm fails her often and becomes dead and useless for work. Would not massaging (perhaps with some effective ointment) be necessary?