Story: Medical research

Muriel Bell, who carried out extensive research into nutrition, was also active in promoting healthy food to the public during the period of wartime shortages. In the 1940s she did regular radio talks and had a column in the New Zealand Listener.

Bell was a strong advocate of rosehip syrup as a source of Vitamin C. The complicated recipe she published drew an entertaining reply from a New Zealand Listener reader, illustrated with this sketch, that pointed out the difficulties involved in following Bell's instructions. Bell had warned that bottle corks might 'be sucked in somewhat', and this had indeed ensued.