The New York Clipper (April 1916)

28 THE NEW YORK CL1PP THE CLIPPER'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT BY DO. H&X THOBXK, Chicago Surgeon-in-Chlef American Hospital; Consul ting Surgeon Cook County Hospital; Consultinff Surgeon." Sheridan Park Hospital, Chicago; Surgeon White Hats and'Actors Fund, etc, etc These article, are written exelaslvely tor the SEW J 0 *** CLIPPER. Question* pertaining to healtlx, dlse»M, ^JK» 1 °»»'jSS pr,...r,«tio.. P r ( » ( n.ion of dl«....«d matter* of general «•*■** to health will be answered In this coHnnn. __*»I>RKSS Al-i. rao-mfires to dr. max thobbk. americm hospital, CHICAGO. ILLS. TVnere *p«»wm not permit or tl.e.nbjeetl. not , Suitable for an open answer, letter, will be .ent to JJje appllrant personally. D*. Thorelt should not He expected to diagnose or pre.erlbe In theie column. £>r individual disease*. FROM HY DIARY—JUST A ESS. • "We have kissed away kingdoms and provinces."—(Antony and Cleopatra. Act III.) I Felicia la a beautiful and splendid girl. Felicia If not her real name, but ire will call ber that lor convenience sa*te. She was brought up in an abso- lutely moral atmosphere and under conditions that were right In the strictest sense of tbe term. I ehould Judge she is a girl of nineteen, and is living at borne and attending school. Her past history, from a physical point of view, is splendid. De- scended from healthy Irish and Scotch stock, sbe Jtlstly boasted of not knowing tbe meaning of using ill. ' Little did she dream a year ago of tie sorrow Fate had In stock for ber. r They celebrated ber birthday not long ago. and on this occasion everybody rejoiced In the beauti- ful borne of tbe X's. The drawing room was a veritable conservatory. Tbe perfume ot tbe roses mingled with the atmosphere of Joy, and Felicia's chums were there to Join the festivities. T During the evening a relative, a youth of about twentv-fonr years, embraced Felicia in the pres- ence of ber parents, firmly clasping her in bis thuscular arms and fervently imprinting a kiss oa Her cupld-bow lips. "I congratulate you. Felicia. «t<ar," he murmured, as she blushed coyly. And then everything went along merrily. Dan, ber handsome cousin, departed after the last strains it a soft string quartette had died away, and at Jhe wee small hours of the morning, when Mor- pheas swayed his Influence over all. the pale moon- Scams illuminated the fantastic rafter of Felicia'* ; A month, elapsed and everything was well and blissful. On a certain morning Felicia complained <» her mother that she had a sore on her lip.. "Just, a fever blister," said her parent. "Apply some glycerine and rose water, dear, and it will l>e gone in no time." Felicia carried out direc- tions, but somehow Instead of getting better the "fever blister" became larger, harder and quite uncomfortable. _ . . ""It surely Is not Improving," reflected her mother after a patient course of glycerine and rose water. "If it Is not better in a day of so we will see the doctor." . _ It did not get any better, and Felicia and her mother consulted me for an opinion. I azamined carefully, and was shocked to find that Felicia had contracted a serious infection. ' I felt fortunate to know that I was dealing with highly Intelligent people, and I smiled assurlngly when I retired with the elder lady to an adjoining room. 1 told her the truth. I had to do it for Felicia's sake. I explained bow the kiss had caused It alL and assured them that the condition was entirely curable If persistently treated. Tbe girl Is faithful In her treatments, and I know she will be none tbe worse for ber experi- ence after a lapse of a certain time. This little . xperleoce carries with It a powerful lesson. Especially so to people of the stage where kissing must of necessity be Indulged in at certain times. Such matters must be discussed freely for tbe welfare of those who value their health. Innocent contagion la more frequent than my readers im- agine. "Sonl-klsslng" and promiscuous osculation on the stage is a criminal practice. , . Health authorities condemn the drinking cup, the public towel, the fly, why not put a stop to this evil? Those who are exposed to this form of infection ehould at least be instructed of its dangers^ and if they still wish to continue, well, then tbey have no one to blame but themselves. One can readily see how terrible the consequences may be after this Innocent form, of Inoculation. Some will say, "Nonsense, I have been Kissed for years and no evil befell me." True, you may be one of the fortunates who escaped. It Is also true that those who "get away with it" are by far in the majority. Bnt one can never tell who the next victim will be. It is Just like playing with a torch— one can never tell when you'll get bumedv However, there are certainly precautionary measures that if practiced will tend to minimize tbe dangers of Infection from kissing. In order that contamination and subsequent Infection take place, two factors are essential—an abrasion or crack on the lip and the deposition of the Infected virus from Che mouth of the diseased person, in reference to tbe first, it Is not necessary that the break In the skin of the lip be large; if it ie only as large as a pin head, or'even smaller, success- ful inoculation may result. In many instances of ttals form of trouble tbe victim 1* often entire- ly unconscious of tbe existence of a breach of con- tinuity on his or her lip. In reference to tbe sec- ond factor, the saliva from the infected person's mouth is usually the carrier of the contagion. How can we minimize or avoid this form of transfer of disease? As stated above, with people of the stage, necessity often forces osculation and renders realism difficult when It is eliminated. A simple and very efficacious way Is to observe two conditions: First, to care for tbe skin of the i:ps, and If you have a break, cold sore, abrasion or crack on them, DO NOT JOSS. Second, an anti- septic wash of the lips end month is essential after each performance necessitating the contact of lips with persons whom you do not know to be absolutely well. This Is often a difficult matter. The kind of wash one Is to use is a matter of great importance. There are a great many good antiseptic washes. My preference Is for bichloride and iodine. The former is prepared by dissolving, a small sized blahlorlde tablet In a glass of water, washing tbe lips and month with, it thoroughly. The iodine solution Is made by mixing thirty or forty drops of tincture of iodine in a glass of water and using same as the other solution. The temperature of the water does not make any dif- ference, as loos as tbe washing is carried out ■thorouElily. ANSWERS TO CORRESPORDERTS. double: rupture. MR. C D. CONN, writes: Dear Doctor : I have become ruptured on both aides. Strain from continuous singing, I believe, caused It. Is an operation for rupture dangerous? I must sing to make a living. I sutler very much. I am over sixty, and aside from tbe rapture I am In good health. I will expect to hear from yon "through The Clipper. This paper has done much dor the artist, and It Is with reverence I scan its sheets week after week. BEPLY. , If your general condition is good, and there Is no contraindication, and if the operation Is per- formed, rapidly ■ In skilled" bands, there Is no par- ticular dancer.' If the rupture Is large and on both sides'yon are always in danger of strangu- lated hernia: Have heart' and urine examined. If everything Is all right, then get fixed tip. * " NO OPERATION NECESSART. MRS. G. H., Newark, N. J., writes: Dear Da. Thorek : We are much interested in your Health Department. Our baby girl Is nine months old.- The family physician says that eho has a small umbilical hernia, and advises an opera- tion. I will be happy If you will let ns know some- of this ailment in The New York Clipper. thing of Traswjrs. !m*s REPLY. 4Hcal hernia is a rupture of the navel. nrrlng in early childhood, simpler means st first be tried, and If unsuccessful * hernia Is growing progressively larger toeS-an operation should be taken into considera- tion. For the present ft is sufficient to sew s quarter between two bands of flannel and apply same on the abdomen of tbe baby la such a manner Oat the quarter exerts continuous pressors oa the protrusion—day and night. This must be per- sisted In for many months. The results are often gratifying. PALLIXG HAIR. C J. J., Brooklyn, N. Y., writes: Dear Doctor: Will you kindly advise me, through the columns of The- Nrw York Clipper. what you would suggest as a remedy for falling hair. I am fast getting bald, and am only twenty- four years of age. Many thanks, eta REPLY. Loss of hair at an early age is, with some people, an Inherited tendency. Others suffer from it as a result .of various pathological conditions.of tbe scalp 'and hair roots. Saborauds formula' is for general use and a splendid preparation. It follows: Pilocarpine hydrochloride.......3 grains water sufficient to dissolve this Add spirits of lavender 5 drachms . .. Ether 5 drachms i Ammonia water ,. % ounce Alcohol sufficient to make 8 ounces . Bub 'Into scalp morning and night. VALVE LESION. MBS. L. V. McD., Boston, Mass.. writes: Dear Doctor: I am In excellent health with tbe exception of a shortness of breath on exertion. I have been told by a physician that I have a valve lesion of the heart. I am a contralto singer. Will you please answer tbe following questions through, TH> Clipper? Is snch condition a dan- Kerens one? Is It curable? Does it shorten life7 Will I have to give up my work!' . . REPLY. 1.—Not necessarily. 2.—An organic cure (re- Sneratlon of -tiie valve) cannot' be expected. A ncUooal enm, ja*> «V—N«J ascsssarOy. Tbsro ER April 22 are thousands and thousands afflicted with compen- sated valve lesions who go through a natural and unshortened life. 4.— SO. I ■ TUBAL ABSCESS ASD ELECTRICITI'. " MBS. R. S„ Baltimore, Md, writes: " Dear Doctor : I have been with one of the lead- ing out-door attractions for the past four seasons. and have had to give trp work on account of a tubal abscess. My doctor treats me now with electri- city and has kept this np for twelve weeks. I em getting worse right along. I have been taking four treatments a week and am nearly worn out- Would you advise me to continue these treatments? What can 1 expect from them? Is Is proper for me to go on like this or is there anything else that I can do? We are constant readers of Thb Clip- per, and will Look for information in that paper. BEPLY. Yon are wasting time and money. Besides yon ere permitting a dangerous condition to undermhie your health.. Tubal abscess should be removed when it is safe, and one cannot fool around with electricity and permit other organs to become in- volved. - Yon can expect nothing from such treat- ment except a loss of time, money and health. Stop it. Have abscess removed, and yon will be aB right again. Do not get despondent. INFLAMED JOINTS. MRS. H. C, Boston, Mass writes: Dear Doctor : Please tell me what to do for In- flamed and swollen big toe Joints? They are very sore. I suffer wtth rheumatism of the Joints and fingers. I am frightened at tbe appearance of the Jclnta In tbe toes. An early answer will greatly relieve my mind. REPLY. Yon no doubt have a gouty diathesis. Cot down on nitrogenous foodstuffs such as meats, eggs, etc Live on vegetables. Drink plenty of water. See to it that yon nave normal bowel actions. For local application to the inflamed Joints Satterlee recom- mends the following: Oil of wlntergreen 2 drachms Olive oil 2 drachms Soap liniment 2 drachms Tincture of aconite...........2 drachms Apply freely and cover with cotton batting. TWO Q,tTESTIONS OF IMPORTANCE. MR. GEO. W. H.. Nashville, Tenn., writes: Df.ar Doctor: I am very much interested In the Health Department of The New Yobs Clipper, and would like to have your advice on the foHow- ±ng two questions: 1. Barbers have shaved me so high that the hairs are almost In my eyes. Can they be per- manently removed without the electric needle? 2.—My right shoulder Is three-quarters of an: Inch lower than the left, How can I proceed to: elevate the low shoulder? BEPLY. 1.—The electric needle la the only real and ef- fective remedy to destroy the hair roots. Pulling: the hair out one by one, acts similarly. Depila- tories are only of temporary value. 2.—The lower- ing of the shoulder may be congenital or acquired. 7 Tbe acquired form nsually results from an ante- cedent pulmonary condition, causing adhesions and retraction or, postural conditions (favoring the affected side) from early childhood may cause tbe lowering. In tbe first instance breathing ex- ercises persistently used, may bring about the re- quired corrective measures in the latter instances, postural exercises, coupled with proper braces, aften are effectual. MB. J. F. J, Yates Centre, Kan, writes: Dear Doctor : Last February, a year ago, I had what the doctors pronounced fistula. It .• was - opened and I got relief for a while. Later I began to grow weak end was sent to the hospital at Wichita, Kan. There they operated upon me. They kept me on the table two hours and forty minutes. I got better for about two months and then began to grow weak again. I am now so bad I cannot sit up. What I eat gives me no strength, and medicine -does me no good. I hare night sweats and chills sometimes, and have lost considerable In weight. Several local doctors told me my liver was out of order: others say It is my heart: still others say it is stomach trouble, and another that it is consumption. I will appreciate your opinion in The Clipper, as I am shortly to be removed to some other p-ace. REPLY. You ere either suffering from a tubercular fistula or from a chronic multi-branching simple fistula. Have a tuberculin test made. If It is positive, then the underlying cause will 'have to be removed before yon can expect to get well. In tbe simple variety, a thorough operation, with the object of retting all the sinus, will, I believe, be followed by a cure. Do not get despondent, for despondency only aggravates conditions. DRIPPING 'WALLS IN DRESSING ROOMS. ME. F. L., JR, Birmingham, Ala., writes: Dear Doctor : I wish yon would oblige me and. answer tbe following question in your valued Health Department of The New Yobk Clipper : Could a person dressing In a room, the walls- of which are moist, and from which is dripping and • at the same time a draft Is constantly circulating throngh the room, contract pneumonia from such exposure? RBPLY. VACCINATION AND ' SMALLPOX. S. Z. C, Seattle, Wash., writes: ■ • - Dkar Doctor: Please tell me, through The Clipper, what the comparative number of attacks of smallpox Is in persons vaccinated and in those who were not vaccinated. Many thanks for an early reply. BEPLY. In tbe Philadelphia Municipal Hospital, from 1001-1904, not one of the 3,500 smallpox cases. treated had been successfully vaccinated. Again, In the same hospital, "during a period of thirty- four years, in which time -over 9,000 . cases, of smallpox were treated not a physician, nurse or attendant who had been successfully vaccinated or re-vaccinated prior to going on duty, contracted tbe dlscaso,"