Ask the B DOCTOR

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California, U.S.A. · Sep 16, 1930

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 57, No. 36.

“MEDICINAL” WINE

“I am enclosing a clipping from the ‘Open Forum’ column of a daily of this state. The statement is made by a doctor. It seems to make an extravagant claim as to the alleged virtue of liquor.”

It is not surprising that many doctors are opposed to Prohibition. When I went to school, there was a set of drinking medical students who were carousing a good deal of the time, and we know that in many cases there are doctors who are “pretty good” if you can find them sober. Now, of course, you naturally expect that such doctors are thoroughly opposed to Prohibition, and do all they can to discredit it.

And, naturally, men of this type find excuse for giving liquor to their patients. Moreover, there are many of them who make quite a living selling liquor, or at least selling prescriptions to men who want to get liquor that they consider better quality than bootleg liquor; and, very naturally, these “bootlegging” physicians are very much incensed that the law does not permit them to sell more than a small quantity of liquor to one patient within a limited time.

I do not mean to intimate that every man who prescribes liquor is a bootlegger, but many of them make quite a little profit by giving prescriptions for liquor to men who absolutely do not need it.

Another thing, there are many physicians who have no use for liquor, never prescribe it under any circumstances, and I think get along just as well as those who think they must have it.

TUBERCULOSIS?

“A girl has bad night sweats. Two doctors have examined her, and they say it is not tuberculosis.”

Sweats such as you describe are characteristic of tuberculosis. The average doctor cannot detect tuberculosis until it has advanced to a dangerous stage. That may seem a queer statement, but it is a fact. Did your doctors take an X ray of her chest? Did they examine her sputum carefully? There is great danger that the girl has tuberculosis, yet, in some cases, a neurosis will cause a sweat, and sometimes it may be a night sweat.

COAL TAR DRUGS

“Is acetanilide or acetidin harmful for a heart with muscular weakness? I am suffering torture from pleurisy.”

Acetanilide is hard on the heart, and may in some cases act suddenly when you least expect it. It is not a good drug for a bad heart. I suppose by acetidin you mean acetphenetidin, which is the same as phenacetin, a heart depressant. I am hoping that you had relief from your trouble. I hardly know how to direct treatment for your condition across the continent, when I know so little about it.

Fomentations or alternate hot and cold applications to the chest may benefit you.

Readers of the “Signs of the Times” who send questions regarding health, with two cents return postage, to Dr. Heald will receive prompt reply by mail. But, remember, he can not diagnose or treat disease by mail. Persons who are sick need an examination and the personal attention of a physician.

No questions will be answered direct through this column. The answers which appear here are selected from the doctor’s correspondence.

Send questions, with a two-cent stamp, to Dr. G. H. Heald, 140 Eastern Avenue, Takoma Park, D. C.

SLEEPING SICKNESS

“Is there any cure for sleeping sickness?”

There are two kinds of sleeping sickness, African and the one that is common in this country, which follows the “flu.” Sleeping sickness, however, is not the real name for this form. Some call it “sleepy sickness.” Very little is known about the treatment of this condition. It is evidently some infection in the central nervous system.

CHEST TROUBLE

“I had pleurisy three years ago. It hurts me now between shoulder blades, through chest, and from right side to left side. Is there any cure? Should I diet for it? I do not eat any unclean meats. Everybody who sees me says I am the picture of health. I am tall, and weigh 190 pounds.”

The only way to know the exact condition in your chest would be to have a complete examination, including X ray.

I think, however, you would feel very much better if you did not weigh so much, but not knowing more about you I cannot be sure. Even a six-foot woman should not weigh more than about 175 pounds, and even those weighing 175 would be better off not to weigh more than 160.

Perhaps these pains in your chest are caused by your diet. I would suggest a lighter diet, with no meat, no tea or coffee.

HAY FEVER

“Can hay fever be cured, and if so where can I get a cure?”

Hay fever is caused usually by the pollen of some weed or grass or tree. Such a hay fever is seasonal, coming at a certain time every year. Some are sensitized to one pollen, some to another. The best way is to get away from the pollen. One can sleep much better to have a fine muslin over the windows so as to keep out all pollen.

Hay fever that is not seasonal is often caused by some animal emanation,—the dander of horses and cows (one correspondent always had an attack after milking. Many have an attack after currying a horse or riding after a horse). Some have an attack when sleeping on a feather pillow.

There are preparations that can be injected into the body to relieve the condition, but it is not always successful, and usually has to be repeated every year.

BUNION

“Please give treatment, or perhaps cure, for bunion.”

The treatment for bunions is surgical, though you may be able to get a bunion pad from your druggist that will give some help.

Bunions are caused by poor-fitting shoes, such as so many of the women wear now.

EYE MUSCLES

“For the last three or four weeks my little girl, aged five, when she looks at me a certain way, is cross-eyed. It is mostly in the left eye. Can you explain this?”

You should take this girl to an oculist or else to a nerve specialist for examination. You should not delay it.

ASTHMA

“I have had asthma very severely for about two years. Sometimes I can do nothing.”

There is usually a definite cause for asthma, and if you can determine on that and take care of it, you will get the better of the asthma.

There are some doctors who specialize on asthma, and a doctor of this kind would do you very much more good than the doctor who has not made much study on diseases of this kind.

ADVERTISING REMEDIES

“Is it possible for the blood to be in a subnormal condition so that it cannot take up calcium? What would be the result if such a condition existed? Do you think Calcium S— would remedy such a condition?”

There may be a possibility for the blood to be in a subnormal condition so it cannot take up calcium, but I very much doubt that Calcium S— would be the remedy. In the first place, you should know from a reputable physician that such a condition is present; and in the second place, if you need such a remedy, you should get it from a reputable physician. No man who advertises remedies in this way is reputable. He is in the game for dollars. He says anything in the advertisement he thinks will compel you to give up your dollars to him. Remember that. Steer clear of all advertised remedies, and you will be better off.

VALVULAR HEART DISEASE

“I have valvular heart disease. It has involved three valves. How long can I live considering that I have had it for five years already?”

A person with valvular heart disease may live a long time. It depends upon other things that I could not know without making an examination. You may live ten to twenty years, or only five years, or six months. I cannot say. Take life easy; do not overdo or strain yourself, and do not worry.