The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-04-19

thority, or merely to SEQ If wo can
answer; or to obtain relief for our
correspondent, or ono Of his neigh
bors from tho indicated uilliction-us
our answer must depend necessarily
on tho character of tho inqury2 In
| any ono of tho first ihrco eases, we
probably should not answer it at all,
as the othics Of tho profession would
| prohibit us from entertaining such
an inquiry. In the fourth and last
case, it would be dilTcrcnt If our
correspondent is suffering, or if ono
of his family or neighbours is suffer.
ing, from such an affection, and can.
not get reliof nearer homo, it would
be our duty and our pleasure, of
course, to mako the desired proscrip.
ton.
Assuming, however, that tho last
case is tho case in point, and that
tho qucstion is asked in good faith,
wc must still romind our correspon.
dent that ono or two proliminarics
should bo observed before wo COM
init ourselves to remedial advice. In
the first place wo should hnvo full
and carefully prepared statement of
all tho facts Of tho case. Tho color,
age, habits and general condition of
the patient. How long no has boon
SO affected, and probably why.
Whether tho affection is original and
peculiar to him, or is q family trait,
or camo by specit' inheritance from
somo noar or remote ancestor; and if
inherited, whether from tho patornnl
or material sido Of tho house. And
il from the patcrnal side, what wcro
his nmicted progcnitor's occupation,
habits, otc. And if not inherited,
and not shared by other members of
the family, whatAis thcro that is un.
usual instho patients conduct or cir
cumstances to secure for him tho
special distinction. Docs no wear
woollen or cotton undor- clothing ?
Arc all of his cxtromitcs- hcad,
hands and foet--perspiring and
clammy, or only his hands, or feet,
or bothr II only his feet, does he
usually wear shoes, or go barofoo.od ?
If no woar shoes, docs ho wear stock
ings also? DO tho affected parts
pcrspire only in the day time, or in
tho night time, or all the timer And
if ho usually wears shoes and stock
ings, but not gloves, why his hands
and feot should bo similarly affected
in SO unlike conditions? Whether
he has over tried tho experiment Of
wearing gloves and going Ibarofootod
to SOC how that would work. If ho
live Il sedentary life, whether ho has
tried active, outdoor occupation six
days IN the week for considerable
tlmo; and if ho be Il laboring man.
whether ho tested tho efficacy Of pro-
longed rest from manual laborY And
SO on.
All these things, as woll as tho
pulse; the appearance of tho tongue;
the character Of the diet; whether you
drink tea or coffee, boor or whiskey;
keep regular hours; havo good con-
science, and nothing on your mind,
arc diagnostic points about which
wo must DO moro or less fully in
formed before wo can prescribe for
your ailmont, with confidence. And,
having made this necessary propara-
tory statement, wo aro now prepared
to answer your inquiry, frankly and
catogoricalIy.
Yos, wo can "prescrlbc romody
for perspiring, clammy cxtronitics. :"
Before wo do so, however, We must
bo permitted to say that our own OK
tremities require warming up occa-
sionally, and that 1t is customary for
patients who seek tho bonc1it of our
medical knowledge either to leave
with M, in advance, tho customary
tokon Of their gratitude; or, if they
80 prefor to send something warm
ins by express, in box, without any
marks on it to Indicate tho nature of
it's contents. Ono good turn insuros
| another.