Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28
POPULAR MEDIcAL DELUs1oNs.
An Old Family Physician Tells of
Some of His Experiences.

From T1t-Bfts.
Tradition ana superstition. 1t is said, tie
hard and even in this twentieth century.
the age of education and progress, 1t is sur
prisiDg what erroneous and delusive ideas
prevail regarding medical matters.
In some of the more common ailments Of
children a doctor hears at times peculiar
views expressed. Many patients are quite
under the impression that 1t is for their
childrens welfare that they should con-
tract while young such diseases as measles,
whooping cough and chickenpox. or glass
pox and they will even go SO far as to ex-
pose them to infection so as to. as they ex-
press 1t, get 1t over and done with.
AS matter Of fact, there Is no reason or
necessity why any child should suffer from
any one Of these diseases. Happy is the
family then escapes them, for then there Is
a chance of the youngsters growing UP
healthy men and won n and useful MEM
bers Of society. ~ - s..-.
Most erroneous ideas prevail as to the
effect of these complaints Of childhood. l
have often heard It said, "Oh, It's only
measles!" or chickenpox, as the case may
5e; quite oblivious to after effects. Any
one who would take the trouble to read
health statistics would soon be convinced
that measles especially is not to be trifed
a reckless disregard for isolation. and In
many cases not even the precaution OF call
Ing in the family doctor. the result being,
naturally, that the disease spreads at Its
own sweet will and often works havoc.
In the treatment Of this complaint, again,
decisions and erroneous ideas exist among
a large number of the community. Tradi-
ton, SO 1T appears to me. Is more preva-
lent with regard to measles than almost
any other children's disease.
A remedy that has been handed down
from mother to daughter for don't know
how many generations Is saffron. Now,
hot off opf N r1Ylnp ~ 10
lar fever no doctor knows. Certainly there
is no peculiar element in its composition
that makes 1t a necessity. When one re-
members that saffron Is merely dye
principally used commercially In that role
and that 1t possesses no medicinal value,
one fails to understand why 1t is SO uni
versally used The only thing to be said in
it's favor is that, while being useless. 1t Is
harmless.
A favorite addition to saffron Is brandy.
but as saffron is harmless, brandy, on the
other hand, especially with babies and
young children, is positively injurious. and
advice.
Children are always thirsty In their
feverish ailments. Yet how seldom the
mother thinks of giving her child water to
drink! 1t Is nearly always milk-another
popular delusion. Milk is an excellent food
but 1t does not Quench thirst; in fact, 1t
increases it. Give the child cold boiled water
and 1t will become quiet and less fretful.
very popular error Is that spirits keep
the cold out. AS a matter Of fact they do
just the opposite. Alcohol Increases the
action of the skin, opens the pores and
makes the individual more liable to con-
tract chills and colds often with serious
results. glass of hot milk Is far better
and much cheaper and purer.
1t is popular delusion that doctors are
compelled to attend to any and every call
made upon them. Nothing of the kind
but medical men very rarely refuse. al
though In MANY cases the chance of re-
ceiving a fee Is remote. Street accidents
or people suddenly taken Ill sometimes a
malingerer) will make a kind-hearted on
locker run to the nearest doctor for as
sistance quite oblivious as to who is re-
sponsible for payment. AS a matter Of
fact the one who calls the doctor is LA BILE