The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-12-10
POPULAR MEDICAL DELUs1oNs,
Surprising How Many Erroneous Ideas
 Prevail To-Day.


 Surprising How Many Erroneous Ideas
 Prevail To-Day.
 Tradition and superstition, 1t. is said, die hard, and even in this twen- tieth century, the age of education and progress, it is surprising what erroneous and delusive ideas prevail regarding medical matters, says London phy- sician.
 In some of the more common ailments of children doctor hears at times peculiar views expressed Many patients are quite under the impress sion that 1t is for their children's well fare that they should contract while young such diseases as measles, whoop- ing cough and chicken pox or glass pox, and they will even go so far as to ex- pose them to infection so as to, as they express it, "get it over and done with.' As a matter of fact, there is no req son or necessity why any child should suffer from any one of these diseases \ Happy is the family that escapes from ] them, for then there is chance of the youngsters growing up healthy men and women, and useful members of \ society.
 1 Most erroneous ideas prevail as to the effect of these complaints or cnlId- hood. have often heard 1t said, "Oh, it's only measles!" or chicken pox, as the case may be; quite oblivious to after effects. Anyone who would take the trouble to read health statistics would soon be convinced that measles especi ally is not to be trified with. And yet medical men. as a rule, find a reckless disregard for isolation, and in many cases not even the precaution of calling in the family doctor, the result being, naturally, that the disease spreads at it's own sweet will and often work havoc.
 In the treatment of this complaint again, delusions and erroneous ideas exist among a large number of the com munity Tradition, so it appears to me, is more prevalent with regard to measles than almost any other child ren's disease.
 A remedy that has been handed down from mother to daughter for don't know how many generations is saffron. Now what effect has saffron upon this particular fever, no doctor knows. Certainly there is no peculiar element in it's composition that makes it q necessity. When one remembers that saffron is merely a dye, principally used commercially in that role and that it possesses no medicinal value one fails to understand why it is so uni- versally used. The only thing to be said in it's favor is that, while being useless, it is harmless.
 ] A favorite addition to saffron is bran dy; but as saffron is harmless, brandy, and young children, is positively in- furious and should never be given ex- cept under medical advice.
 Children are always thirsty in their feverish ailments Yet how seldom the mother thinks of giving her child water to drink! It is nearly always milk another popular delusion. Milk is an excellent food, but it does not quench thirst; in fact, it increases it. Give the child cold water and it will become quiet and less fretful.
 A very popular errror is that spirits keep the cold out. As matter of fact they do just the opposite Alcohol in creases the action of the skin, opens the pores and makes the individual more liable to contract chills and colds, often ! with serious results. A glass of hot milk is far better and much cheaper and purer.
 It is apopular a delusion that doctors are compelled to attend to any and every call made upon them. Ntshfng of the kind; but medical men very rarely refuse, although in many cases
 
 Street accidents or people suddenly taken ill (sometimes a malingerer will make X q 7-ss7fNnsrta5 n-icelssr run ta ttle r,rnr-l ] est doctor for assistance, quite oblivious as to who is responsible for payment. .3 As matter of fact. the one who calls !, the doctor is liable. London Tid-Bits.