Evening journal., 1905-01-23
MEDICAL oELusloNs.
Many Popular Errors of Ancient
Days That stflI Prevail.

Many Popular Errors of Ancient
Days That StflI Prevail.
Tradition and superstition, it is said,
die hard, and even in this twentieth
century, the age Of education and prog
ress. it is surprising what erroneous
and delusive ideas prevail regarding
medical matters. says a London ply
sician.
In some Of the more common ailments
of children n doctor hears at times pc
culiar views expressed. Many patients
are quite under the impression that It
is for their chlldren's welfare that they
should contract while young such dis
eases as measles. whooping cough and
chicken pox or glass pox, and they will
rven go 60 far as to expose them to in
lection 80 as to, as they express II. "get
It over and done with"
AS a matter Of fact there is no rea-
son or necessity why any child should
suffer from any Of these diseases. Hap
py 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 so
ciety.
Most erroneous ideas prevail as to
the effect Of these complaints OF child
hood. have often heard It said. "Oh,
it's only measlesr' or chicken pox, as
the cnse may be, quite oblivious to aft
er effects. Any one who would take
the trouble to read health statistics
would soon be convinced that measles
especially is not to be trified with, and
yet medical men. as n rule, find reck-
less 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
its own sweet will and often works
havoc.
In the treatment Of this complaint,
again, delusions and erroneous ideas
exist among a large number OF the
community. Tradition, so il appears 10
me, is more prevalent with regard to
measles than almost any other chill
! dren's disease.
A remedy that has been handed
down from mother 70 daughter for ]
don't know how many generations Is
saffron. Now, what effect saffron has
upon this particular fever no doctor
knows. Certainly there is no peculiar
element in its composition that makes
It a necessity. When one remembers
that saffron is merely a dye. principal
ly used commercially I'm that role, and
that It possesses no medicinal value,
one fails TO understand why It is 80
universally used The only thing to
be said in its favor is that while being
useless, It is harmless.
A favorite addition TO saffron Is bran.
dy, but as saffron is harmless brandy
on the other hand. especially with ba.
bies and young children, is positively
injurious and should never be given ex
cept under medical advice.
Children are always thirsty in theil
feverish ailments. Yet how seldom the
mother thinks OF giving her child wa
ter to drink! 1t is nearly always milk
another popular delusion. MIX is az
excellent food, but 1t does not quencl
thirst; in fact, it increases It. Give thu
child cold boiled water and II will be
come quiet and less fretful.
A very popular error is that spirit
keep the cold out AS a matter Of fac
they do just the opposite. Alcohol In
creases the action Of the skin, open
the pores and makes the individua
more liable to contract chills and colds
often with serious results. A glass o
hot milk is far better and much cheap
er and purer.