The Washington herald., 1906-11-13
CHILDREN AND
THE ADENOID.

Let it not be supposed that the grown
ups Of the present generation have mo-
nopoly upon the services Of specialists
in The medical profession.
When Washington was selected as the
site of the National Capital highjnks
vas better-known word than hygiene.
and climatic conditions had not entered
into the cause and cure Of bronchial dis
eases. Just why the half dozen most at
tractive cities in the United States are
about the worst on the map in point of
| location for the cultivation of incipient
throat trouble is one of the provoking
anachronisms Of modern existence.
A person goes 10 New York and suffers
the sweet extremes Of Florida and Maine
inside a fortnight. He goes to Boston and
feels his spinal cord shrivel under the
influence Of the biting East winds. He
fees to Chicago and chokes over the
soft coal blown into his system by the
Lake gales IN despair he comes to Wash
ington. and in about a weeks time. con-
tracts the local habit Of clearing his
throat. His earliest purchase in the SOU
venir line is an atOmizer and II the
time happens 60 be raw November. he.
together with his wife and his little chill
dren. begins and ends each day with an
sll-round spray.
There is an army OF small martyrs in
Washington for which the title OF "Ade-
noidites" is suggested, and there is still
a second which might be called the
''P0lypOsites. Both brands are recruited
from all classes Of society.
The Adenoid and the Polyp, as develop
ed in the present generation Of children,
are entitled to medical and fashionable
consideration after the manner OF the
appendix. II mother is entitled 10 the
luxury Of undergoing an operation for
the removal OF the appendix, why should
not her indulgent child be separated from
its adenoid? The existence of the latter
Is taken absolutely for granted. It IS
not strictly necessary TO have a physi-
clans testimony as TO its actual pres
ence. An alibi for an adeRoid is a sheer
impossibility after a six months residence
in Washington. When a child sleeps with
its mouth open, bTeathes with early sug
gestions of snoring the thing to do IS
to the throat specialist. The operation IS
not serious. 1t is only uncomfortable for
the child. but once it has been accom-
plished. the subject rises Immediately TO
the unenviabIe plane or superiority II now
enters joyously into the initiated circle
Of society It breathes a clearer physical
and social atmosphere.
V,s,5 80, -,-.- fg-4.,, - IL g ,,,rfT,nr-
who accompany their youngsters 10 dane
ing school? If so. you have heard all
there is TO hear about the adenoid be-
fore and after removal The volubility. In
the experience line, of the women who
have children from four years 10 ten is
calculated TO put the mothers of mere
infants out Of the conversational run
ming. The latter have not yet arrived"
at the ripe adenOid stage, but they VIII
reach this experience-age with their of
spring. as surely as they undergo the
teethlng period and the vaccination siege
The wholesale slaughter Of adenolds-|
along with portions OF the Juvenile
palate-has not attained 10 such enor-
nous vogue in Washington as in New
York, where the health commissioners
go through the public schools and place
the ban upon most every gland that
pertains 10 the nasal passages as a semi
annual ceremony.
Recently a number Of Italian mothers
rose in revolt, and threatened to mob
school. just because the medical ulti-
matum was issued that nose and throat
operations were necessary for more than
half the scholars in attendance. Those
poor, benighted motheTsi If they had
lived on the West Side Of New York In
stead of the East, they would have re-
iOlced in that their children were num-
bered among the elect Of the day. They
would have remained as unmoved at the
doctors verdict OF on with the ade-
noid!" as did Alice in Wonderland. -
when the card queen shouted. OF with
her headI'
But. instead Of this. those foolish moth
ers executed fits over the mistaken no.
tion that the school commissioners in
tended to cut the throas of their childrent
You would never imagine, TO look at a
rosy-cheeked little cherub Of five. that
back Of his snubby little nose, somewhere
in the region whence springs his fiutelike
little voice. a bad bogey-man had begun
to grow. first as a tiny little baby imp
Of an adenoid. or later as a pOlypus- pop
Inlay. But that is what happens to sweet
and clean and cherished little children
who dwell In the fine big houses Of Wash
ingtOn. And it happens. just the same.
inside the messy little tots who never
have nice manners and cOddling mothers.
and an all-over bath in u tub. The ade-
mold would really make a beautiful fairy
story for juveniles, one that would be
read with enjoyment by everybody but
the doctors. who are the real enemies Of
adenoids and pOly7s. Doctors have no
more patience with adenoids being the
fashion than they have with spotted wells
and French heel boots. And the mothers
are not to blame. either. They never
would have thought of pOpularizing the
hOrrid things with their small children if
they had not unselishly desired 20 share
their appendix excitement in some way.
and the adenoid seemed a really good ex-
EROM WOM 4 NJ