Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-03-17
Health Talks by DR.. Brady
copyright 1871. National Newsrap per Service.
The Hot Mustard Foot Doth

Communication from a reader.
""ev l am mo man whose length OF ears
~" e"iieu III question In an article on ear
acne L take the liberty of asking which Of us
has the longest ears: Tho n who ,.Ls Tor .
reason FOR a statement from so eminent an
nor MS you arc supposed to he. or the one
VINO nas SO low an estimate OF the intelligence
CT ms readers as to believe they will swalow
such 4 theory without n given reason thcrc-
for.
Now in all reason and common scnse 10,
nc ASK you why 1t Is not just as reasonable
that soaking the ear In hot mustard wafer
VII cure a toeacho as that soaking the foot
VIII cure an earachc? There are n number of
your readers who would like to know the why
ness OF the wherefore of wour proposi,ion W.
fisli consider your failure to cnileh,en Ms an
OMISSION mat The phenomenon is uncxpiain-
""'e' Yours truly,
"F. G. NJ"
Some one tF. G. NJ. assumes IN. resrousibi-
ity) wrote in. IL long while ago. and asked. "If
q no. mustard foot bath IL one of the best
r''he''es Tor acute carachc. as you maintain.
"oni'nt a hot mustard ear bath be "a good
'hihS for n torache?' And replied that con-
Sid"rihs the length Of the aucris,'s ears #,
certainly would seem feasible. nut evidently
he was not to be put down. Id hate to lecture
III bloomington nad have +. c.. NJ. near the
front waiting To take the floor when tho ques-
tons were invited.
y hot mustard foot bath. for whatever ,rcu-
h''@'H 10 A'l''s > IE't hlt
given only TO the patient in bed. and therefore
calls Tor the services OF a nurse. Giving ono
~ "a test OF nursing skill. and at the sam. time
there is nothing a nurse can do for an Invalid
ihat can accomplish more than a hot mustard
root hath. Earache is but one indication"
Toothnche IL another. Coryza is another. Acu,.
bronchitis is another. Acute grippe is an
"'her. Pneumonia is another. some very good
doctors prescribe hot mustard foot baths every
tw" or four hours for days on end In pneu-
monia.
The reason why ! suggested n hot mustard
foot bath for acute carachc is because the ef-
feet OF such a bath Is 10 elualize the dist rihu-
ton OF blood In the circulation. by duatin& Ne
surface vessels. thus decreasing tho corg"s-
zion in the region OF thr inlamed walls OF
the car cavity. For tn. same reason tn. hot
mustard foot bath. properly given. enjoys a
high reputation as n first aid measure and
sometimes Il remedial measure FOR coryzn,
grippe acute bronchitis and pneumonia.
The whyncss OF the whcrcCor. Is the physio-
lceirt! fact that the effect OF prolonged rypli-
cation to the feet OF moist heat OF the highest
degree compatible with tolerance produces a
relaxation OF the surface blood vessel. and n
consequent relief OF congestion clscwhcre. Ma
doubt n similar application to the hands and
,or"arms would produce a similar effect. but
obviously II would T." much more difficult to
administer such a bath and az the same time
kee? the patient covered with blankets.
For tho sake Of science and postcrity, IL our
Bloomington inter!ocutor vii! endcavor some
time to persuade some one with q toeache to
permit him 10 try ont the hot mustard car
saith, and report results. ! am sure ali our
readers will he ~sraiihch. whether his ears or
my own are the longer.