Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-08
AMATEUR DOSING

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or of others, is dangerous IN more
WAYS than one. In the first place time
is lost. Moreover, symptoms are
characteristic; checking or altering
them makes it more difficult to 1lno
the real trouble. The man with eye
strain who takes one drug to STOP
his headaches and another to cure
his stomach, is simply delaying the
time when properly adjusted glasses
will relieve both In this case the
result may not be serious, but such
a loss of time in finding the trouble
and beginning proper treatment
might prove fatal in the case OF tu-
berculosis.
Another objection TO the amateur
prescription of medicine is that most
drugs have more than one effect.
Many headache remedies, for exa-
mple, affect the heart; a dose that
is harmless for normal person may
be strong enough to injure seriously
person with a weak heart. A doc
tor and doctor alone is competent
to decide when and in what quantity
medicines will be beneficial because
he alone understands both the con
-dition of the patient and all the pos
siblc effects of the drug.
In no circumstances should medl-
cine prescribed for one person be
taken by another. This rule seems
obvious enough; yet every day peo-
pie pass on their pet remedies to
friends, and months after prescrip-
ton has been filled what remains of
the contents of the bottle is adj
ministcred to another member of the
family whose malady may be entirely
different from that for which the
medicine was given. regardless of the
fact that some medicines deteriorate
by standing and others get stronger.
Cathartics, tonics and various drugs
to relieve pain sleeplessness
are among the remedies most COM
monty taken without medical advice
Too much cannot be said against the
continual use of cathartics. Many Of
these drugs are irritating, and even
when they are not irritating they are
harmful, since the body depends
more and more upon the drug to
do for it what it should be enabled
to do for itself by remedying the
original cause of the trouble. Lico-
rice powder, cascara, saline cathartics
such as ScidlitZ powders and Rochelle
salts and some others are harmless
for occasional use, if occasional is
not too literally interpreted.
Ionics are poor substitutes for
proper diet, rest and fresh air. There
are some cases, Of course. where ton
les are necessary, but that is for the
doctor to decide, and as general
thing. people persist in taking tonics
because they arc willing or unable to
rest Or otherwise change their mode
of living.
Medicines to stop pain or TO induce
sleep arc probably the most pernici-
Gus of all self-prcscribed remedies,
for they add to other dangers the
possibility of forming drug habits
These habits arc SO inSidious and sc
powerful that it is not safe to take
habit forming drugs even once ex,
ccpt by a doctors direction. In short
periods of time strong people, appar.
entity firm in will and characte,
have acquired habits from supposed,
moderate use of drugs like morphine
cocaine and alcohol. No one, no mat
ter how sure Of his own self-control
can afford to run so grave a risk, anC
no drugs should be taken except BY
advice of a competent physician, ant
then only as the physician orders.
PRICES UNDER PRE-WAR FIG
URE
Dodge Brothers Dealer Shows Tha
Improvements More Than
Offset Difference
Automobile Industry Commended fol
Vigorous Effort TO Restore
Considering the large number Of
important improvements that have
been made, the latest sharp reduction:
in the prices of Dodge Brothers Motto,
Car actually bring them down below
the pre-war level, according to j. NJ
Duncan, the local dealer. To sub
Stantiate his. contention he pointed