Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-30
Health Talks by DR.. Brady
The EIu,,ye GnIl,tone.

The Elusive Gnllstone.
Many victims OF gladstone disease 20 along
for years tinkering with what thoy fondly
call nervous indigestion" and suffer nothing
worse than ''sns" attacks until finally ty-
pical attack OF hillary colo throws light
tho nature OF tho trouble. or perhaps an
exploratory operation undertaken In despair
disc!oscs galstones.
N-ray examinations OF a patient who has
long suffered with alleged dyspepsia or in
digestion OF one kind or another sometimes
reveals gallstopes, though there many
sallstones that give shadow In the X-ray
picture and are therefore not discoverablo
by this means. Gallstones form by gradual
deposits OF material from tho bilo upon or
around minute clumps OF bacteria or par
icles OF nhammatory exudate or secretion
from the Sail bladder walls or the walls of
the bile ducts. When the stones consist
chiefly OF choiesterin from tho bile they may
not show in the N-ray picture: when IL hap
pens that a considerable amount of fIime salts
IL deposited IN tho stones along with the
oholcstcrin. there is more likelihood OF posi-
i've evidence in the N-ray examination But
when an N-ray examination fails TO reveal
Eallsiones. OF course. that does not d necessarily
mean the patient has none N-ray evidence
lnneed' In this as in most other Instances, Is
not decisive. but merely corroborative On
me other hand. sometimes the N-ray cXami-
nation seems to reveal yallstones when ms a
matter OF fact an operation proves that the
N-ray evidence false. I mention this not
10 discTcdit the N-ray in diagnosis for II is
OF great value. nut rather to show how fool
ism is ne who tancies he 10 and have
an N-ray picture taken which will tell some
'hinS his doctor cannot tell There is lot
or TINS sort OF foolishncss nowadays. stimu-
rated perhaps. by the modern quack
HaiIstones are not only elusive but Elusive
'"oush III n"'h respects they are far more ac-
curately diagnosed today than thew were
'"cntT years ago aside from any aid given
Thrr
no physician recognized gladstone disease un.
less the patient suffered characteristic attacks
or severe collie. followed by unmistakahle
1aundice Nowadays we know that many WIN
harbor Galstones have no actual collie and No
sign OF jaundtcc for perhaps years Just ON
uisesuoi' or dyspepsia" ot one kind or an
o'her. Nor are the majority OF gladstone sub
!ects ialr fat and forty" for some skinny
'olNS cultivate a beautiful crop of EalIstoncs
ana considerable number go into this busi.
ness Al ." or younger Sometimes the alleged
ihaiees'ion is described by the victim as
ioihess ana sense of weight soon after eat
ms win persistent gas formation and belcb-
ing. again the complaint Is OF "heartburn"
ana "aterorash and notion that this or
'hd' article OF food "disagrees" Again mo-
r'oo'c attacks OF gas crowding the heart"
OF OF nervous indigestion arc followed nv
'tHuerness or soreness In the right uppor rc-
s'oh oil the abdomen lasting fofr davs or
weeks IL you have any of these Reluctantly
'"e"''ohoo symptoms IL doesn't mean Won haye
sac OF stones In your midst, but il sup-
seSN you should seek diaEnostIc skill and
ton" '''' '""'s's-