Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-08
Health and Right Living
BIZ ROYAL y. COPELAND, M. I'D.
Former Commissioners OF Health,


Many Of our popular notions are
decidedly wrong. For instance. we
talk about gall-stones as If they
were something like pebbles. You
probably consider them as OF that
nature.
But they are not stones. A real
stone will sink in water-everybody
knows that. But this is not the case
with gall-stones. AS a matter OF
fact they will float in water.
Mind you. I am not talking about
kidney stones. These are actually
mineral In their structure. But
gallstones are more like hard cheese
than actual stones.
They are albuminous In their ma
ture. Let me make this a bit
| clearer:
The white OF an egg II albumen.
Imagine this to be cooked until It.
Is quite firm. That Is something
like the material in a gladstone. In
short, as I have said. these un-
pleasant companions are composed
or alhuminous material.
I am glad 70 tell you these things.
T find that many persons are very
much afraid Of having gall-stones
and would be worried sick III told
they are actually present.
AS a matter of fact. there are
thousands upon thousands OF per
sons who have them and never knew
II. One great authority SAYS 95 per
cent OF those who have gall-stones
never have a symptom. It Is safe 10
say this disturbance is much more
common than we imagine.
I read the report of a surgeon
who found rs or 80 or these bodies
In the gall-bladder of q patient who
had never been conscious OF their
presence. An operation was required,
for something utterly unaSsociated
with the gall bladder and they were
discovered quite by accident.
A tremendous amount of gall
bladder study Is being done by re-
search workers all over the world.
We shall know much more about
the disease a few years from now
than we do at present.
There can be no doubt that severe
pain Is often associated with gall
bladder disease. 1t may take the
form of terrific collie. The remark
able thing, however, is that Just as
severe pain may be met in persons
who have had their gall-trouble
corrected.
The latest reports / have read in
dictate tina the pain may really be
in the stomach or upper part Of
the small intestine. All these parts
! of the digestive system are so close
| together that ii is extremely diff
cult. II at all possible. to be absolute
ly sure exactly where the trouble
lies.
There Is an intimate relationship
existing between gall-bladder, liver.
the union OF intestine and stomach.
and the pancreas. commonly called
the "sweet-bread." The liver and
gall-bladder have at least on func-
ton In common, the removal OF
germs from the blood stream.
Sometimes, unfortunately, the
gall-bladder may be damaged. Then
the germs enter the tissues and
cause an infection OF that organ.
The lining of the gall-bladder
~secretes a very thick mucus This
acts as a sort Of cement. to bind
together the materials which enter
into the formation Of the so-called
g~all-stones.
These are a few observations re-
garding a very common ailment. or
course. If you think you have il. talk
with your doctor. He will reaSsure
you.
Answers TO Health Queries
l.. l.. Q-What causeS dark cir
cles beneath the eyes. ! am - years
old.
A.-Lack OF proper rest and sleep.
indigestion or constipation may be
at fault. Find the cause and treat
ment can be advised.