The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-29
WE'RE GROWING MORE CONSERVATIVE
 TOWARD TONSIIS


 In the past few years several new methods of dealing with enlarged Or infected tonsils have been introduced and used with success by phys iciaus who have special training and skill in the special work. One method which ] nave promoted" here much as 1 believe 1t de serves Is the dathcrmy extirpation otherwise called electro coaguIatiOn of tonsils This must not be confused with the old time burn ing" of the tonss by cautery--a piece of metal heated red hot either by flame or by electricity, and then thrust into the tOnsl That was fright fully crude and it never deserved serious con sideration. The diathermy method involves no burning at all Indeed, many patients go through most all of the half dozen sittings required without even local anesthetic.
 A second method which is employed with entire satisfaction by d comparatively small number of physicians is the rhdum method Il minute quantity of ra1ium emanation called radon" seed, in q wee glass tube. IS implant- Q in the tonsil and left for d few days Then it is withdrawn For several months after this he tonsil shrinks until 1t becomes an insignli- cant hbrous nodule, and gives no further trou- ble. have no personal knowledge of this method, having seen only Il few patient treat ed. But good men report that it is satisfactory. The X-ray treatment is particularly sati8fac- tory for young persons whose tOnsiS are quite large but not badly scared or inIcctcd, and where there is considerable adcnoid enlarge ment. In the presence of marked infection, presumably foci abscesscs in the tonsils, K ray treatment is not entirely satisfactory. though 1t does prove effective in some cases. IL Is at least worthy of careful consideration in any case where there ia some good reason Tor avoiding surgery or general anesthesia.
 In the earlier days of dathermy extirpation it was quite conventional for the doctor or throat specialist who was totally ignorant Of the method to tell inquirers 1t was 'danGerous' that it was useless against Infection, or that it. had been tried out many years ago and dis carded Obviously this was confusion of the cautery with diatherny in the doctors mindJ
 As it is now regularly employed by the better physicians and throat specialists everywhere diathcrmy is proving extraordinarily effective in disinfccting foci of infection in the tonsils, in many instances without subjecting the pa ic n he O he m rI- ton. 1t happens not at all rarely that the sys- temic trouble begins 10 improve rapidly after the first second diathcrmy treatment--indi eating that the physician happened to sterilize or disinfect the spetic focus at the first or sec ond application.
 These late developments in therapeutics have had much influence in revising the attitude Of the profession toward the tonsB. Doctors ca pable of thinking and making sound observa- lions, are taking more conservative view of the question to-day. This is especially evident to me in the letters 1 receive from patients everywhere.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 Spinal Curvature
 Our daughter aged 9, has n slight curve In her spine, also one hip is higher than the other. Please give a set Of exercises where we can get literature on the subject. CT. C. Co
 Answer--I advise you 10 take your daughter to Il competent orthopedic surgeon for exam inauon and instructions as to exercises or other corrective measures. If you cant afford to con suit the orthopedist, then take her to any good physician. If you can't afford a physician, take her to the nearest free clinic dspensary. 1 do not think spinal curvature is Il proper sub Ject for lay reading or study.
 Cyst
 Daughter, aged 20, has what doctor alag. noses cyst in breast. Is cutting the only remedy, and 1T so Is the operation serious? (M. W.
 Answer--A cyst is bladder like swelling with fluid or semi-huId contents. The most familiar cyst is sebaceous cyst, common Iy called wen The only remeGy Is surgical re- moval of the sac. Such operation for cyst in the breast Is minor operation.
 Terrier Sheds Hair
 For two years we have had dog, sort of fox terrier with coarse wiry hair which he sheds constantly. Some one tells us that If any par tices of this hair are swallowed it would cause consumption. (J. Z)
 AnsWer-No truth in that idea. Such dogs generally shed hair every spring. You may pre- vent the nuisance by giving the dog careful combing and brushing every day. Occasionally person who happens to be senstized suffers asthma when exposed to inhalation of dog hair dander.
 ThrombO Angiitis Oblitcrans
 FrOfp one of your interesting articles gath. cred tIcre ts some one somewhere who is able to treat thrOinbO angiitis Oblitcrans. That is my trouble, and M doctors have passed me up as hopeless. (E. G. F)
 Answer--I know of no one who can treat 1t more successfully. Recent reports indicate that injections of salt solution into the veins may give much relief.