The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-10-15
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL AND THE
 SPECIALIST PROBLEM

Tn pipe organ factory saw master work man roll long slender metal strip into tune for one of the high violin notes, and then with a single sweep of his iron solder the joint from one end to the other It looked downright sim pie, mere child's play. The workman told me he had served some thirteen years as appren- tice before he had mastered his trade. What American Medicine sorely needs today is a revival of the old custom of apprenticeship Every medical student should be apprenticed to practicing physician-not a specialist, but a general practitioner, family doctor, Tor at from medical school. Every doctor should be compelled to serve at least five years, petter ten years, in private general practice before ne is permitted to hold himself out as specialist If some such sane system were adopted in place of the crazy highbrow top-heavy educa- tional system at present in vogue in this coun. try the people would receive far better medical service than is now available. There is something inspiring in watching an artist work. have just returned from visit to artist in diathermy. He is extirpatlng the tonsils of member of my family. gleaned , from the sitting these facts about the diather- my extirpation of tonsils:
 1. The instrument or electrode or appncator itself never becomes even warm. but always re- mains cool Thus electro-coagulation is not burning"
 g. The heat is generated in the tissues treated, from their resistance to the passage of ! the current
 | (cancerous) and tuberculous tonsils which are l otherwise inoperable.
 readily to this method.
 5. It is the method of choice for the aged, debilitated, hemophiliac (bleeder), and for all adults handicapped by chronic heart, kidney or other complications which render surgical ton- sillectomy unavailable or unadvisabe. 6. With proper technic diathermy extirpa- tion of the tonsils is bloodless, and the discom- fort to patient is never sufficient to interfere with regular meals.
 q With minimum of five treatments to each tonsil alternating at intervals of week. perfect tonsillectomy may be done with this method.
 ates in the nose with diathermy, and the meth cd reduces such hypertrophies or thickenings without sacrificing useful functional structures or tissues.
 I saw him treat nasal sinuses with the same ! method, and when employed early in these troublesome cases of sinusitis 1t averts more radical surgical interference.
 I him clear up tabs, cicatrices and DOT tions of tonsls which had been left in the throat after surgical tonsillectomy. The new method is proving more effective for clearing up these tags after radical surgical removal of the tonsils than is second surgical attack probably because the operator can see more accurately what he is doing in a bloodless field. I return from this visit to an artist with a new pride in Modern Medicine. and more firm ly convinced than ever before that surgical ton sillectomy is brutal procedure of which the profession might well feel ashamed to-day.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 Salt Injections for Thromboagiitis.
 My right leg was amputated below the knee for thrombOangiitis Obliterans. am S7 years old Now my left foot has the same symptoms My doctor told me to write you and inquire the strength and amount of the salt solution injcc- tions. I have been a hard smoker for 20 years, using & pack of 20 every 24 hours. GA. $. NJ
 Answer-A per cent sterile filtered solution of salt in distilled water IS used, about ounces the first injection, 10 ounces for subsequent in- jections, first three times week. then twice week. finally once in week or two. This meth cd seems most successful in present practice. The use of tobacco must stop, of course.
 Tonsil Treatments Not All Pleasure
 I am having my tOnsils treated by diathcrmy isn't exactly painless, yet 1t Is not nearly bad as that man described it, whose letter you pulp Iished. If it were I would not have returned for the second treatment. In fact I have not missed any meals, nor lost any time at the of- flee. The only effect is a slight sore throat. am glad started before that mans letter ap- pcared-I might have been scared of. (H. H)
 Answer-It is fairly comparable with dental treatment. Few escape the dentists chair with out some discomfort or even little pain. But seldom do neglect dental treatment on that account. If your doctor is master of the tech nic, the whole course of treatments will be completed without interfering with your usual occupation or even with your regular meals. Remember. too, that the man who found the treatment so painful selected his physician through some commercial house. Not every doctor who can afford diathermy instrument Is qualified to extirpate tonsils with diathermy.
 Heart Trouble
 Is there any cure for dilatiOn of the heart! am a teacher with my first year of teaching just pasta very hard year for me. My doctor prescribes complete rest, but can't rest. gave up dancing and athletics. I'm afraid may have to go to bed. (M. B.
 Answer-Not knowing the nature of your trouble I am not qualified to advise. Two or three weeks in bed might be less irksome than months of enforced rest later. Your doctor probably knows what ails you. Better follow his advice.