The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-09-14
A CRICK IN THE BACK WITHOUT
 T,TTTG ATTnN


 LITIGATION
 Railroad spine" was quite popular in the days before Henry. The term implied that the patient had been fortunate enough to be train when the train was jolted or even deraied or wrecked, and had come out of with lame back that practically incapacitated him-until after satisfactory judgment was rendered. Of course there is no way to decide in some such casese where an array of medical experts on the one hand testify there is actual trouble and an opposing crowd testify there is no trouble.
 had been practicing several years before ever heard> of strain or dislocation partial dislocation of the sacroiliac joint. Of course was vaguely aware that our osteophatic breth- ren pretended to diagnose what they called slipped innominate"-which is another way of saying dslocated sacro-iliac. But didn't take the osteopaths very seriously then.
 One day I had a hurry call The patient found sitting in carefully rigid attitude on the edgs of chair. She dared not move, lest she had been perfectly well until she leaned over to lift a>heavy pan of dough from the floor to- a table, and as she attempted to heave it up ''somethng gave way" in her back and she was rendered instantly helpless. Friends had to carry her to her chair On examination I found the muscles over the sacro-iliac joint in marked spasm. I applied wide girdle of several lay CTS of strong adhesive plaster as firmly as pos sbe around the pelvis, to support the joint. AS soon as this was applied the patient found she could stand up and walk about without discom- fort. We kept such support applied for several weeks, and there was no more trouble.
 The -iliac joint is not really joint at
 
 rum or base of the spine and the wing of the hip bone. It is normally quite immovable Even in the most marked cases of sacro-iliac strain or sprain or relaxation subuxation partial dislocation, as it is variousy termed, X-ray pie lures give precious little evidence of any actual displacement of the bones that join in the syn chondrosis. The X-ray technicians profess to see some evidence of mobility in certain cases, but I've never felt convinced. .-
 Still, sacro-iliac strain or sprain is common enough and there can be no question of the ac- diagnosis typical as the one described. Then, too, the treatment, by one form of support or other for the joint, pretty thoroughly corroborates the diagnosis if the diagnosis is correct, for proper support invariably gives great relief.
 There is tremendous amount of commer- cial hooey marketed in the form of special belts and corsets for the sacro-i lilac Joints. People as gullible about these things as they are about nostrums and quackery in general. Many intel ligent persons assume that if the makers of the gadget advertise in our best medical journals they must be reliable, and so they financial ly, though that hasn't much to do with their competence to give medical advice treat ment.
 A crick in the back that comes suddenly when one is turning over in bed or leaning forward to lift something is very likely to be indication of sacro-iliac sprain.
 A firm mattress with springs that SUP PORT rather than let you down, will prevent and relieve many chronic backache or lame back due to relaxed sacro-iiiac synchondrosis. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Personal Service I should be very glad too, if you can send me your pamphlets or treatiscs on the effects of tobacco and alcohol on the system. (H. M.) Answer-I am unwilling to send anything impersonally If you or your dependent has the tobacco or alcohol habit, write me and I'll give my best advice in private letter. provided you inclose stamped envelope bear l ing your address. Extraction of Teeth Please tell me the best way to have teeth | cxtractcd-the whole upper set am ncr- vous when I have tooth pulled by blocking | the nerve Is gas dangerous and can they extract the whole upper set by taking gas?
 Answer-If even one tooth is sound. by all means save it. Where many teeth are hope lessly decayed or infected 1t is better to have them extracted a few at time at intervals of three or four weeks. Gas and oxygen may be used for each extraction
 Constitution Goes Red | What is the cause for a brick red sediment 1 that clouds the urine? Also the same matter discOlOrs the armpits? Something wrong somewhere-kidneys? Liver? Mctabolism? ? l Answer-Nothing very wrong. You need to drink more water or whatever fresh fruit juice beverages you prefer. The red stain from sweat is usually due to the growth of a harm less germ. The aluminium chloride solution so effective for excessive odorous sweating in the armpits will probably correct the trouble ;-half an ounce of aluminium chloride dis solved in three ounces of distilled water. Mop the skin of armpts with this once day for a week.
 | salivary Digestion Our family is having an argument about the work of the saliva in the digestion of food. Please settle 1t we can have peace. sH. D. IW.)
 | Answer-A digestive ferment called ptyalin | or salivary diastase is present in the saliva. This converts starch into maltese or a form of soluble sugar. The salivary digestion is car- ried on chiefly in the upper end of the stom- ach where the food mass when swallowed may remain an hour or more before it mixes with the acid gastric juice-the acid stops the salivary digestion.
 Paint for White Spots Formula of some sort you gave to paint over ears with. (Mrs $. L.)
 | Answer--No. it Is q paint to conceal white | spots. though it might make some smooth scars | ess conspicuous, merely as temporary make ID. It consists of 1-2 ounces zinc oxide. l-2 ounces calanin powder, les ounce glycerin, and pint of water. Add drop by drop, till the right | % neededl,