The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-13
CHILDREN WITH ENLARGED TONsII.S AM
 ADENOIDS

Before hung out my shingle armed
 tay,s myself f. with what what believed the indispensable tonslotome, an ingenious gadget having a ring france in three sizes to fit office. household and hospital size tonsils, and a little two pronged
 spear to impale the quarry and finally a guillo- tine blade which shoves home when the ton-
 of this method of dealing with tonsils was its
 simplicity and ease of application. You just jol-
 of local anesthetic or put him under ether and
 inserted the gadget and went snigger- snack. and
 ment proved perfectly satisfactory in consider | able share of cases perhaps a majority. There
 day who owe their release from annual attacks of quinsy to the old Spanish custom. There are capped disabling arthritis and other serious focal infections, thanks to the same old custom. For the guillotine is still the method of choice. in my Judgment.
 | Since the guillotine instrument was introduced the throat surgeons have developed Q modifca- i tion of the method. Instead of engaging the ton-
 sl in the ring and slicing it off with quick yank
 snare and cut the tonsil off by constructing 1t
 with fine wire. In this way perhaps a greater part of the tonsil is removed and there is less l bleeding.
 For some time the throat surgeons prated of
 the importance of removing every little bit of
 tonsil tissue and all that, but this was 9s per
 cent talk. Rarely does the best of specialists re-
 move the tonsil entirely. Rarely is 1t necessary
 or even derisabe to attempt to do so
 | There is no sound reason to regard tonsl ts-
 sue nmcal to health. unless the tons is in-
 fected, harbors germs capable of causing some serious systemac disease. When the tonsil Is in-
 fected it is rarely infected through and through:
 distinguishable from the normal tonsil tissue. on
 our nrnose m m or ne ar1o : l infected portion. That is precisely why the old
 a sye M p ] sil tissue in the throat. That Is why the snare | method so much used by throat specialists now
 gives satisfaction in many cases. And that is why | the modern method. diathermy (electro- coagu-
 lation. lectro-desiccation) is giving satisfaction Candidly have no definite idea about the pur- pose or function of the tonsls in childhood or of the pharyngeal tonsil (the mass of tissue in the vault behind the soft palate called "adenoids when enlarged). but 1t seems reasonable to think
 hood From its character and it's structure as | seen under the microscope, we assume this pe-
 protecting the body against tho invasion of dis ease germs. but only in childhood. The tonsils normally undergo evolution and atrophy or QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Seven Times in Same Place 'N have had superficial eryslpcIas seven times in the past two or three years. It always starts fin my f"cs &c., Can yos tell me any way to prevent Answer--If 1t is genuine erysipelas there must be some permanent septic focus from which the or anothers The only thing onn sugges for you is so-called bacterial vaccine treatment by your
 Docs Clash on Taking Cold"
 What Is the layman to decide when the doc
 Answer-Mr M. incloses a clipping of a debate between Drs Lees and Taylor. of St Paul. pr Tay- Tor. Is for open windows, and he cites data from the report of the N. Y. ventilation commission to support his contentin. Dr Lees Is for keeping the windows closed in cold weather and he cites data from the same source. Both doctors are talking about "colds." Now if may toss in Q word I would challenge either or both of them to give definition of 'the common cold" So. the rest of us will understand what they're quarrel ing about.
 Rubber Garment Reduction
 Please tell me whether the wearing of rubber fat will trouble. My leg Ok. en several years ago. Win the moisture caused by the rubber stocking doing away with the excess fat do any harm? (Mrs D. l.. S.)
 Answer-So the moisture that collects under the rubber (because the natural sweat can't evaporate) is the fat being eliminated. is N7 That's what the humbugs who market such gar- ments would have simple minded folk believe. But assure you that no such garment will re- duce anything-except your bank roll The rub Der stockings will do you no more harm than they would Silly lilly who has never had q leg broken even bent. Of course such garments, interfering with the evaporation of sweat. are scarcely hygienic. This Is Not Clinic
 have been bothered with two patches Of ring worm glad to have you send me pre- scrIpfion. (nfrs F. B.) -s
 Answer-Consult physician.