The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-09-12
REPORTING PROGRESS IN THE NEW
 TREATMENT OF HERNIA


 A few weeks ago confessed here that did not know the precise formula for the medicine injected in the ambulant treatment of hernia,
 snd warned readers not to submit to any such treatment with a secret or semi-secret formula. II apologized for introducing the method at all when I was not aware of the exact composition l. of the medicine injected. You see, had been deceived about that. I relied upon the unques- tionable professional standing of the doctor
 whose successful use of this method first came to my notice finally appealed to that doctor for the information without which I could not recommend the treatment to the public. He did not give me the information. don't know why. but think he feared might broadcast 1t and so spoil the market for his course of instruction to physicians in the method. But have ob- tained the formula, or rather formula whicn is proving satisfactory in the hands of good physicians I know, and I'll give the formula to any doctor who asks me for 1t and tncloses stamped envelope bearing his address, but I'll very simple-any doctor can prepare 1t hiInself or have his pharmacist prepare 1t for him. Nothing secret or proprietary in it.
 Any competent practitioner can give his pa tents the advantage of the ambulant treatment
 for hernia, at least in suitable cases. Not that one does not require instruction in the technic -on the contrary, such personal instruction by a physician skilled in the method is highly es-
 sential-but any physician skilled in the meth cd will gladly teach his colleagues on the terms customary for clinical instruction. The injection of the medicine is only half of the treatment. The skilful and painstaking ht-
 ting and adjustment of the truss-which must be worn constantly throughout the course or in jections-is the other half of the treatment. If this latter part is sighted or bungled by the doctor, the attempt to cure the hernia Is hkeiy to fail The patient is not detained from his regular occupation. There is more risk of infection or other injury than is concerned with any hy- podermic injection. Should the treatment fail to cure the hernia-as 1t does in about the same proportion of cases as in the radical operative ltreatment-no harm has been done and there is no greater difficulty added in case a second opf is a da radical opera tion Is resorted to.
 Having observed the ambulant treatment in the hands of good general practitioners. l am
 happy to say that in my judgment it will prove as great boon to hernia sufferers as the chemical obliteraton treatment for varicose veins proved for such sufferers. l fear, how ever, that the rank and file of the medical pro- fession will be even slower to acknowledge and
 adopt this hernia treatment than the doctors were to accept the diathermy extirpation or the tonsils
 I repeat if I had a hernia I should want to receive this ambulant treatment before I'd make up my mind to submit to the radical operation. And again regret am not yet pre- pared to name doctors in every city who are skilled in the ambulant treatment of hernia
 Nv list as yet is limited. It will grow slowly, but
 know 1t will grow.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Tennis at Forty Does playing tennis hurt me? I am 40 and began playing only this summer. am in per- feet health. A doctor who did not examine me
 said a man of 40 should not play such a game
 as it is 8 strain on the heart. (B. A. P.) Answer-Well, I'd play as long as felt well
 and enjoyed the game
 Private
 O. Wit is impossible to answer your ques- tion here. If you will repeat the question and inclose stamped envelope bearing your address,
 I'll be glad to answer 1t privately. Intoxication Is a child conceived while the father is in-
 toxicated liable to be defective? ~. HI. J.) Answer-An impressive list of instances was reported a few years ago, in which children conceived while one or both parents were in- toxicated were epileptic.
 Water
 Is it necessary to drink water, even though much liquid nourishment such as milk is talk en My thinks that so long as he drinks q large quantity of milk every day he does not need to drink water. (E. c. McG.) Answer-True. Milk is about eight-tenths
 water.
 Gritting Teeth at Night Son aged and daughter aged 0M both grit or grind their teeth in sleep. Have been told.
 (MV.)
 Answer-Yes Ben Told always thinks so, but
 in careful study of this symptom (grinding or
 gritting the teeth in sleep) Drs Keller, Casparis
 and Leathers. of Nashville, found that among
 167 cases of round worm infestation in white
 and colored children, less than third present
 ed such a symptom. In 143 children without
 worms. virtually the same proportion presented the symptom. So 1t doesn't mean anything.