The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-04-02
AN APOLOGY TO THE STATE HEALTH
 COMMISSIONER

Open Letter to Dr E. L. Bishop, state health commissioner of Tennessee citing my teachings and asking the commissioner to enlighten the public upon the subject. Lest by any chance the commissioner be drawn into vulgar dispute beg to correct the misunderstanding my friends show in their printed letter
 For instance" they write. Doctor
 Brady says there is such thing as a
 cold, but it is nothing more than a symp-
 tom of some disease of one of our respira-
 tory organs"
 True, say there is no such thing as "cold'. no such disease malady ailment, condition or symptom. But do not say it is symptom of anything-obviously that would be mere quibble It make great difference whe ther one might call something disease or a symptom. If it doesn't exist, it can't be regarded as symptom. No strings or catches in my teaching. There is absolutely such entity "cold" or ''the common cold' and am sure no health authority will attempt to define "cod" mo health authority or physician dares to de- ! fine it. The old timers who still gvie out funny bulletins about "colds' wisely evade committing | themselves-t pass the buck to the layman hence requires definition. Likewise the old guard can't agree even among themselves on any kind of definition for what they conceive to be cold So there we are, as safe as certi- fled milk.
 Then my friends continue in the open letter:
 Further, that this condition cannot be
 brought about by wet feet. drafts or other
 exposure. but is due to germ taken into
 the system from the breath of some other
 individual who is affected with the disease ,s ., other individual affected with? I have not taught quite that. Certainly I have not taught that there Is any disease carried in or by the breath. On the contrary have repeatedly said that the expired air is practically germ-free and quite harmless Tor another person 10 preathe IL is not the breath, but the spray of moisture that invariably accompanies coughing. sneezing or talking, that carries the virus infection of CRI (kree). You can scarcely catch diphtheria, scarlet fever measles or pneumonia or simple coryza acute sore throat from person who does not talk cough sneeZe, unless you kiss him the mouth perhaps convey the virus directly from his mouth your own hand to your own mouth or nose
 Although I think it is immaterial whether you please to call something disease or just honest folk should give their friends or neigh bors the benefit of the doubt, by calling the in- disposition or illness cRi until it Is apparent yss touch of flu. Calling it CRI is merely frank acknowledgement that you do not know yet just what you're developing, but presumably it is another of the Common Respiratory Infections and so you wish to give everybody warning. Now I'd like to hear any health com missioner criticise this teaching if he dares.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 Here. Here, OIdstcrs. No Mapping ing a nap after supper viii increase my blood pressure, which is about -, my age being 60 years get enough I;i exercise walking though
 Answer-No snoozing after mcals-thats good rule for every adult of mature age The young ones may advantageously nap g. while after a hearty meal. If you don't feel that you need stroll after supper. then at least do something to keep you awake. As rule a ter of a mile or so-after good meal is advisable for mature adults.
 A Knock Knee
 How to correct knock-knee 1t is my ta year old sons right knee. My brother says you helped his wife and by exercising my boy now will nto need to have his shoes built up (Mrs E. M.)
 Answer-I am unable to advise, not knowing the nature of the trouble. You should take the child to your doctor for advice.
 Hay Fever Better I have suffered from hay fever for 1j years until took your calcium treatment. It surely is wonderful. CIrs E. J: K.) Answer--Not wonderful but helpful in many cases It isn't my treatment, but a principle familiar to all doctors. Glad to send any reader who asks for 1t complete information--mention your trouble and inclose stamped envelope bear ing your address. The calcium treatment proves beneficial in many cases of asthma, hay fever, hives angioneurotic edema, migraine (periodic one sided sick headaches ushered in with visual aura).
 Chronic Irritation and Cancer What is cancer? How can 1t be recognized In it's early stages? Can 1t be cured if treatment Is begun soon enough? Could the sharp edge of gold bridge resting against the t0ngue possibly cause cancer? (L. R. L.)
 Answer--No one knows what cancer is. It is often cured if radically removed by surgery before it has extended along the lymphatic channels or travelled to some distant part of the body through the blood stream Any frequent. chronic, constant irritation may excite the devei lopment of cancer. Foolish to worry about it. Let your doctor examine the mouth and advise tcopyrighs John r. DiIle Col