The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-10-20
NOW, LISTEN, YOU POOR BooBs

 A reader sends this Silver Star letter: Dr Wm. Brady,
 Dear Sir:
 few months ago I wrote and asked you to send me a pamphlet how to cure the constipa- tion habit. followed your wonderful advice and now have natural bowel movement every physic since. So you can imagine how grate- full am to you was in a terrible condition spent hundreds of dollars for doctor bills and for physics. I would take physics sometimes as often as three times day. Every new dope that came to my notice I would try, enemas and what not, nothing seemed to take enect any more. I thought would have to die. So after reading your pamphlet made up my mind to give it a trial and not take any thing. The first days was in misery. The tenth day. for the first time in 20 years, had a natural bowel movement and I believe I've never been so happy in all my life as l was then when I realized that had won the battle. Thank you so much for your wonderful ad- vice. (Mrs C. R.) Probably the reason why this habit victim was in misery, she says, for so many days was that she merely gave my advice a ''trial' "a trick she had tried thousand times before and invariably in vain. So her psychology was stacked against her. How she managed to stick it out so long under the circumstances is more than can surmise. As a rule four or five days brings vctory-if the slave of habit can hold out that long.
 That's the crux of the problem. After fifteen, twenty, thirty years or more of bad habit, wrong thinking, morbid introspection, it is not easy to reform in a day. You have to give it a fight. Whether you put up good fight or wabbly one depends on your own chcaracter will power, which, naturally, is feeble to be- gin with, since you've never exercised it in re- spect to leaving the alimentary function alone. You've interfered with that function habitually for so many years that you've developed con- ditioned reflex as psychologists or physiologists would say, and hence your alimentary appara- tus simply won't function now unless you do something or take something to release the breaks, or as physiologists would say to relax the inhibition.
 But never mind all that psychological stauff. It is merely lotta nifautin words anyway. If you're a victim of the constipation physic habit, and if you will undertake to refrain from your usual dope or enema or whatever artlf1ce you habitually employ, for a period Of hve days, you can free yourself forever from that habit If had you under lock and Key where I was certain you could not get your dope, could and would guarantee this result for you But human nature is pretty weak and not many slaves of the physic habit have the pluck our
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 Snufhng Boric Acid
 In reply to the inquiry of Mrs A. M. M. about the cause and cure of sinus trouble you said those were two of the things you hoped to learn some day. But you gave me a better an- catch cold" every time the wind changed, and my nOstrils would block up with yellow mucus. don't know whether this was sinus trouble or gested snuhing a pinch of bOric acid powder into each nostril once or twice day. Il tried it out for several days and nave not been Doth- cred since co. G. B.
 Answer-That was a suggestion sent in by a correspondent, and I remember it was for simple chronic rhintis and not for sinus trou- ble am glad to know you found it helpful do not think it do any harm in any case if tried out for a few weeks.
 Mineral Water
 inclose the report of an analysis of min- eral water. Please give me your opinion of it. I have friends who recommend 1t, but would like to have your advice whether 1t Is "safe and sane" tonic co. w. J.)
 Answer-According to the chemists analysis the water contains much gypsum and common salt. with a dash of hydrogen sulphide, the gas that makes bad eggs notorious Perhaps an oc- casional beaker of such water is harmless, but my imagination is not elastic enough to com prehend any reason why anybody should drink such water if plain water is available.
 Camphor Bags
 I find that many persons in our ncighborhoOd place camphor bags on a string and fasten them around childrcns necks with n sincere belief that infantile paralysis will bc prevented. These people seem to ignore recognized pre- cautions against infection. (B. Q. E.)
 Answer-Yes. they would. The use of the charm helps to relieve their scruples about ne- glecting the proper protection of the children.
 Going Native
 I would like to have my ears pierced Kindly let me know of . competent physician (Nirs A. HI
 Answer-Any doctor can pierce your ears If he will. There ought to be q law against it. and another against tattooing except conceal aenr A athQr 1Qfaefa