The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-10-31
PROLONGED HOT SALT BATH FOR
 INFECTION


 The patient has had some slight, perhaps unnoticed injury of the extremity or limb. He has either neglected this or given it improper treatment perhaps laboring under the com mon misapprehension that anything purport- ing to be "antiseptic' or healing" is all right to apply to such minor injuries. After a few days the hand foot, arm or leg begins to swell pain, throb. Now what to do? These symptoms spell infection, that is, in- vasion of the injured tissues by the germs of septicemia or "blood poisoning" These are the common pus producing germs, such as Strep tococcus and Staphylococcus strains, which are normally present on the surface of every skin. #
 If actual septicemia or "blood poisoning" oc- CUTS, it manifests itself in chills or chilly sen- sations general malaise or wretchedness. much like the symptoms one feels when coming down with acute sore throat or grippe" or flu" any acute respiratory infection.
 The best treatment for septicemia depends on the diagnosis. Whether to make one or sev- eral incisions at once, of course under general anesthesa, to establish free drainage or give vent to the dangerous pus germs and their products, or to watch and wait a while to see what nature will do with intelligent aid, is a the doctor. Thus it is good surgery to incise problem which taxes the skill and courage of a felop freely and down to the bone, in the very earliest stage of the painful trouble; this is conservative surgery, for it saves the victim from greater damage, and. besides it brings prompt relief to the suffering and cure of the felon But a more widespread swelling and inflammation, known to doctors as cellutis, may be best treated without 1ncision or by waiting and watching. .. But what to do while waiting for the doc tor to come while waiting for him to decide or the patient to consent to thorough lncision and drainage?
 Probably the best treatment is prolonged hot salt water bath. Salt water rather stronger than called normal salt solution. Normal salt solution Is about rounded teaspoonful of | table salt dissolved in each pint of water That is about approximately the same salt strength us the tears and so 1t is as unrritating to the | eyes to body tissues are the tears or the blood serum itself. For the bath for hand | foot arm or leg two or three times much salt should be used. vessel which will permit | full immersion of the extremity arm or leg | should be nearly filled with water as hot as | endurabe and sufficient salt added. The bath should be continued for hours If the patient becomes tired, large moist hot salt water | dressings may be applied and kept moistened rests.
 This treatment do no harm and it often does much good. The essential part of it is to | keept it constantly hot and constantly in the | bath in wet dressings-vouminous folds of | gauge held in place with a loose bandage and covered with rubber dam or other waterproof protection. If you wish to make the treatment more antiseptic, yet safely add heaping tea spoonful of boric acid to each pint of the salt water.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Canker Sores
 | have tried many remedies for canker sores in the mouth, but this one given me by my doctor Is the best have found. It Is potassium chlorate. 0ne-half or fve-grain tablet dis solved in the mouth, each night and morning. l cankers and help old ones. This has practical ly ended my canger sore mouth troubles tL. | Answer-Thank you. It is an old and re- liable remedy for sore mouth and for sore. throat, used either in solution as mouthwash | or gargle or in small doses internally. | Silver Star Letter
 Our Connecticut reader sends this silver star letter:
 | Dear Dr Brady: had hcmorrhoids so badly that worse trouble was feared, also chronic colitis which had never expected to be routed. wrote for your advice for the former and charge s1O instead of 10 cents). After follow | ing your advice for six months am cured. No I cOlits and no hcmorrhoids and no gloom! I | take my iaxsccds regularly every day in dish of fruit cereal. Long lofe and all good blessings to you for your good sense and good cheer O. Al po.. D, uos,c,
 l wish to thank you for introducing me to the little book Personal Hygiene for Women | have been doing the exercise the author | recommends and 1t has cured the dreadful i headaches have had since was in my teens, and am now 4S. "A. D. H.)
 AnswermEvery woman, young or old. should gene for Women" It is published by Stanford University Press, California, and in my judg ment gives the most wholesome advice and the most scientific Any bookstore will furnish the book.
 | Have 6 Carrot
 Let me offer some advice from my expert. cnce. "Reach for a carrot Instead of a pill" I was slave of the physic habit, but you made mo break the habit. broke it by eating me- dum sixed carrot raw every morning before | taking anything else, and then nibbllng at an apple or carrot occasionally through the day. | Also for a long while l have omitted brushing | nay teeth. The chewing of carrot and apple keeps my teeth perfectly clean and white. It was just as you said-after the first four days nature rcsuFted control. More power to you and more space for your teachings. (drs L. Answer-Habit or no habit, it is fine for the health and for the teeth to chew some raw