The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-11-03
A LITTLE LESSON IN BACTERIoLoGY.

I Popular health education helps people who know they are ignorant of anatomy, physioi- ogy, pathology and hygiene. It makes little | impression on wiseacres who are content with their intuition. A wiseacre suffered puncture of the palm from a splinter of wood. He neglected to ap ply tincture of iodin as first aid disinfectant, and he failed to protect the wound, after ex- traction of the splinter, with a dressing to ex- clude further infection, such as a covering of adhesive plaster, or 8 pad of sterile gauge and puncture became infected and festered or sup purated Then the wiseacre began to apply antiseptics, trying one after another, while the hand became sorer and sorer. Finally he curb stoned q physician, The doctor, instead of suggesting that the beggar call at the office or consulsAa surgeon or something, advised large hot moist dressings over night. This sounded too homsly and the wiseacre did not follow the advice. Somebody else came along and asked if he had tried germicidal soap. .s. He had tried half dozen other presumably potent short the hand nnally required deep incision and drainage. A
 Any good toilet or laundry soap is an effec- tive antiseptic. Indeed, 1t is doubtful whether you can apply a more effective antiseptic dress mig to any kind of infected wound or sore than many folds or crumpled yards of gauze (cheese-cloth) kept moist or wet constantly
 Give me a vial of tincture of iodin, pound of buric acid, and a cake of any good soap, and I'll need no other remedies for the successful treatment of any ordinary surface or internal infection. #
 Until some one finds the germicide or anti septic that will appreciably discourage or retard the multiplication of germs In the tissues with out injuring the tissues, am content to gargle, spray otherwise wash, the surface with a simple solution of teaspoonful of boric acid in the pint of water. This is sufficiently anti- septic to render the discharges harmless to other persons. That is the aitruistic purpose served by such medicine Of course it can have no influence on the, activities of the germs | that have invaded the tissues.
 If anything were to be gained by combating germs in the mouth, throat or nose (anything other than rendering the secretions or dis charges less infective to other persons) 1t would be wise to make frequent, if not habtual | is not these germs that cause the tonsilitis, rhinitis or sinusitis. The germs that are caus- ing the trouble have invaded the tissues and you can't reach them there with any such an tiseptic.
 But continue your antseptic gargle or spray by all means. Chances are some such precau- tion is necessary for the protection of the pub- lie against your germ-laden cough, sneeZe or conversational spray. You may instinctively screen your cough or sneeze with hand or handkerchief, but your conversational spray is even greater menace to the unwary1 because people have not yet learned to avoid that.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 Eggshell As Food
 Reading how some scientists are puzzled over the way hen produces eggshell, I am pr0mpt- ed to ask whether the eating of eggshell would HOG n1dkAC SOO1 tHc CdACAulu uchAChcACy you uOCs tors say our refined diet has. Eggshell Is all most pure calcium carbonate. have been dry ing eggshells thoroughly, powdering finely and sprinkling the powdered shell on my chops and in my chow. How about it, Doctor? (Gusl. &
 Answer-Eggshell, oyster-shell, bone and chalk are all practically the same thing, call cium carbonate. Probably the body can utilize this calcium if there is a shortage of calcium (lime) in the food.
 Syphilis
 Eight years ago I had syphilis Physician gave me just one shot of 6O6, and also used some kind of rays to burn 0lR lesiOhs. After he said I was well he took blood test and later he reported I was all right. So far as am aware am all right. But I'm worried. If should marry would my children be likely to be defective in any way? (L. K.)
 Answer-The diagnosis is questionable if the cure was so quickly effected. Or the cure is questionable if the diagnosis was correct. If either parent has syphilis when the child ia conceived the child Is likely to be syphiitic at hirth.. NYou should not contemplate marriage until competent and reputable physician has certified that you are free from syphilis.
 Have Seed AZ < T. passed the Information about naxseeds along to my mother. She was a slave to phys- ic; she had started with one pill every night, and had increased to two, three or four pills every night, with enemas In between. She has been taking haxseeds for several months now and never has to resort to physic any more. We all thank you. (M. c. M.)
 Answer-We invite every victim of the physic habit to have a seed. Or send a stamped enc vsiope and 2 dime tnot stamps) for booklet 'sThe Constipation Habits