The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-04-08
HORSE SENSE AND MULE RESISTANCE

Colleague says the "horse sense and humor
in your articles make them very popular and
they are read by literally millions of people,
and for that reason he fears my recommends
ton of the ambulant injection treatment of
hernia rupture, breach) as preferable to the
radical operation may do considerable harm.
He goes on to explain patiently just why he
thinks So "You must know and realize" he
says, that the failure of this chemical lrrlta-
ton would exaggerate the adhesions If no other
damage was done and render the radical oper-
alton more difficult; and would, therefore, ADD
some danger to it and a larger per cent OF re-
currence. So think your advice to the public
and 70 the physician is very dangerous.
NV friends letter is a tolerant and courteous
one and 1 believe it fairly expresses the atti-
tude of the rank and file of the reputable med
ic2l profession in reference to this injection,
| chemical or ambulant treatment of hernia
which l advocate.
Note that this good doctor opposes a THE
ORETICAL objection, namely that the medl-
| cine or chemical injected may produce adhe-
| sions, which would make a subsequent opera
| ton, If the patient should elect to have the
| operation in the end, more difficult and less
| likely to succeed Probably my colleague has
| other objections which he is not able to define
but which he vaguely implies in the phrase
| "other damage"
l. too held precisely that view five years ago.
1t is the fundamental conception which every
medical student acquires in medical school.
l tell my good colleague that the medicine
or chemical injected does produce adhesons.
That is why it cures the hernia The radical
operation produces similar adhesions-when it
is successful.
But I am able, from observation rather than
theoretical consideration, to assure him that II
the first attempt to cure by injection fails, it is
because no ADMISSIONS or insufficient adhesions
were produced. and in fact there Is no greater
difficulty nor less chance of success attending
second even third series OF injections nor
is there any added difficulty danger in the
event the patient tires of monkeying around
| and decides to undergo the radical operation
But even if my friends objection were wand,
Ia still prefer lne amDulant treatment for my
self, # had hernia. I'd want at least one good
whrl at it before I'd willingly take several
weeks off and go to bed for the radical opera
tion-and please remember rather enjoy serv-
ing on the receiving end of a nice clean opera
ton where the surgeons, assistants and nurses
are kept just busy enough SO their attention
won't he distracted and some OF their belong
inSs lett in there.
More than year after l had learned that
good reputap Die physicians were using this
bulant treatment with satisfaction 1 investigat-
ed their work and observed the results. only
then did mention 1t favoraby in this column.
/ am conscious now that made one error in
replying to my colleagues criticism. L bet a
box of cigars with him that he himself will be
years. l should have bet pipe. l don't like
cigars SO well.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Like the Chicken and Egg Controversy
No one but evOlutionist would think dog
has goou teeth because he gnaws bones. Amy
intelligent person believes q dog gnaws bones
because he has good teeth. Cf. d.
Answer-No, sir, refuse to argue with you.
But 1 believe the dog that gets bones to gnaw
is sturdier, healthier animal than the dog
that is pampered and gets none. And l believe
he gets it from the bone marrow, not from the
hard bone.
Aromatic Spirits of Ammonia
1 am very nervous and find that it does me
much good when take one-haif ieaspooe.u ~,
OF aromatic spirits of ammonia in one-half
glass of water once every day. tnat sane, VI.
will it do me any harm? (M F.)
Answer--It is harmless.
Pay Gold At Last
Pittsburgh colleague sends a page from
Kodak Magazine which gives instructions for
artificial respiration and shows illustrations of
the method. in which the subjects arms are
BOTH extended above his head. Collea que. lots
on the margin PAY gold at last!" oh, WE'LL
give 'em time and they'll all learn to keep the
hand out from under the head. If any of our
readers does not understand how to resuscitate
we will be glad to mail free pamphlet de-
scribing and illustrating the correct method, on
receipt of request and stamped addressed en-
velope. Many who have learned the method
from Red Cross and other instructors have
learned the wrong method. Nothing should be
placed under the subjects head or forehead,
Copyright John F. Ollie Coz