The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-15
BETTER FORGET YOUR DIGESTION

| Although some medical authorities still seen
 Ito think constipation is factor of Ill health ol
 at least temporary indisposition in some cases l I believe this quaint medical notion is disap bearing from our modern medical literature
 and is destined to be discarded altogether 1T | another decade or two.
 | Of course am aware that in a few instances constipation Is due to some pathological cause such as hemorrhoids or gallstones and the cause must be removed in order to correct the constipation But t is fair to say that in nine- l ty-nne out of hundred cases constipation Is simply bad habit.
 We haven't room to describe in detail how | the habit is acquired. We shall say only that l the chief cause of the habit IS the widespread vicious fancy that a physic or en enema or l freak diet which purports to increase "elimina- tion" is always good when anything ails you and even beneficial when nothing ails you. l This absurd notion, say is still entertained | by some of our present medical authorities. and | in the past was quite generally accepted as | sound practice.
 | But the world moves and some of us man. | age to trail along after 1t.
 l Now I shall give my own opinion or belief about this question, reminding you that can't prove 1t is so, and leave you to draw your own conclusion
 I believe that in the absence of serious dis
 ease ordinary constipation has no ill-effect on health. believe the more immediate or acute symptoms popularly ascribed to constipation
 are actually produced by anxiety or worry and
 lntrospecton, and that the more remote or
 chronic i'll effects which the quacks and nos- | trum manufacturers insistently suggest are
 actually produced by the physic. enema or fun | ny food the misguided victim takes to "regu-
 late" the bowel.
 2 hundred the victims troubles will fade if he
 can be persuaded compelled to leave the
 bowel function alone. to refrain from interfer- ing, for ten days. Don't give me any of your notions. I know what I'm taking about. | It would be foolish and futile for any victim | of the constipation habit to attempt to break his habit in the way suggest, if the poor gull llible galoot is not first absolutely convinced | that am right about it. Here I may say that | my method has proved effective in hundreds or cases. and so far as am aware no one has suf- | fered any i'll consequences from going on a physic strike, whether for five days or for nine. Finally, must not lose sight of the fac5 that the entire digestive process. from the in- stant food is swallowed to the instant the resi- due is elected. is controlled entirely by the au- tonomic, sympathetic involuntary, unconscious nervous system, and this automatic regulation | Is not at all weakened impaired by months or years of abuse of the digestion with physics, enemas. freak diets or other interference. Just
 your digestion and your bowel. perfectly nor
 mal natural automatic regulation is resumed, no matter about your diet or other habits QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 for 1t? Is strong conce bad for the liver and kidneys? CT. R.)
 Answer-Pleurisy is 8 serious condition and 1t should be treated only by the physician.
 health though certain invalids should not take coffee unless the physician approves. Missing, Adams Apple What has become of the "Adam's apple" in
 men, as SO generally seen in men 30 or more
 years ago but today so little in evidence? (L. 0. M.)
 Answcr-If there Is actually such change perhaps 1t is attributable to increasing eKem-
 macy, fatness, soft living.
 Hunger Craving have such hunger craving continually . wake in the night as hungry as can be {. barerIy through meal when I begin to crave food again been told by trained nurse. co. M. C.)
 Answer-Better check on the trained nurse' by getting the opinion of the corner druggist or the traffic cop. If you feel the craving is not normal, why don't you consult your physician? Borax for Sweating Thank you for your suggestion. l had tried about every product known for excessive sweating of the armpits but bOrax. applied as . powder or as solution for bathing the arm1- pits. has given the greatest satisfaction (Nfiss ID. JD
 Answer--It is one of the least injurious
 remedies for excessive sweating.