The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-01-29
MAN WITH RHEUMATIC YET HE STILL
HAS SOME SENSE

Chronic arthritis for twenty years. DR. -
| mentioned in one Of your articles has certain
" gotten nearer the solution of this condition
than any other physician / have consulted l
have proved to my satisfaction that cold
and dampness have no influence on the pains
Of "rheumatism." Stormy weather makes
more uncomfortable that one can deny. But
find many other kinds of invaAds near-in-
valids arc just as sensitive to changes Of
weather and barometer as / But have
observed often enough that the day may be
perfectly clear, warm and dry when / begin
to feel the characteristic increase In pain, and
1 have met many other men, similarly afflict-
cd, who say the same thing.
On the other hand. during storm one may
remain the whole time in a warm, dry room
and still experience the same discomfort.
] have subjected myself to cold and damp
environment during clear weather when
storm approaching, and experienced no
discomfort at all.
Toward the end of storm one often feels
quite sudden relief although the atmosphere
Is still damp and cold and rain may be falling
Therefore think we "rheumatics' must look
for some other explanation than the dampness
itself.
One other possibility occurs to me-the low
cred atmospheric pressure preceding and dur
ing the storm. lowered atmospheric pressure
center usually moves into a certain area sew
eral hours or perhaps day before the storm
begins. Apparently the chronic rheumatic has
developed senstivity to pressure change
how or why do not know.
In my own case / can detect slight atmost
phcrc pressure changes with uncanny accur-
acy. My arthrtis has left me with heart le
sion to complicate matters. During periods Of
low barometer 1 have shortness OF breath
which Immediately clears up when high pres
sure center moves into my vicinity. assume
the low pressure affects circulation
AS you pointed out In one article even
healthy persons experience depression and
languor during protracted stormy weather
Even though our correspondent persists In
calling 1t rheumatism, he presents a refreshing
attitude. In 'conceding that other valetudina-
rians and even normal persons may experience
FIR T..
V. sets fine example for q lot TO old geezers
who are too crabid to that.
! can add nothing to the practical observa-
medical investigators are inclined to agree that
the variations OF atmospheric pressure chiefly
account for the discomforts unthInking peo-
pie 80 cordially ascrbe to cold and dampness
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Baby's Head Lopsidcd
Eighteen months old. When he was five
head was pushed forward on the left side.
turn him over every time 1 find him sleeping
on that side. (Mrs s. II. ~
Answer-A critical scrutiny of almost any
baby's head will reveal similar lack of SYM
metry. 1t is well to change the baby's posi-
ton from time to time In the early months of
the first year. After that 1t doesn't matter. The
head will become symmetrical as the baby
Circumcision Not a Magic Cure
Answer am unable to advise without
examination. / do not see how circumcision
could influence bleeding like that. The child
should have the benefit of careful diagnosis
of the trouble,
"COId" Serum Is the Bunk
At Office we are offered free NEGOTIATIONS
against "cOIds" IT we want them. DO you re.
commend these inoculatiOns? Or. o.
Answer-They are not inoculations They
are stock bacterins, more commonly known as
bacterial vaccines. do not recommend them.
I think that practice of wholesale administra-
ton of shotgun or blunderbus combinations OF
this, that and the other bacterln Is the bunk. In
some a bacterin prepared by culture from
the individual case may be worth while, at
least to lessen the severity and frequency of
the patients attacks
Going to Try o Leech
Mother has q pain in the right wrist. IL Ii
quite sharp when she lifts anything at all
heavy. She wants to set Ieech on the spot.
Would that be safe at her age, o.? Miss M.
NJ
Answer--Qute safe. I hope 1t may help her;
and that she will report her experience.