The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-05-23
A FINE DRESSING FOR A BAD LEG

Everybody has heard fools classified into | three degrees. We'll ignorance does come In | three degrecs--there is the trial size, which | can't do much harm the household size and the hospital size. Persons ignorant in the first degree arc not bad scouts at all. good many 1 of them know enough to comprehend that | there is considerable they don't know, and often these not only willing but eager and | unafraid to learn. Then tho second degree or | ignorance includes people who strive to get | away with it, to conceal their ignorance. These are the most insufferabe. They do not care to learn. They are complacent about their ig- norance. They are incapable of understanding | the advantages of more knowledge. They are difficult to get along with and difficult to man. l age The third degree of ignorance is the abys- nal type. These actually resent any enort to enligften them. They are steeped in supersti- ton and they constitute the life and sustenance of all vendors of hocus-Docus
 It is no reflection on persons intelligence he keeps the ulcer month after month and year after year, then unless 1t has already dcgener- ated into cancer he must be an ignorant per son. for every such sore or ulcer which has not been so long neglected that 1t has devel- opod malignancy (cancer) can and should be healed. and any physician who has had fair medical school and hospital training can heal It. Not that there Is some specific cure or rem edy. The treatment must be determined by the conditions in each case.
 In a good many cases in recent years old chronic varicose ulcer has been permanently healed by the chemical obliternton of the vari- cose vein that is responsible for the ulceration.
 Any one with such a leg ulcer, whether he is much troubled by the varicose or enlarged veins or not. should make 1t q rule to lie on his back and elevate the legs to vertical for Q few moments every hour of the day. While in this Docture exercise the feet and legs by pre- tending to jugge ball upon the toes.
 Before healing of any such ulcer car occur 1t is essential that the raw surface be clcan red, velvety. shiny and level with the surround ing skin. Poulticing for few days with fresh yeast mixed to thick fluid with lukewarm water will clean up indolent ulcers and initiate healing.
 A paste dressing that has given much satis- faction is made of ounces of gelatin, ounces of zinc oxid. 10 ounces of glycerin and 10 ounces of water, slowly heated and stirred till a smooth rubbery mass is obtained. This is heated to melt it to the consistency of thin paint. and applied paint to the whole leg. ulcer and a from the great toe joint up to 6 few inches below bend of knee. Of course the ulcer should first be washed with ordinary soap and warm water and gently dried. The paint is best applied first thing in the morning when tho leg is least swollen. As soon as the first coat is applied put on gauge bandagc from toe to knee. Then immediately second coat of the paint. Then a second bandage Finally 6 third coat of paint and a third band age, and then finish off the job with light sur face coat of paint. There. Lots of time later to give you further directions