The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-01-14
NEVER MIND BLOOD PRESENTATIONS
 YOUR CIRCULATION?

From the inquiries readers send In. often | think that lot of people who complain of l high blood pressure have never had 1t. At any rate 1t is certain that not a few laymen imag- inc sense of pressure or fullness or some- thing means that ones blood pressure is too l high That is not true.
 | Then, too, good doctors know, if few of them have the courage to confess, that in many | instances high blood pressure is a benefit to l the patient and if the blood pressure is re- duced or lowered by means of medicines, diet | or other pressure reducing measures, the pa | tient Is worse off in every respect. In many conditions an increased blood pressure is ne- ccssary to maintain q fairly eilecient clrcu- lation, and 1t Is rather q calamity for such pa tients if the blood pressure falls to or nearly us low as the usual normal of individuals of | ordinary health.
 In England where rank speciallsm is less popular with the wiseacre public than it is here, DTS l. Harris and l.. Pratt ask right out, In the Lancet "Should High Blood Pres- sure Be Reduced" and then they report their observations on the effects of pressure reduce ing medicines In 22 cases. They found that the water-excretion function of the kidneys was depressed by such medicines. Besides the patients whose blood prcssures were reduced by medicines had retention of urea or non- protein nitrogen, phosphates and chlorides, and the alkali-rcserVe in the blood was lOW- cred. In every case where the pressure reduc- ing medicines brought down tho blood pressure mcasureably the function of the heart was cor re9pondngy impaired On the basis of these observations the doctors concluded that It Is unWse to administer pressure reducing medi- cincs as routine treatment in cases of so-called hypcrtcnson.
 There is reason 10 imagine that the re. ductlOn of the blood pressure by other mcas- ures than drugs. such as restricted diet, de- pleting baths, physicotherapy, Is less in- Jurous than is reduction produced by medi- cines which act upon tho arteries or arterioles. In most cases when the blood pressure rises above the usual or "normal' and remains con- gtanty above the usual pressure this is a com pensatory reaction, necessary to maintain ef- fcicnt circulation in spite of the condition which taxes the circulation. Attacking the high blood pressure without careful consider ation of the condition underlying 1t is as fool sh it would be 10 resort to drugs or baths or other remedies to lower fever without re- gard for the sickness that causes 1t. If in some cases the physician labels the high blood pres- sure "cssental' or '1diopathic" that is just his expensive way of saying he doesn't know what causes It in your case. and you'd be just too trusting if you allowed such doctor to experiment with treatment. diatetc, physical medicinal Whatnot.
 In any event, don't let any doctor tell you how high your blood pressure is Don't warry about blood pressure at all. If you have q good chsulation why should you care what you- blood pressure happens to measure?
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 Discretion for Nurses
 The nurse is recognized by the LAW as the doctors skilled helper assistant. If she tures to do little operations, give anesthetics prescribe remedies. and anything amiss occurs. the victim may collect damages on n malprac tice claim. The nurse who undertakes to per form such services as cmploye of q physi- cian or hospital or corporation. should as- sure herself of the responsibility of her ems ploycr in the event of any such claim being get up.
 Good Dentistry
 Eight year old son has three dead teeth. Dentist has opened them SO they will drain and advises leaving them to preserve space for permanent teeth. Is there any danger of pus running down his throat? (B. D. H.)
 AnBwer-I think your dentists advice and treatment tx good. No danger from the pus patient might swallow in any case. The only harm from infected teeth is done by pus- germ which may travel through the lymphatic channels or through the blood stream to lodge in other parts of the body. Your dentist has provided adequate draining to prevent this.
 Twenty live years OId taking care of par. cDts operator In picture tIpcatcr nights and Sunday Bpnttnecs plan Co nDisl, higb school nt - and take two ycnrs college at - and fi,eD attend University Of - for my medical course. This wIii require co years Willing Co endure bardsblps Co 0rter Co e. come dOciOr. Advice. fP. e. O
 Ansser--faD't hdyise y0u without personal knowledge of chps biiltieg and ideals. son Bni if your letter is fair criterion should aay go io li. Piefty of inc finest phynieans have had 1A late B sDrt nH you have, AsAcuInplus bless your ambition. Pr0feHBioD has plenty of room | for men with your pluck.
 lcopyriRht John v, Dilie Col