The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1932-02-23
PIPE DOWN ON THAT WIIEE.ZE

Having diagnosed asthma-which means not
| not only making sure it is asthma, but also
determining by study of the patients history
and by routine skin tests precisely what speci-
fic protein substance is responsible for the at
| tacks the physician is in position to advise
the patient how to avoid further trouble Or
how to remove from his environment the ex-
citing factor of the ATTACKS. If neither of these
is feasible, then the physician may immunize
| the patient against the unavoidable protein.
| But suppose the diagnosis shows the patient
| Is sensitive to more than one maybe a whole
series Of different proteins. In that case
kind of shotgun immuniZation may be employ
ed with some success that is, the patient Is
given gradually increasing doses of homeo-
pathic quantities of the offending proteins, of
course by hypodcrmic injections over a period
of several weeks months.
| In England more than in America physi-
clans have employed a kind Of general immun-
ization treatment for asthma with fair sue
cess-they inject gradually increasing doses OF
peptone. which is partly dgested albumcn. In
this country the general immuniZation
treatment has been used with success in some
cases, only here the favorite remedy Is typho-
bacterin or pure horse serum.
The ductless glands have something to do
with the metabolism or oxidation and dcStruc-
| ton of toxins or protein poisonS or foreign
proe ems in the body Prolonged administra-
ton of ductlcss gland extracts or hormoneS
particularly those of the thyroid and adrena
glands, proves most helpful in many cases or
asthma, though of course such treatment
would be quite foolhardy for any one to take
without the constant supervision of a physi-
clan. The special extract of the adrenal gland,
or it's secretion, called adrenain, Is famous as
an emergency remedy for relief of severe asth-
matte seizures.
In recent years extract of = Chinese herb,
called ephedra epnedrin has been found to
produce effects quite similar to the effects OF
| adrenalin. Either adrenalin ephcdrin may
be satisfactorily applied in the form Of a spray
OF very dilute solution of the medicine in
normal salt solution, in nose and throat, at
ervals while the attack is on.
IOdidcs or iOdin in one form or another have
long enjoyed good repute as kind Of alter
atlvc remedy for asthma. Every normal adult
and child should have suitable iodn ration;
If there il any asthma, then the patient needs
iodn all the more We cannot specify a proper
dose or quantity of iodn for the asthmatic
patient, but | do advise every normal adult OF
school child take drop of ordinary tincture
of iodn in little water week
throughout the year, as "A safe and tried means
of insuring the essential iodm ration. Adults
may prefer to take the drop of iodin every day
for month in each of the four seasons-say
in March, June, September and December
Those with asthma will rarely find drop of
tincture of iodin every day in the year more
than is good for them.
Iodin is a ma ural stiinulant to the function
Of the thyroid gland, and indirectly it makes
the at!rcnal gland more Efficient l believe.
Well suppose we have said enough to call
ii day.