The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-07-30
FURTHER COLON PHYSIOLOGY

The fundamental or underlying trouble with
 a lot of people who suffer with spastic constipa-
 tion mucous oolic cotis or some sinn,ar com, .,,a | physiology and hygiene of the alimentary tract which ain't so. The nostrum people, quacks ana I fad or cult healers as well as we ortnodox
 medical practitioners, have taught them these l things and are still teaching the same line or 1 hokum.
 In the antecedent talk about colon physol- ogy we pointed out fact that IS seldom con. | colon of man and indeed all mammals Ill health is dry, solid, formed in masses or Jumps.
 It is common mistake to strive .o nesp s ens ca thartics, freak diets, bowel washes ana the like.
 It may be matter of interest, though it has
 no particular hygienic importance that rom on one fourth to one-thrd of the weight Of the normal contents of the lower colon in mann malia is composed of the bodies of bacteria dead and alive These bacteria are not only harmless but probably beneficial to the host What does matter and hence should be known by everybody. is that these germs naturally
 present in the intestine serve to disntegrate the food residue, splitting up gases and acids into products which are the natural excitors or stim-
 uli of intestinal peristalsis or propulsion of the contents. 5t That's a lot for the layman to learn in a day. particularly when his head IS already stuffed with the old hokum above mentioned. But the gist of it ought to be easy to under
 stand and good to know: Ordinarily your own colony of colon microbes if not intetrfered with this is the IMPORTANT part of tiff not in terfered with the bacteria naturally present in the intestipe aid digestion and help to keep you comfortable and well. Here is a little lesson which may be difficult to learn, due to obfuscation of the subject by the purveyors of sour milk nostrums. nope 1t will help the bewildered layman to see more clearly when say that the propaganda of the tactic bacillus vendors has had ten times as great an influence upon popular knowledge or
 colon hygiene the various Bulgarian or ttarru and fauna of the intestinal tract. That's the end of the lesson for to-day, chill dren. What follows is purely of secondary in-
 terest. In the small intestine the motor or peri staltic function is regulated by or dependent on such chemical substapces as glucose, lactose, | amino-acids, peptone, glycerin an6 soaps, these wholesome mixed diet In the large intestine the products of bacterial fermentation of car- bohydrates, and such gases as hydrogen and
 earaonic gas are. are more active in maintain A year or two ago some all-around special ists who know how to get front page space when their business needs stimulation, issued public warning against the practice of eating wheat bran and similar coarse natural foods.
 They implied that such foods are all right for
 rabbits but too Irritating" for many upright mammals whose ears and alinentary canals are not so long. Personally, approve of the food in the form the Creator offers it..
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Drowning Does water enter the lungs at the time Of drowning? If not, under what conditions does
 water enter the lungs? What amount of water
 enters the stomach? GA. F.l
 | Answer-As a rule only trhe of water Is
 found in the windoipe. and none in the lungs.
 Some mucous froth, perhaps stained with blood | Is found in the windppc. The lungs are mere- ly congested or overfilled with blood. as in as. phyxiation from smothering. Considerable wa- | ter may enter the stomach, mouthfuls which | the victim is compelled to swallow as he struR.
 gles for air Death Is due to shutting of of tho air, not to the water that enters the breathing
 passages. The entrance of a little water Into | the windpipe, however, may excite spasm of
 the larynx or choking which would contribute
 to the asphyxia.
 Baby Teeth
 | Is t adsisablc t0 have . 2 ycnr old chiid's
 teeth filled or pulled when they decay? (airs x. W. H)
 Answer--some of the baby teeth should be | filled. for their premature loss tends Co mako | the permanent teeth irregular. | How No0n Resume EseFcIEc7 How soon after confinement should . woman start Che ekereises s0u ndsised7 tsirs W. r. FD ..Answer--As soon as ler physician eises iil' ] permission. i4t'