The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1932-02-22
PATHOLOGICAL PAMPERING AND
WEAK" HEART

Two year old grandson climbs up and down
the stairs many times a day. writes his gra'ma,
strain his little heart? After climbing all day,
era ma fancIes the baby seems tired out and
has circles under his eyes. otherwise he Is very
well and sturdy.
grandmas indulgent aunties and anxious
mothers that the danger of a baby or child
straining his heart otherwise injuring him
self In any such spontaneous play activity is
so remote that 1t is not worth thinking about
healthy child should be fairly tired out at
the end of the day. 1t is the unhappy child
who comes to the end Of his day without feel
ing at all tired. ,.. .t -.
This weak heart complex which inspires
much Of the unwisc pa:npering Of children IL
cultivated chiefly by sef-madc "chid training
their style. enter upon the pleasant and
munerative work of telling those who have em
how to control EN-, and by school teachers
who. after period of column conducting. as
sumo mastery knowledge of hygiene physi-
oogy. pathology and therapeutics. much as
mail order vendors Of physical culture hokum
become In time drugless or cult healers
1t is a sad handicap to put upon any child,
boy or girl. this weak heart complex. OF course
the mother. aunt or grandmother who assumes
the child's heart In not strong would not know
ngy rob the child OF the happiness which
good physical and mental health assures, but
she does just that In too many instances.
Here Is an axiom which may seem arbitrary
but Is nevertheless scientifically and practically
sound: No one has weak heart II he has
no heart disease or other serious illness. If a
child or an adult has heart which Is not
strong enough for all ordinary or spontaneous
or routine activities including regular gymnas-
ium or physical education classes In school,
then that child Or adult should be under proper
medical care and control and only the opinion
or advice Of the physician should warrant the
evasion Of any such ordinary activities in any
case.
Again. can state without fear of competent
contradiction, that no physician can detect
weakness or insufficient strength" in heart
by physical examination, In the absence of
heart or other serious disease. I might go fur
Their and say that the physician who ventures
an opinion that given heart is not as strong
or capable as 1t should be. without first having
measured the functional capacity of the heart,
ia just INDUCING In the game Of guessing, like
the coroner who pretends he can tell by view
ing the remains" what the victim died Of.
For the peace and happiness Of your chill
dren. parents, beware Of cuivatinG the weak
heart complex. 1t handbags the victim
The Interfering Nurse
doctor doesn't seem I" know how long
Il will take for the boy to recover the use OF
ns leg have naa xSnH III, Luck with nb"s many ny
feed my patient for a good bone builder
(Mrs s. s. c.
Angwer--I advise you not to interfere or
offer your suggestions Leave the treatment
and the diet and all other questions to the at
tending physicians. You employed a
nurse not as little TIN doctor. nurse should
carry out the orders or directions the doctor
gives her; she should not assume other rcspon-
sibilties. No particular food or diet can be
considered bone building"
Anyway We're Glad They Are Not ORIOLES
Some time ago I wrote and asked you how
to rid my house Of reaches. followed your
instructions and In the next week or two i
swept up the dead bodies OF 10000 reaches
and have never seen Sign OF one since
Mrs w. NJ. E.)
Answer--Just the same / am still In doubt
whether we justified IN killing reaches.
No has proved they cause any disease.
Perhaps they are useful scavengers. Likewise
anI1, oNtJrr tie xx,tau
mon on-venornous snakes. The annihilation
Of mosquitoes flies. feas. bedbugs. lice and
chropractors, however. commands my cordial
cooperation. .s
Menu for Family Of Peptic Ulcer Patient
I want to tell you how much you have done
for my brother who has duOdcnal ulcer and
for the rest of the family with that excellent
lcaflet you sent, which contains the diet for
the patient on one side and q MEM for the
rest Of the family ON the reverse side
IN. IT,
Answer-Glad to slip copy TO any reader
who asks for II and incieoses stamped envelope
bearing his or her address,