The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-03-06
WHAT PRICE PROPHYLAXIS?

Some of our readers the dentors at any rate. may recall an outburst Of the conductor s, which was only too evidently inspired by an item in dentists bill, to wit, "Prophylaxs,
 $5.'' It is only human nature to feel bitter when you pay doctor bill of any kind, sup pose Even dentists bill is no picnic, though the dentists have it over the doctors in re- spect, namely, they hand the client something
 tangible-a bit of gold, maybe or a beautiful
 denture, or at least hole he can feel with his
 tongue-and it is always less painful to pay for
 tangible thing, that is, in every transaction
 except a funeral.
 In the outburst instigated by the five-berry
 trick I reiterated the proposal that all dental
 schools should be done away With they give
 students virtually medical course anyway.
 Students who intend to practice dentistry
 should be required to complete the regular
 medical course in a regular inedical school and then they should receive whatever postgradu- ate technical instruction the specially they elect to practice requires. For general dentistry from one to two years of technical instruction should suffice-comparable with the one or two
 years .he medical graduate spends internc before he enters practice
 This proposal is no pipe dream It is certain to come to pass, and soon. l regard our present faculty of dentists as the last of the old model.
 Even now there is steadily increasing number of men who first gain the degree of Doctor of Medicine and then follow whatever technical courses they need to qualify them to practice
 dentistry. Mind, q Doctor of Medicine, a man or woman with the M. D. degree, and license to practice medicine, requires further quail fication to practice dentistry if he desires. So, you see, my proposal is both practical and sensible-it is just a few years ahead of the times.
 Another proposal I reiterated in the outburst inspired by the charge of five simoleons for cleanliness that the dentists relinqush trade use of the title of Doctor to practicing physicians exclusively, for the sake of public welfare. even went so far as to offer the den- lists a trade name that would distinguish them unmistakably. Wouldn't Dentor Doe be more | convenient announcement to the public than the clumsy Doctor Doe, Dentist, or the mystic Inlav, 4I.ix1 cellent dentists have assured me they think so too. But some of the brethren whose letters indicate they write with greater facility than they think, seem to resent everything said in this outburs, including my yodel about the price of prophylaXis.
 Maybe I'm wrong. It is my understanding that prophylaNis means prevention of infec- | ton, and implies the use of surgical asepsis
 rigid cleanliness perhaps antisetpics, sterilized | instruments and materials. . . . and if I'm right about that I say the dentist, physician surgeon specialist who itemizes prophylaxis | in his bill is simply cleaning up while he has the victim covered.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS More Than Flash
 You rdicuIe "oid wives taIcs' of discomfort from the menOpause. Please explain the hot flashes am suffering. (F. l.. D.
 Answer--send a stamped envelope bearins your address, mention your trouble, and IT
 mail you advice. I do not ridicule the discom forts any one suffers.
 Iodin Keeps
 After I had started taking your IOdin Ration
 I was told by some friends that iodin must b'
 perfectly fresh and that it becomes harmful or standing tn n medicine chest. (MiSs G. M.) Answer-Iodin keeps well for years if thu vial is tightly stoppered or sealed A bottle o tincture of iodin stoppered with an ordinar! cork will permit evaporation of the alcoho and that would make the solution more con centrated. That is al
 BIackheads and pimples Is it all right to use cold cream on a skin
 that is subject 10 blackheads and pmplcs' (LOrctta).
 Answer--As q rule no greasy cosmetics should be applied to young skin. Send stamped envelope bearing your address and asl for either Advice Care of the Complexion O 1 Instructions for Treatment of Blackheads ant Pmples. If you ask for both. incose Il dime | as well as stamped envelope bearing you address.