The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-21
ANTISEPTIC PRECAUTIONS ARE A QUAINT
 GIATOM

With all the bost Intentions offor today's llttlo lesson In the ways of health expressly for wiBeaero readers. If thore bo any wisoaeros who know that n little learning may Do dangerous lot 'om read on and maybe they'll forgive my
 manners,
 Blrat wo must distinguish antlsoptc from gormeide. A gormieide is anything that kills germs. Heat, boiling, baking, stoaming. snge. Ing with flame, exposing surface to direct sunlight, ironing; tho acton or VaflouH cheinl. enls drying; tho antidotal effect of certain ser.
 umb.
 An dntiseptie is anything that rotards or
 prevents tho growth and multiplication Of gorms. Most gormieides aro only antisoptcs when applied In attonuated, diluted or mildcr form.
 The essential drawback about all gormlcdcs
 is that they destroy body cells or tissues as
 r0adily as they destroy germs. and honee their | uso la extremely limited.
 Tho chief drawback about antisoptics is that
 they retard or prevent the multiplication and
 growth of young tissue cells as readily as they
 do gorms and hence they Interfere with the | natural healing or repair processes.
 While somo antisoptlcs arc less injurious to delicate tissues or young cells than are others
 mono has been found which appreciably pre- vents germ activities yet does not delay the | natural healing processes. If your favorlte an- tiseptie purports to Do more "poworful' than
 other antlseptes It must inevitably retard heal Ing moro than does tho other' | In most instances tho popular resort to anti- septic remedies is harmless enough, l fancy, though there cnn Do no question that tho heal | ing or some minor WOuUuH ana puFHb IN ucHH"
 iteiy delayed by tho unwisc application of such remedies. There may Do good science and good
 sense In the first aid application of m antisep- tic to n wound or burn, but there Is neither in tho common practice of applying such reme-
 dies day alter day and week after week. Theoretically the use of q non-irritating and
 non poisonous antiseptie gargle mouthwash or pray might protect person from infection II applied immediately after exposure, but It is
 plumb silly to continue the use of such q rem
 edy after the flu, grip, diphtheria, or other Illness are In the tissues far beyond tho reach of any germicide or antiseptic. The only ben- | ohts conferred by mouthwash' gargle or spray after the illness develops arc the comfort the | remedy gives the patient and the momentary disnfection of the nose or throat discharges- | this being benefit to those who come within | the patients spray range (cough sneeze or | conversational apray range). | Modern physicians surgeons and nurses do | not depend on "antiseptic precautions only old timers still think and speak of "antlseptic | technique" The well trained man or woman knows how unreliable antiseptic methods are. Today aseptic principles and technique govern all surgical, medical, Obstetrical and nursing practice. Instead of trying to kill or prevent | the growth of germs by means of antseptics, the present practice Is to exclude the germs | from the environment, to keep things sterile, | and that's why things heal faster nowadays
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Clans Are Clans Along the beach in southern California the | tide brings in a great quantity of small clans | locally called bean clans. Many people gather | them and use them for soup or chowdcr. Arc | these clams wholesome or are they dangerous? | If they wholesome 1t Is Q Godscnd to many | In the times. co. Q. T)
 Answer-They are as wholesome as any other clans.
 No Cause of War Your wars on this and that are usually SC | successful. Why don't you start one on people | shaking dust mops out the window? (D. Do Answer-That may be annoying. but 1t has | no relation with health In my judgment. You
 start one. I have 50 many unfinished wars on my hands,
 | Toxemia
 | What causes toxemia of pregnancy? Is it
 dangerous? What treatment would you advise? l (Afrs K.l
 | Answer--1. Functional insufficiency of liver. | 2. Least 0Ingerous when earliest recognized
 and properly managed. 8. Medical treatment.
 The earliest warning signals of such toxemia | are generally excessive nausea or vomiting and albuminuria. Tho best safe guard Is to place yourself under your physician's care and ad- l vice soon you believe you are pregnant