The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-08-02
AN OLD QUACK CUSTOM

A correspondent revives an ancient trick of the trade:
 We had case of Typhoid Malaria in our
 family last year and friends of ours said that
 this disease reappears yearly for seven years.
 Please advise If this statement is true and
 how we can counteract this disease"
 In the first place there is no such disease aS typhoid malaria" and never has been save in the lexicon of quacks.
 Long years ago when people were very sim- ole and doctors pronounced" verdicts this "ty- phoid malaria" was convenient dodge for the almost anything typhoid malaria" and hurry on to the next case. No matter how the illness turned out the doctors diagnosis was satisfac tory. If it actually proved to be plain typhoid fever, well. the folks congratulated themselves on their ability to choose a doctor who could at least break up" the malaria. They even be- lieved he might have broken up" the typhoid too had it not been for the malaria so reduc- ing the patients strength that the doctors me- be tuberculosis or septicemia or defamatory rheumatism or epidemic meningitis. well. the typhoid malaria" was funny that way-you never could tell what it wouldn't "tufn into" ed with unsuccessfully rang still better change. His bad cases were "typhoid-m -malarial fu."
 Today think our most popular quacks label every acute illness they don't quite savvy "iu" for the nonce. and few days later when everybody knows 1t is really undulant fever or whooping cough tuberculosis, well, isn't it just dreadful how the ''fu' changes spots over night? Or if the indisposition doesn't seem so serious at the first crack the charlatan opines it is slight "cold"-and, as the wiseacre popu- lation knows. that may run into" anything from measles to .ockjaw if one doesn't take care to keep well covered The seven-year superstition wherever or whenever applied to medical or health matters is just plain old superstition
 If the patient in this instance had malaria and any of the parasites remained alive or dor mant in the blood (say in the spleen) subse- quent outbreaks of malaria may occur at any time. Ten grains of quinine at the first threat of chill or fever would be good prophylavis in that case
 If the patient had typhoid fever he is now immune. Other members of the family may be inmunized if they wish to be safe-the fam 1 fly physician can tmmunize them with three doses of typcho-bacterin given at intervals of cnation'' but 1t is not vaccination just clean hypodermic injections of the sterile bacterin. How long the immunity protects no one knows probably more or less for 20 years or longer. Such immunity is an excellent precaution to take before you go travelling or on vacation. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS No Morbid Suggestion l Have you a Ieafiet on mucous colitis? If so
 will Sou kindly send 1t to the address below? iE. w. Al
 Answer--I have none. It will do no harm ii lvictirns of the mucous colitis complex follow the advice in the booklet 'The Constipation Habit" Send dime and stamped envelope bearing your address and ask for a copy .Nc
 bearing your address and ask for copy Nc clipping will sufice.
 TapewOrm E- Please tell me what can do against tap< Answsr- Consult physlcian.
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