, 1935-04-17

and Of HyEeia. the Health Magazine
Health knowledge Is the kind OF information you
should have Immediately available in times OF emer-
gency. During the last 10 years it has become q
significant part Of the teaching in most schools.
In a recent survey Of freshmen entering the Uni
versity OF Michigan, an attempt was made to find
out to what extent the health knowledge given to
pupils in high school had been assimilated. The
modern method of testing provides the offering of
a question with five possible answers, so that the
student may indicate which answer Is correct.
The first question was: Goiter is not now SO pre-
valent in Michigan because Cd doctors have removed
them: 90 climatic changes; ~ the use of iodized
table salt: "a the golfers are not being diagnosed;
~ more tonSils are removed.
The right answer Is No. 3. II has been found
that small amounts of iodine in the food are i'm
portant in the prevention Of simple goiter.
Surgeons have removed golfers that we're a menace
to health. These. however, are in most instances
not simple golfers, but exophthalmic goiter. which
oyervhelms the body. due to overactivity OF the
thyroid.
II has not been shown that climate affects the
incidence Of goter. nor does the removal Of tonsils.
Another question was The proper first-aid treat
ment OF a finger cut Is uD Suck It. ~ Put peroxide
on Il. ~ let II bleed some. then elevate il. and al
low It to seal up with a blood cot. az Wash it off
with tap water. go Cover 1t with court-plaSter mois-
tened with saliva.
Almost everybody knows now that sucking a finger
that has just been cut. or covering IL with a plaster
moistened with saliva. would be exceedingly bad
treatment. Washing II off with tap water Is hardly
safe, because tap water NAV contain germs, although
probably the menace OF health would be slight.
1t would not be so serious to put peroxide on the
cut finger. except that peroxide when strong actual
Nv destroys tissue.
The correct method Is to let the blood flow to car
~ out any infection; then coagulation will seal the
wound and promote healing. Most doctors still be-
leve. however. In the application Of a mild anti
septic.
The third question was: The proper first aid for
turning the ankle is a. Walk on IT, az Manipulate
1t. ~ Complete rest and elevation. 90 Swsb II
with linlment. C0 Paint " with iodine.
II Is bad for injured tissues 20 subject them TO
pressure. 20 that walking on the injured ankle or
manipulating it would certainly be bad for 1t. Moth
Ing Is gained by rubbing a sprained ankle with lin
iment or by painting 1t with iodine. The right step
Is to elevate the foot and rest Il % as to give the
tissue opportunity TO recover.
The doctor who is called 10 see a Sprained ankle
secures rest for these tissues by application Of strips
OF adhesive tape or by suitable ~splinting or hracins
A fourth question was: The most certain way TO
recover from a cold is: ~ Take q cathsrtic. C0
Take n good workout. 81 Go 10 bed. ~ Cut down
on food. Cl Gargle the throat.
There IS no reason why one who has a cold should
take a cathartic. since this has nothing to do With
a cold. but simply enpties the bowels. A person with
a cold Is sick and should not indulge In overactivity
Most persons who are sick will cut down on food
without having this done for them, but as long as
the bowels and digestion are working satisfactorily,
there Is no reason for cutting down on food with a
cold.
Carrying the throat, under the best Of circum-
stances, merely puts a fairly pleasant taste In the
mouth and washes accumulated s~ecretions away.
Therefore. the right answer as 10 what TO do 70
70 recover from a cold Is. first Of all, to 90 70 bed.
Given a reasonable chance to recover under such cir
cumstances. the body will probably do so.