The Washington times., 1936-01-03
Health
Notable Gains
In Medicine
BY LOGAN CLENDENING. M. D


my colleagues on the telephone,
asking them this question:: What
was the most notable advance in
your speciality in 1882"
Practically without exception
they heSitated, and then answered
that there had not been any great
notable progress. When asked
chaffingly, What haven't you
improved any? Are you practicing
medicine just the same as you did
last year?" they all gave about
the same answer, which was best
put by one who said, Eyes, I've
improved, but medical science
hasn't greatly. The intra-capsular
operation for cataract was not
new last year, but it was fairly
new to me, and in the year I have
learned to do it much better than
did before"
Technique
Which I believe is outStandingly
true-that the most important
progress being made in medicine
and surgery Is the widespread i'm
proVement in technique Of the in
dividual practitioner.
Well, anyway, for what it is
worth, this is what the different
men said:
The surgeon: More sensible
surgery Of the stomach"
Xray: The ability to take
X-ray pictures of the nervous
system, the liver and the spleen,
by the use Of q substance called
'thorotraSt' The examination of
X-ray specialists by a central
committee. The possession of its
certificate will mean that the
X-ray man really is competent.
The dermatologiSt: 1.-THE dis
covery that in certain kinds of
sensitization the epidernis, or
top layer of the skin, reacts to q
different group of substances
than the dermis, or lower part
of the skin. The epidermiS re-
acts to fat7Soluble substances and
the dermiS to water-soluble sub.
stances. An example Of the der
mis- reaction is hives; an ex-
emple of the epidermis' reaction
is poison ivy"
The dentist: 1.-THE introduction
Of Hartman'S local anesthetic for
the surface Of the teeth-F IT
WORKS."
Specialists
The children'S specialist: I'm.
muniZation against measles has
been suggested with placental ex-
tract. But I don't know whether
it will turn out. I have tried it
in four cases without success, and
quit"
Infant nutrition: Replacing
part Of the milk diet with other
substances, and thus improving
the appetite and avoiding
anemia."
The obstetrician: Better care
of the prospective mother. The
use Of endocrine products and
knowledge of their limitations
Relaxin, which makes childbirth
easier-IF TT WORKS."
The oculist: THE use Of
diathermy needles in the treat
ment of the retina."
Questions From Readers
E. R.: els the injection treat
ment Of hernia the latest treat
ment and would you advise 1t
for a patient over 70 years Of
age?"
Answer: The latest injection
treatment Of hernia uses a sort
Of soap, which produces an OBJ
liberation of the hernial sac.
Surgeons who have used it tell
me that the surgical treatment
is to be preferred except in very
selected cases, particularly those
that are recurrent and where
the patient breads another OPP
Grafton.
Editors Note-Six pamphlets
by DR.. Clendening can now be
obtained by sending 10 cents in
coin. for each, and a Self-ad-
dressed envelope stamped with a
Scent stamp, to DR.. Logan Glen
dening, in care of this paper.
The pamphlets are: "IndigeS-
ton and Constipation" "Reduc-
ing and Gaining" Infant Feed
ing" Instructions for the Treat
ment of Diabetes" Feminine
Hygiene" and "The Care of the
Hair and Skin"