Evening star., 1937-06-10

With such diseases and have their
blood typed, thus making them avail
able as donors in emergencies.
New evidence that lack of vita
min B is the cause of the multiple
neuritlS seen in alcohol addicts was
presented by Drs. Robert Goodhart
and Norman Jollffe OF New York
First, they pointed out, the drunkard
does not eat adequately. Second,
the symptoms resemble strongly
those Of beriberi which is definitely
known to result from lack of vltamin
B. They found that many alcoholics
do not have this nervous disease
although they drink more than enough
alcohol to cause 1t, and that the
condition Of those who do have 1t is
benefited by vitamin B, even without
cutting down on their drinking
Patients Selected.
For their study they chose pa
tients with only mild degree Of
neuritis. At first they were given
the normal amount of vitamin B
considered necessary for ordinary
persons. There was no improvement.
| Then the group was divided into two
sections, One received four times
the normal amount of the vitamin
and the other the same ration as be-
fore. The second group showed no
| improvement. Some Of those given
the very heavy dosage we're cured in
| 10 days.
The physician is vitality important
in the training of singer. said
/ Dr.. Robert F. Ridpath of Philadelphia,
at group meeting Of ear. nose and
| throat specialists Most vocal teachers,
| he said, try to make sopranos out Of
all girls and tenors out OF all men,
whereas the character of the voice is
determined by anatomical features
that no amount Of training can
change. He stressed the size, shape
and length Of vocal cords, especially at
the time OF adolescence. The tenor
he said. natures early. The larynx
grows quickly and the cords are short.
Similarly, the earlier adolescence
comes in the girl. the shorter the vocal
cords and the higher the pitch OF
the voice.
In the same patterns, he said,
tenors and sopranos usually are short
and bassos and contraltos, tall and
large build The soprano is de-
cidely feminine in her bearing while
| the contralto has many masculine
characters. Teachers who fail to
recognize these physical types, he
emphasized, may often ruin promising
! careers. He urged that voice students
have period medical examinations of
their throats to be forewarned Of
coming changes.
Skin Eruptions,
Certain kinds of skin eruptions
flare up after attacks of influenza and
other respiratory diseases, said DR..
John H. Stokes of Philadelphia. He
believes that influenza or colds cause
and allergic or sensitive state to de-
velope which allows pus-producing
germs to become active, even after
years of inactivity
A new way of introducing medicines
into the body was described by DR..
David I. Macht of Baltiore. He has
found that certain volatile oils pene-
trate the skin much more readily than
the ordinary fixed oils used in oint-
ments for skin diseases. He also
found that some of the chemicals in
the volatile oils are antiseptic in
themselves and can be used as vehicles
In which to dissolve other drugs. His
discoveries, DR.. Macht said, may make
it possible to prepare medicines that
will penetrate the different layers Of
the skin.
The tendency of tuberculosis to ap-
pear during adolescence was stressed
by DR.. Ralph M. Tyson of Philadel-
phia. During this time. he said, many
children are anemic and unde-fed but
constantly are being stimulated to 4
great variety of activities that inter-
tere with adequate rest.
Child specialists were urged by DR..
Clifford Sweet of Oakland, Calf, to
give special attention to teaching chill
dren how to use their bodies Efficient
ly. Skill in standing, walking, run
ming, sitting and relaxation, all Of
which are SO useful in every day liv-
ing and lack of which allows so much
injury to the body, surely is Of sum-
cient Importance to warrant our best
efforts" he said.