The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-03-16
BED. BOARD AND BOUNCE

BED, BOARD AND BOUNCE Eastern orthopedic surgeon who reads this column says the teachings he finds here are sound and espe- cially teachings about posture. Such casual approval by man of high standing outweighs scores of back handed slaps from the Facsimile specialists of Yankeeland.
 The orthopedist-but what is an orthopedist? One who practices or- thopedics. Orthopedics is a branch of surgery which has to do with the treatment of diseases of the spine, bones, joints and correction of de- formities. Originally the word ortho- pedic meant straight child, but this l field of practice includes adult in- cludes adult deformities as well. , The orthopedist cites the experi- ences of g patient, woman aged 72 years, who suffered with severe arth- ritis of the upper part of spine with secondary left-sided brachial neuritis -ileuritis in arm. She was puzzled because when lying in bed at night she was unable to change her posi- ton, whereas when she rested across the bed in the afternoon she had no trouble in turning over or in arising at any time. The orthopedist per- ceived the reason for that. The mat tress sagged when laid upon length wise, but not when laid upon cross- wise. At least the patients posture was less disturbed when she lay crosswise on the bed. The doctor had fracture boards placed across the bed underneath the mattress, to prevent sagging, and that made the patient Independent of her sisters help during the night. He offers this observation, which should be of practical value for many invalids or near -invalids, as well as folk whose sleeping equipment is poor-and what a vast number of people drag along with faulty sleeping equipment just because they are more or less inured to the discomfort of the old bed!
 T have learned by experience that 8 firm spring, or, better, no bed- spring whatever, is helpful in many conditions of bodily inflrmity. The rigid bed is fully as useful as Q health measure since it makes pos- sible 8 better posture during sleep and thus favors the normal func- tioning of important bodily organs. I used to sympathize with my frac- ture patients who objected to a frac- ture board, but after trying one my self I would not willingly return to an ordinary bed and I should par ticularly dislike to use the present day inner spring type of mattress. Many people have to wake up to change their position when sleeping on such yielding beds."
 By fracture board is meant . broad flat board placed crosswise on the bed-rails under the mattress, to prevent sagging of the bed.
 It is well to remember that nor- nal person changes position many times in the course of a nights sleep, without waking.
 Sagging beds have good deal to do with discomfort and disability in otCAA OOAAAAUAOAAo aSo 40sAAUU6Os oOAeAvASS and sacro-iliac relaxation or strain. Cryptorchidism
 Tn case of double cryptorchidism is the man capable of procreating? (B. V. Al
 Answer-Nearly if not always the man is sterile, unless the undescend- ed gland is brought to its natural I-place by surgery, or in boyhood per- haps by course of injections of an- terior pituitary-like hormone. How Sweet
 You said something about honey being sweeter than cane sugar syrup or molasSes. Is there any difference between the different sugars as re- gards sweetness, if the same quantity or strength of sugar solution is taken? co. w. F)
 Answer-Yes. Comparing equal quantities and equal strengths of solutions, lactose (sugar of milk) is one-sixth as sweet as sucrose (cane suRar). levtllose (present in hOney)