The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-03-19
PARATHYROID AND CHRONIC
ARTEHRITTS

EAMATMxRUAU AND VkakSUNAO
ARTHRITHS
IN 4 talk about the treatment Of
chronic r1utritional arthritis the
other day we mentioned calcium
lactate, vitamin ID. parathyroid
hormone, exposure 10 the ultra
violet OF sunlight or artificial
source and artificial fever or ny.
perpyrexia. These are only out.
standing methods Of treatment
which have proved satisfactory In
many cases. It Is not feasible to
consider here other remedies or
treatments which may be Of equal
Importance or value In may cases.
Successful treatment Of chronic ar
Thrills Of any type requires the
Judgment Of the physician who
knows the patients individual con.
dition.
AS explained IN the preceding
talk, the artificial fever or hyper
pyrexia treatment has been found
most helpful In conjunction with
massive doses OF vitarnin D (200,-
600 to 100000 units daily. Treat
lnent with massive doses OF vita.
min d Is most effective II the pa
tent receives also an optimal daily
ration Of vitamill b.
vitamin B promotes carbohy.
drate inetabolisnl in the body. It's
effect in that respect is comparable
with the effect OF insulin. In fact
diabetic patients who require a
certain amount OF insulin daily find
that II they get an optimal ration
Of vitamin B they need less In.
sulin.
vitamin D promotes metabolisni,
absorption and utilization OF cal.
ciur1. Where there Is any doubt
that the diet provides an abundance
Of calcium, 1t is often advisable, at
least harmless, to include In the
regimen daily doses Of calcium
lactate-say ten grains three times
daily after meals. Calcium lactate
is conveniently taken In the form
Of fiye-grain tablets, with a good
drink Of water Or better milk to
wash them down. !
Exposure of naked skin to direct
sunlight or to the ultraviolet rays
from carbon arc lamp, mercury
vapor quartz lamp or other arti-
fetal sources, produces vitainin D
In the body.
Daily hypodermic or intramuscu-
lar injections Of parathyroid hor.
none have been enthusiastically
praised by French physicians for
the treatment Of chronic deforin-
ing arthritis. Half an hour after
an injection the patient experiences
increased facility Of movement, an
extraordinary flexibilty of the
stiff or stiffening joints. and O
marked feeling Of well.being. This
lasts for ten or twelve hours, and
while the patient Is on such o
higher metabolisln q good deal can
be done In the way Of passive man
ipulation, massage or active exer.
else. which would be difficult or
impossible otherwise. The effect Of
the injection % comparable with
the effect of an ii1suliil injection In
diabetes. While the effect Of the
ilsulin lasts the patient can cor.
sumo and utilize large amount Of
carbohydrate food which the body
greatly needs The benefits OF the
extra food thus utilized are per-
rrlanent gain. SO are the benefits
Of the massage, manipulation or
exercise the patient enjoys while
the parathyroid buoys him UP
There Is no more danger OF q
"hahit" from such use Of para.
throid hormone In chronic arthri-
tbs than there Is of insulin habit In
diabetes or other conditions where
insulin may be administered. OF
course only the regular physician
can administer parathyroid In any
circumstance. tell you about It.