The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-09-13

cineS, so we'll present some or the less harmful ones in the best pos- sible light and, we hope, keep our customers satisfied. Only, please re- member what father said when he was preparing to administer salutary treatment. You couldn't see 1t that way then, but 1t was so.
 If any ant-acid or alkali is to be used for stomach acidity, heartburn, pyrosis, water brash, sour stomach, hyperchlorhydria or hyperacidity, burning, gas fulness, bloating, fiatu- lence, belching or associated syinp- toms, the most efficient and least harmful in my judgment, is calcium carbonate, otherwise called prepared chalk (Creta Praeparata, U. s. P. and B. P.) and sometimes as drop chalk. Ten grains of prepared chalk (say two five-grain tablets) will neu- tralize excessive acidity for several hours. If preferred 1t may be taken in the forfh of chalk mixture (Mis- tura Cretae, U. S. P.), two table, spoonfuls of which would represent about grains of calcium carbonate. Chalk mixture alone, or combined with astringent medicine, is on old standby in the treatment of acute diarrheas.
 Calcium carbonate or chalk has advantages over blcarbonate of soda (sodium bicarbonate, saleratus), i, magnesia and other alkalis. It does not generate gas by reacting with acid in the stomach as does soda. It does not form laxative salts as the product of that reaction. It does not upset the acid-base balance in the blood and tissues.
 Another form of calcium carbon- ate called precipitated chalk is ofii- cial in the British and U. s. Phar- macopoeias, but is more expensive and has no particular superiority over prepared chalk, for medicinal purposes
 It Is all right to take two or three doses of calcium carbonate e day, and perhaps the best time to take 1t in relation to meals is an hour or two before or after meal time. There is no point in taking such a remedy regularly or habitually, but rather 1t should be used from time to time for relief of distress or discomfort from the symptoms mentioned.
 As for alleged digestives contain- Ing Insignificant quantities of pep- sin, pancreatin, papaya and the like, we really must draw the line some- where. Lest some customer draw a wrong inference, I'll say that in my honest opinion no so-called "digest. i've" tablet, capsule or connection is worth a tinker's dam so far as aid- ing digestion is concerned This does not imply that adequate doses of pancreatic enzymeS or extracts are inert when properly used.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 Gambling
 Can Q person who has had a kid. ney removed drink beer or other ale cohollc beverage without risk2 (Mrs. E. M)
 Answer-It would be foolhardy for such q person to take alcohol in any form or quantity.
 Bad Habit
 Have taken couple ounces citrate of nagnesia every night for three months and drinking two glasses warm water every morning to keep my bowels open, as I had had chronic constipation for twelve years. co. J. E,)
 AnSwer--It is just . bad habit. Send ten cents coin and stamped envelope bearing your address, for booklet "The Constipation Habit"
 So You Have Indigestion?
 My great trouble is acid dyspepsia and heartburn, with belching of gas --I take lot of bicarbonate q soda to prevent indigestion. (E. P. H.
 Answer-A study of the booklet "So You Have Indigestionq" may help you. Send 0 stamped envelope bearing your address and ask for Q copy.
 Victim of Ineiiiciency
 I suffered for e month, afraid to have ulcerated teeth extracted, es- pecially as two dentists visited at the beginning told me 1t was dan- gorous to pull them while the swell- ing was up. Then came your article and I went at once to an up-to-da ate dentist, and had six bad teeth ex- tracted, practically without pain and no unpleasant -effects. GA II. K)
 Answer-Many quaint old-fash- toned dentists still practice the den- tistry of i8o0 Competent dentors today endeavor to drain alveolar ab-