The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-20
CATARACT IS A DEGENERATION

OF care or "nternory DemOcFuHI CATARACT IS A DEGENERATION
 Many laymen imagine cataract is growth of an apaque film over the sigilt Probably that naive notion explains in part the popular cred- ulity in respect to the cure of cat- aract by medicaments or other rem- edies applied to the eye. It might seem feazible enough to dissolve or make transparent such a cloudy or apaque film or membrane on the surface of the eyeball, with one or another remedy applied directly to the eye.
 In truth cataract is not growth at all, but a degeneration of dis ease process, in which the crystal line lens in the interior of the eye undergoes a change from clear to opaque The very name of the dis ease, cataract, was given by the ancients who imagined it was loss of sight from an opaque substance which, cataract-like, poured down over the front of the lens.
 In it's early stages cataract is not visible to the casual observer. Only when it reaches the late stage does the blackness and brilliancy of the pupil, as seen in normal eyes, give way to grayish appearance.
 Cataract never causes total bllnd- ness; only a gradually increasing impairment of vision.
 ntian ctin is with many oculists, to wait for complete "ripening" and a degree of impairment of vision such that the patient required guidance to get about, to operate. Today many of the best oculists operate success fully as soon as vision in the better eye becomes so poor that the pa- tient can no longer read or get about safely without guidance, without waiting for complete ripen- ing or opacity of the lens. The operation, of course, is removal of the lens.
 After cataract operation the patient wears spectacles with strong lenses which serve the pur- pose of the lost crystalline lenses.
 Cause of cataract is not known That it is nutritional disease or degeneration seems the most plaus- ible view at present.
 In animals it is possible to pro- duce cataract by keeping the ani- nal for a time on diet lacking | vitamin G; and after the cataract | develops, the restoration of vitamin | G to the diet may cure the cataract. However, there is no evidence that | lack of vitamin G or insufficient | vitamin c in the diet may cause cataract in man. Certainly there is no evidence that adding vitamin G to the diet ever cures cataract in man.
 I know of no remedy or treat ment likely to be of any benefit in cases of cataract, save operation.
 Several correspondents have writ ten to assure me that the iodin ra- tion, plus the protective corrective diet and a regular daily supple mentary feeding with vitamins B, G and D, followed for many months has seemed to bring about remark able improvement in the condition of patients with advanced cataract, especially great improvement in vii sion. This may be wholly coinci- dence. But such regimen can at least do no harm in any case, in fact is likely to benefit general health, so I'll be glad to send com- plete instructions to C ly reader who asks for instructions and incloses a three-cent-stamped envelope bear ing his address.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 The B. B. E. E. B.
 The mail man sent the baby book back because he didn't recognize the name of my sister at that address. Will you please send the book again to the same address? (Mrs. L. L.O
 AnsWer-It would be task to att tempt to trace your earlier request among seven thousand similar re- quests. To obtain a copy of the Bigger Brady Better Baby Book, ask for it and enclose with your re- quest stamped envelope bearing your address. We cannot send the Baby Book unless the envelope is at least standard size A by inches,) bears three cent stamp and your address. Postcard requests, or re- quests not accompanied with the stamped addressed envelope cannot be answered. Nor can we mail the Baby Book in toy envelope.
 Carbon Tetrachloride
 Have found carbon tetrachloride as effective as your gasoline remedy for athletes foot" Gasoline is dan gerous because of rapid evaporation and the risk of flaming. Carbon tet- rachloride is practically -mflam- mable (used in fire extinguishers) and is as good a solvent for dry cleaning. (Mrs. M. M
 Answer-Thank you. Our readers