The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-06-23

child or to any peculiar impression made upon the child before, during or after birth. Birthmarks just happen, God alone knows why. They happen in any family regard less.
 Types are common. Simplest is spot having more pigment than the normal skin, popularly called mole (mole means simply mark or spot and has no refrence to the bur- rowing little animaD. Next is the port wine stain," which is best treated by ultraviolet irradiation with a water-cooled quartz lamp, the lesion being under firm pres- sure and the exposure always thru a blue quartz filter, sufficient to produce a bright red "sunburn" in the next twelve hours or so. How many such treatments, and at what intervals, the physician must de- eide according to the progress of the treatment. The younger the in- fant the better the ultimate cosmtic result will be, from this or any other treatment for birthmark.
 Many babies have pale red marks noticed at birth or a few days or weeks after birth, over the nape of the neck, upon the back of tn scalp or on the forehead above the nose. These become redder or darker when the baby cries. They blanch when pressed. Usually they disap- pear gradually as the baby grows older.
 Some birthmarks seem to be masses of convoluted blood vessels, scarlet or bluish, spongy in feel ing, blanching more or less. when pressed upon, or blue-gray in color and not so spongy to the feel. These are satisfactorily treated by progressive injections of sclerosing solutions, precisely like the modern treatment of varicose veins. Any physician who is skilled in the veins can oblitrate birth marks in the same way.
 Other methods of treatment which may be best suited to the particular birth mark are freezing with solidified carbon dioxide. K ray, radium, electrolysis, lectro- descistion, sometimes tattooing with acid.
 In any case, the earlier the maGk is treated the more satisfactory will the result be.
 Any such blemish present at birth or appearing in the first week or two of life, is not likely to dis appear spontaneously or become any less noticeable after the age of six months. By that time the child should be given the benefit of pro- per treatment.
 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
 IOdin or IOdid
 l tried in four large drugstores to get one grain sodium iodid tablets, which you said may be used instead of one drop of iodin as an iodin ration. None of them had such tablets. But several have one-grain potassium iodid tablets. Would pot assium iodid be all right to use in- stead of sodium iodid? CH. P)
 AnsWer-Yes, but I believe a drop or two of ordinary tincture of iodin in water is best.
 Mailing Instructions
 I am regular reader of your column and have greatly helped by 1t. wish mailing instruction might be printed occasionally. (Mrs. H. K)
 Answer-Address Dr. WIT. Brady, in care of this paper If you want a reply by mail, inclose a three e-cent- stamped envelope bearing your ad- dress.
 Wart
 What will take wart off the back of my leg? (Mrs. J. H)
 Answer-Paint 1t daily for two weeks with the familiar corn remedy thirty grains of salicylic acid dis solved in one-half ounce of flexible collodion.
 Mark of Youth
 take the best of care of my health and habits, yet my face is a sight with blackheads and pim- pies. (H. M)
 Answer Send a three cent stamped envelope bearing your ad- dress and ask for monograph on blackheads and pimples-acne.
 Copyright 1888, John F. Dille Go.