The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20
OBSTACLE TO PROPHYLAxIs

VWSxAOAH 1V GHNVk& &AeNeAAS
 Dental practitioners have long used the term prophylaxis in a re- stricted sense, referring to the tna- portant feature in the preservation or conservation of the teeth, that is, periodic inspection, removal ot stains or tartar deposits, sealing and polish- ing of the teeth to prevent carries or decay from getting Q start in any minute Assure or crevice In the enamel, an idalso attention to the condition of the gums for the pre- vention of pyorrhea. All ot which Is absolutely indispensable if you want to keep your teeth-and who but Q dimwit doesntq--yet 1t is well to remember that prophylaxis has Q wider meaning than that It Is the art of guarding against, preserving from or preventing disease. Anything that contributes to the prevention of disease is Q prophylactic, for instance adding vitamin D to the regular diet in infancy, childhood or youth to prevent rickets or keeping the skin between the toes dry to prevent ring worm (epidermophytoSis, foot itch),
 We explained the other day how nasal allergy impedes progress in the prevention of three-fourths of the illness physicians attend--respiratory infections. The increasing number of individuals who are allergic but do not understand the nature of their trouble an dhenco ascribe their re- actions ot fanoied exposure to cold or wet tends to confuse the initiated and raise doubt in regard to the question of exposure to cold and wet,
 reckon that having explained as clearly as I can the nature of nasal allergy and the characteristically sudden beginning and cessation of tho stuffiness, sneeging and water ing at the nose, Q reaction which in. evitahly occurds not long after some real or imagined exposure to draft or chaonge of temperature, there Is nothing more I can do about 1t.
 Although hope may be wrong, 1t seems to me that the allergic state, tendency or hypersensitivity is stead- fly increasing In frequency among tho general population. I hope this Is only an apparent increase, due to the fact that the nature of tho trou- bio is more generally recognized to- day, whereas formerly as passed as cold" or "catarrah," or In cases of allergic asthma as nervousness" or ''neurosls." But the conviction grows that there is an actual increase in prevalenc eof allergie sensitivity, ir- ritability or weakness among the general population in this country due to deficinencies in our modern refined diet, especially shortage of calcium and vitamin D.
 fnsufAcient daily intake of other mineral clements and other vitamins may be concerned in the causation of this allergic hypersensitivity, but as yet our knowledge of the subject Is incomplete and we are therefore unable to be more specific,
 AS pointed out in other talks, physiologists maintain that epine- phrin ,adrenalin). which is the ac- cepted and proved sovereign remedy ior the relief of tho more 'distresisng manifestations of aliergy, sets by liboratlng potassium from the tis-. sues, and ceases to give relief when tho tissues have become depleted of potassium. Of course that's where the potassium chloride treatment ot allergic attacks Ats in--to comple- inent, supplement or perhaps replace the use of adrenalin.
 tPlease save this talk-to be con- tlHued another day).