The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-04
POSSESSIONS ABOUT
 THE HEART

ben1SnteO EeOple
 Contrary to common belief =
 Real heart disease only rarely causes sudden death.
 Persons subject to valvular dis ease, myocarditis, or cardiovascu- lar degeneration associated with arteriosclerosis are as likely to succumb at last to some intercur- rent illness such as pneumonia as they are to die of "heart failure"
 Most patients with heart disease discover the fact that the heart is affected only months or years af- ter the beginning of the trouble, and then only incidentally in life insurance examination or a health survey" they are obliged to under go. It will take many years con- siderable proportion of people past thirty to spend their perfectly good cash for annual or periodic volun- tary health examinations.
 When symptoms do occur, dur ing development of heart disease, they do not point to the heart. They are rather in the form of slight breathlessness or short mindedness on exertion, slight cough, perhaps occasional swelling of ankles or feet toward evening, greater fatigue from ordinary ac- tivity and the inference that one is run down from overwork" and needs a vacation.
 Palpitation, pains felt in the gen. eral region of the heart, and a sen- sation as though the heart "skips beats" are frequent complaints in minor ailments but seldom indica- tive of heart disease.
 It is unfortunate that the term "myocarditis" was introduced into the language, for it implies inflam- nation of the heart muscle, where as actually there is nothing of the sort present. Inflammation would have more or less definite onset or beginning such as arthritis or bronchitis has, in any mans lan- guage. The various degenerative changes - parenchymatous degen- eration, fatty degeneration, coro- nary embolism, coronary throm- bosis, simple hypertrophy and dila- tation of the heart. which are gen. erally grouped under the name of "myocarditis have no clearcut be- ginning but develop so gradually, as a rule, that the victim is unwill- ing to believe there is anything serious the matter and perhaps the doctor, if he gets a chance to ex- anime the patient at all in the early stage of the trouble, hesitates to give an opinion that may unduly alarm or discourage the patient. The diagnosis of myocadial disease or degeneration is a matter of opinion, of course, and unfortunate ly a patient may have no difficulty in finding a good doctor who will pooh-pooh the idea of any heart trouble which has been suggested by some other doctor. After all, who shall draw line between per- feet health and poor health?
 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
 Yes or No?
 How many times in year need a man take bath to be clean? (W, H)
 Answer-From once a month to once or twice day, depending on environment. If a man can 20 naked he needs no bath except to wash away mud or grine he hap pens to accumulate. It is the un- hygienic clothing and artificial heating and exclusion of fresh air and sunlight that makes civilized folk so dirty that they feel the need of bath constantly.
 Second Hand Fur
 Is there any risk to health ir- volved in wearing fur coat that has been worn by an invalid with (Mrs. M. M. F)
 Answer-No, that is, not of con- tracting and disease worse than pediculosis (infestation with lce), scabies (the itch) or ringworm if the previous wearer happened to harbor any of these parasites. A simple dry cleaning and an airing for a day if possible in the sun, makes any garment safe enough to wear, no matter what disease the original wearer had. Ordinary laund- ering-washing with soap and water and ironing sufficiently disinfects or sterilizes anything that may be so cleaned.
 Benighted People
 Members of board of health and board of education here agitating for compulsory vaccination-that is. they propose to exclude unvaccin- ated children from school, then prosecute parents who fail to send