The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-21
TO FRHGHTEN OR NOT TO
BRIGHTEN

Years ago OF Bull-in- the-china-
shop DOC Brady hauled off and
printed some plain talk about the
wisdom Of taking care Of q constant
or recurring condition which the
subject readily assumes to be
piles" BY taking care OF II, I ex-
planned IN words Of as many sylla-
hles as possible, meant consulting
O physician who examines patients
before he accepts the remedy-made
diagnosis the patient offers.
One customer read that item over
few times, became alarmed, hur-
ried to o specialist In rectal diseases
tproctotogist), had an examination,
learned that his trouble was quite
simple, not cancer at all. The Gus
toner was so mad about 1t that he
threw me cut on my ear. oh, well
what's q customer more or less be-
tween friends2
Here Is q personal communica-
ton from O distinguished procto-
logist. I quote II almost verbatim:
AS you and I well know three out
Of five adults have well advanced
internal piles. 80.
Actually that assertion rather as
tonished me, but coming from o
specialist OF wide experience 1t
probably Is q fact.
internal piles. some asso-
ciated with other LESSONS, such as
fissures, infected crypts, fistulae, all
potential trouble makers.
FSpie consult doctors for thor
ougn physical examinations which
the average doctor Is capable Of
doing very we'll but rarely does he
look inside the rectum with
proctoscope. The gynecologists
specialists In diseases OF women)
have been stressing cervical eros
Sions. "a noted gyneeologisD
Of 10 famous hospitaD states that
every cervical erosion Is o poten-
tial cancer" believe that every
chronic, eroded. bleeding lesion In.
volving the rectal ampulla (widened
space at terminal end OF rectal cam
all Is also q potential cancer II Is
true that most OF these LESSONS
never develop malignancy Cancer
Gus change) but when they do we
generally get q history OF previous
Irritation often preceded by poly
poid degeneration.
Rhinologists tnose Speeialists)
will attest that chronic irritation OF
the nasal mucoSa ~ the cause Of
nasal polyps. Therefore II Is not
unreasonable 10 assume that polypg
OF the rectum or cerVix are also the
result OF chronic irritation.
The difference is that IN rectlini
or cervix these polyps often ternli-
nate in malignancy tcancerous
change) while In the nasal cavity
that rs rarely 80.
Patients with nasal polyps seek
help earlier because OF the early
discomfort and more profound
symptoms, and hence an earlier de
agnosis and correction.
/ think we should use every means
to educate the public, even to the
point Of frightening some people, 80
that these serious conditions may be
detected early enough 10 enable US
10 do something while there still Is
some hope.
The Psychologists letter was In
spired by the sad experience OF 4
patient who, had come for treat
inent OF what purported to be piles
but on examination proved 10 be
cancer.
In the old days when surgery was
the likely verdict the patient with
piles received II he consulted q real
doctor Zone who makes bis own d.
agnogis by his own examination
perhaps there was some eXeuse for
fesitating. Today, when most rectal
troubles are amendabie 10 ainbulant
treatment. comparatively painless