The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-12-13


in the past decade in any field OF
surgery. The tedious operations
Of stripping and dissecting out the
veins which were formerly en-
ployed have now been almost uni
versally discarded.
The cause of varicose veins 10
still obscure, but certain things
are generally recognized as oper-
alive. Essentially, of course, is
the fact that the mechanism for
keeping the column of blood in the
legs - practically all varicosities
are in the legs-in place breaks
down. The column is held in short
sections of the leg veins by valves,
each of which support a column of
blood an inch or so long. When
these veins, break down or become
insufficient the stagnant blood
makes the veins tortuous.
Hereditary Tendency
Varicose veins occur in several
members Of family so an heredi-
tary tendency to weak veins may
be said TO exist. 1t occurs more
often in women and repeated
child-bearing causes varicosities.
Standing occupations and the use
Of garters also contribute.
The physician to whom the pa
tient with varicose veins goes will
make some simple tests to deter
mine whether the case is suitable
for injection treatment.
The principles of the injection
treatment are simple. 1t is the
superficial veins under the skin
which are involved. Two sets of
veins in the legs carry the blood
back to the heart-a deep set that
has few valves: the blood is forced
upward in them by muscular con-
traction. They are entirely ca
pable Of carrying the blood to the
heart even without any help from
the superficial veins. So when the
superficial veins become varicose.
they can be obliterated without
harm.
Injections Used
Injection Of them simply intro
duces a fluid that destroys the in
ner coat so the two inner coats
grow together and the vein be-
comes a cord. The procedure is
safe and painless. 1t is almost al
ways done in the physicians Office,
and requires no time out from
work in most instances - or at
most no more than an hour or so.
Several treatments are, Of course,
necessary.
The results are excellent. The
veins disappear from sight. There
are no more superficial haemor-
rhages that trouble sensitive souls
so much. Best Of all is the effect
on the alterations of the skin-the
varicose ulcers-that result from
poor circulation. These used to be
the bane Of the surgeons as well
as the patients lives. In connec-
ton with injections, certain other
simple methods of treatment for
ulcers are desirable-rest in bed
for a few days with the leg ele-
waited, and the application Of a
warm dressing to the liberated
surface. Sometimes exposure TO
ultraviolet light is helpful.
All Of these methods have given
modern surgeons a command over
varicose veins and their compli-
cations that they never had before.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
L. J. T.-"what can be done to
relieve or cure ingrowing eye
lashes"
Answer-In mild cases the eye
lashes should be pulled and the
eyes sponged two or three times
daily with a solution Of boric acid
in order to remove the pus and
clear up the infection. Severe
cases Of improving eyelashes are
very serious and may cause ulcera-
ton Of the eyeball. They should
be treated by an oculist and .
slight operation which everts the
eyeball may have to be performed.