The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-18
NERVE AND BRAIN CELLS
 NEED OXYGEN

Neurot!cs, persons who attribute their health or behavior defieien- cles to "bad nerves" or nervous exhaustion" belong in one or the other class, Class A neurotics wno are really i'll, usually with disturb- ance or disease of some organ other than brain, spinal cord or nerves, and either too stingy or too ig- norant (in the Wiseacre way) to procure competent medical atten. ton and find out what really ails them; or Glass B neuroticS who use nerves" as an alibi or means Of escape from all the responsibilities, trials and cares of an honest life. Mind, now, I am not calling you one or the other. If you are Ileurotic you choose your own class.
 Tn the preceding talk about "nerves" I gave 0 fairly representa-. tive statement of the present medical view of "neurasthenia"- "- which is vague at best--and sug- gested to Class A neurotics two common conditions which may cause abnormal fatigability and exaggerated irritability"-the symp- toms so frequently labelled "neuras- thenia." These conditions are Anoxia, oxygen shortage in the tissues or cells, and asvltaminosis, shortage of the vitamins essential for maintaining an adequate fund of reserve power to tide over av.a aroarniac and ctrainS
 Bellows, of course, means belly. Belly breathing improves circula- ton. The essential purpose of cir- culation is to supply a constant stream of oxygen to the function. ing tissue and organ cells, and to carry away the carbon dioxide given of by the cells as a by-pro- duct of their functioning. Inter- rupt this stream of oxygen for a second or two and some of the cells, particularly brain cells and nerve cells may die. Reduce the oxygen supply and the cells are unable to function well. This accounts for the poor memory, poor judgment, un- reasonable or odd thinking or be- havior of many an invalid. Crowd out most of the oxygen with car- bon monoxide and the victim of the gassing may become not only unable to think but irrational and inclined to fight or resist efforts to rescue him.
 Nutrition investigators produced "a neurasthenic syndrome" in four out of five experimental subjects on a diet poor in vitamin Bl. The four voluntary subjects. complained of fatigue, lassitude, lack of ap- petite, vague pains in the region of the heart, burning of the feet, shortneSs of breath on exertion, muscle cramps, palpitation. and had tenderness in the calf muscles and oversentitivity in the skin of the lower part of legs and feet. These symptoms cleared up in three or four days after the diet was again supplemented with vitamin Bl.
 It is always better, when there is any reason to believe there is deficiency of a B-complex factor such as Bl (thiamin) or B2 (G ol ribofIavin) to employ the entire nat. ural B-complex and not just one factor alone, to correct the def- ciency.
 Headache
 I suffered for many years from migraine headache. Following youI recommendation I supplemented niy diet with calcium and vitamin D and promptly ceased to have attacks and have had none for over a year now. Thanks, very much. (R. M)
 AnsweF-I am glad to send monograph "Why Have Headache on request if you inclose a stamped envelope bearing your adreaS.
 Lead in Hair Dye
 Would there be danger of getting lead poisoning from using a hair dyt containing sugar Of iead7 (0. H.