The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-06
THRER FACTORs OF BAD HAnIT

Tx&kek& FACTORS or BAD MAM4I
 Most iayman ere sapssasaded about physiology. Probably tha reason why the Wiseacres do not pay particular attention 10 or exercise themselves unduly about regulation Of heart &C., ton and lung action ia that tho medicine end 30o0 purvey0rs do not harangue them constantly on Che importance of watching these fanC- tons and keeping them active. | Our present. knowledge oS physi~ ology and pathology, that is. our knowledge of ncggnal function and Of disease, warrants the statement I that there ia no such thing as ''aus t0lntOxicatlon" or poisoning of the system from delayed bowel evacaa- ton or constipation. The worst any one can suffer from cosslveness is discomfort.
 Due to the morbid fear oE imag. mary evil consequences Of costive- ness or of a few days interval be- tween bowel movements people who have been educated by the nostgum and Quackery interests come Go be- lieve physlc or laxataves essential for maintaining health OF prevent. ing Illness and under this obsessiou they are afraid Co even try t0 do without such medicine.
 Taking physic, laxatlves or catla~ artscs of any description, salts, ''veg- etable" or "herb1 pills, tablets. teas, various kinds of salts. castor oil, mineral oil or what have you, is in my opinion the second factor of the constipation habit. Morbid fear of imaginary consequences of costive~ ness Of course comes 3lrst-were 1t not for this absurd fear people would not bother their heads about physic.
 Of course it is not the infants fear Of autoantoxioatinn or obstruction of the bowel ce any such thick cori- ing fancy that starts the infant on the wrong way with the first dose of castor oil or substitute for castor oil, St is the ignorance of grandma, mother or nurse-maybe even the wishyswashy doctor who finds it easier to let people do as they please about such things.
 A great many persons who have studied the booklet s"T.he Constipa- ton Habit and Colon Hygiene (for copy send ten cents and stamped envelope bearing your address) have told me the same story: At first they consider my advice crazy. Later they begin Co wonder fl it can be quite so bad as it seems ct first. Then they resreAd parts oe the booklet. Finally they get up suficient cour- age to have . go at total abstinence. Some of them hold out a few days and then in panic give up, but even- euaily they stick it, and when nas tlre resumes control and normal function ts restored they write, some 0f them. in praise of the method and wonder why they have been so dumb as to remain saves Go physlc all these years.
 No. factor os the constipation habit ls morbid fear, fear for which there is no basis in fact. No. 2 fac- tor is interference with the natural automatic regulation of the intes- tinal function by taking physic. No. 2 factor is nutFitional deficiency, notably vitamin B complex defi- eiency in our modern refined diet.
 QUESTIONS 6 ANSWERS
 Tcadskin and Dry Sore Eyes
 I believe you described 6 kind of goose -ptmply condition of the skin called toadslEin or flshskin as due to lack of some vitamin. Also you said dTyneSs of the eyes might be of the same nature. That is exactly my daughters condition. and we'll be grateful for any suggestions.
 (AGrs. c. M.
 Answer-Dryness and goosepimply appearance of the skin, with rough. ness like nutmeg grater or an ap- peArance resembling fishscales or toadslEin is often due to deficiency in the intake og .vitamin A. The same deficiency may account for dryness and chronic irritation of the eyes and poor dark adaptation or night blindness. Tn any such case 1t can do no possible harm to try supp plenenting the daily diet with two or three capsules of natural vitamin A (not carotene)-each capsule con- taining q. 1000 units Of natural vita- min A for a month or two. Of course improvement cannot be ex- ssmNfaA alAMVk mR sAvawAl xvamtG