The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-01-26
HOW ARE YOUR CHILBLA1Ns?

HOW ARE YOUR CHILBLAINS?
Mt. Hood, Oregon, reader says he
found nothing about chilblains in
my booklet Care of the Feet" He
suffered every winter from chill
blains, beginning with the first
frost, and right now his toes are
red and swollen and he is in mis-
cry working outdoors. He'd be
thankful for any help.
Care of the Feet" deals with pro-
mated feet (Weak ankies), fiat feet,
exercises for correction of these
conditions, dangers in using arch
props, the selection of proper foot
wear, bunion, cornS, caluseS, sweat
ing feet, hammer-toe, ingroWn nail,
French heels shortened tendon Of
Achilles, burning of the feet, foot
itch, painful heel, chiropody, going
barefoot, wearing rubber heels or
soles, etc., but true enough, I wrote
the booklet in the good old summer
time and frostbite was far from my
thoughts then. What do you expect
for ten cents and a stamped adj
dressed envelope anyway?
Chilblain is inflammatory swell
ing or sore or blister produced by
cold. In other words it is frostbite.
If the skin merely reddens, smarts,
itches and aches it is first degree
frostbite, comparable with first de-
gree burn, which merely causes
flushing, redding and irritation of
thu cDjy, TT h1icfnrc ~ {e
ond degree frostbite and more SER
ious because the blisters open the
way for infection, if the condition
is not carefully treated with a
view to preventing infection.
Here there is room only to con-
slider prevention Of chilblain or
frostbite. In another talk we'll de-
scribe the treatment.
Most important factor of chill
blain or frostbite of feet is mois-
ture. Dampness from without get
ting shoes and stockings wet) or
dampness from within excessive
sweating of feet increases con-
ductivity of heat in foot covers and
hence speeds cooling of the feet
and favors frostbite. OF course
poor circulation in the legs and
feet increases susceptibility to frost
bite.
Excessively heavy or too warm
foot cover such as rubber overshoes
when they are not necessary to
keep shoes and stockings dry, make
the feet sweat too much and so ia
vor cold feet and ,froStbite. Many
persons obsessed with the quaint
notion that dampness causes illness
(other than frostbite) suffer much
unnecessary discomfort from chill
blains in this way. Footwear that
is too tight impedes the circulation
and so favors development of FROST
bite. Wool, cotton, silk, linen, pa
per and leather are poorer heat
conductors, hence better insulators
than rubber, at least when they
are dry, and hence give better pro-
lection against frostbite.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Eye Wash
Would hot water from the faucet
be safe to use for making boric
acid solution for eye wash if the
water has slightly yelloWish col
or, probably rust from the water
heater? CA. j. W.
Answer-Yes. The trace of iron in
it would have no appreciable eff
feet. For eye drops or eye wash
use a rounded teaspoonful of boric
acid to the pint of boiled water,
and make up fresh solution fire.
quently. Always have 1t comfort
ably warm when you use it.
Salt
Is it harmful to an aged per-
son to live without salt for several
years? *. T. H.
AnsWer-One cannot live without
salt. It is perfectly harmless for
anyone to depend entirely on the
salt naturally present in such foods
as milk, eggs, meat and fish, with
out adding any in cooking or at
table. Many take too much salt.
which tends to keep body water
logged, retaining excess Of water
in blood and tissues.
Boy Resembles Patsy
Here is a snapshot Of my boy,
aged % months. l thought you
might agree that he resembles your
Patsy. He Is very healthy boy,
thanks To your fine Brady Baby
Book. OF course don't think any
ones baby will look like Patsy by
following your book. but the BABY
will certainly have vite!
CMrs. D. O.
Answer-Thank you. Ma'am. There
is a striking resemblance to Patsy
at that rge. Patsy is six years old
now and I'm not at all sure she
really believes in Santa Claus OF
just hurnors the old folks who
saem 70 dote on that stuff. Glad