The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-20
DIAGNOSIS OF DEFICIENCY


 A favorite ready-made or second- hand remark of the busy practition- CT who has not kept abreast of the newer knowledge of nutrition is- some allusion to vltamln pills or capsules as shotgun connections" This implies, If you arc credulous enough, that a competent physician must first determine precisely which Wtamin or Vitamins may be deficient in your case and then prescribes precise "doses" of the vltamin or vitamins his examination reveals you need.
 The truth is that no physician and no nutrition authority at pres ent can determine by examination of patient or by any scientific or laboratory test precisely which vie tamin or vitamins may be deficient The art of diagnosis is not that far advanced. In fact 1t is 6 matter of opinion whether the symptoms or functional disturbances due to vita- min deficienceS are deficiency di- Sease or the lnanfectatinoS of some constitutional disease not re- lated to nutrition. Of course the opinion of Q physician is better than the opinion of layman about that. And the opinion Of a physician who had kept abreast of progress in our knowledge of nutrition is better than the opinion of the old timer who still regards vitamin therapy as 6 fad.
 When vitamin deficiency is se- yer enough to bring out the typical or characteristic signs and symp- toms of one or another deficiency disease, such as survy, rickets, berl beri (multipile neuritis), pella- gra, then, of course, any doctor knows there Is nothing fanciful about 1t, no fad or craze, and liberal amount Of the vitamin or vitaminS lacking will do more good than any other treatment.
 What too many doctors do not seem to comprehend, however, is that for every case of such frank deficiency disease recognized or di- agnosed by a physician there are many thousands of cases Of moder- ate deficiency disease, not well enough developed to be ticketed scurvy, pellagra or beri beri, which never come under medical observa- ton at all, or If they do come under medical observation 1t is only cas- ually when the patients happen to require medical or surgical atten. ton for some accidental or intercur. rent trouble. And in such c!rcum- stances 1t is only the physician who Is alert, on the lookout for deilci- ency manifestations, well informed concerning the mild functional dis turbances so produced, who is at all likely to recognize the patients need for increased vitamin intake.
 How can & medical health or nu- triton authority urge the public to eat bread made of enriched flour (white flour to which certain vita- mins have been added) and at the same time say that vitamins in pill, tablet or capsule should be taken only under doctors orders?
 Hernia Cured
 On your recommendation I went to Dr. - for injection treatment to hernia. Thanks to you and Dr.
 - have been cured. The Doctor would not promise anything because of my stomach but he did the trick anyway. (M. H)
 Answer-It is as pleasant to hear such report as 1t would be if I had given the treatment myself On | request am glad to send any reader pamphlet on hernia, and | if know of physician in the vi- cinity who is skilled in the injection | treatment TIT be glad to give his name-inclose with your request a | stamped envelope bearing your ad- dress.
 GaIlstOnes
 Can gallstoneS in a person past seventy be dissolved, and if so, how? | If not, Is 1t safe to have an opera tion?
 Answer-Gallstones cannot be ris- solved in any case. Whether opera tion is advisable, necessary or safe, | is for the physician to judge, on ! his knowledge of the patient and the patients condition.
 Wheat to Eat
 I followed a suggestion in your ! column, began eating wheat germ, | about a pound a week. and have ! gained about 10 pounds in weight | and feel fine. (M. E. K.
 Answer-Every well managed | household should have a supply of | plain wheat on hand and use it in | various ways in the everyday family l