The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-12-31

hNA1AAA III HAaN aAN Tie nuUlIldAAA=
DR.. Clendening will answer
questions Of general interest
only and then only through
his column.
larry glands. which are beneath the
tongue and rather forward. Third
are the small sublingual glands
which are exactly under the root
Of the tongue Each pair OF these
pours out a secretion which goes
through a duct and allows the Sc
erection to enter the mouth cavity.
Importance Of Glands
We should be very uncomfort-
able If these glands were not pre-
sent and working. They supply a
constantly moist mouth in the first
place. They also have considerable
power to kill germs and for the
digestion Of certain substances,
notably starches. they are among
the most powerful of the digestive
juices. In order to prove this, you
have only to take a cracker or a
piece Of bread and chew it and see
how quickly the tasteless starch
turns into sweet, which is the
chief process in the digestion Of
starches.
Fortunately these glands do not
often become the seat of trouble.
] suppose the commoneSt disease
to which they are subjected is
mumps, which is technically
known as parotitis because it is
an Inflammation Of the parotid
gland.
The second commonest condition
which affects these glands is OBJ
struction Of the duets from a stone
formation. The salivary glands
most liable to this form of obstruc-
ton are the submaXillary and
sublingual, although any Of them
may be affected. When a stone
forms in the duct of one Of the
glands, the patient experiences
acute discomfort and distress
whenever eating. The glands re-
spond Immediately to anything
that is taken into the mouth and
begin to form secretions: If this
secretion is damned back by a
stone big enough to obstruet the
duct, it causes swelling and acute
discomfort.
Many Of these cases are mis-
taken for tonsillitis, but the ex-
perienced physician will be able
TO distinguish them by examina-
ton. A probe put in the duet
scrapes against the stone, which
is the final diagnostic criterion.
The stones can be quite easily re-
moved through the ducts, some
times by dilating and opening the
duct and using a small forceps.
The relief is instantaneous.
Mistakes in Diagnosis
Some very serious mistakes are
made with these salivary duct
stones. remember seeing a pa
tient once who had a swelling on
the cheek which was mistaken for
an abscess, whereas it was an en-
larged parotid gland due to a
stone in the parotid duct. The
surgeon in charge of the case
made an opening through the
cheek. creating a salivary fistula
so that the saliva poured out on
the cheek and the poor patient,
when | saw him six months later.
was practically a hermit. He had
a constant dribble of saliva
through the opening in his cheek
and when he ate anything he ac-
tually had to hold a glass or a
pitcher underneath his jaw in
order to catch the saliva which
poured out in amounts large
enough 70 fill a medium-sized
pitcher one or two times in the
course Of a meal. So he ate his
meals in solitude
The lesson, therefore. is that
any swelling around the angle Of
the jaw. or the jaw or tongue
should be Investigated as to
whether or not it is a stone which
has formed in the salivary duct.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
+. W: In one Of your articles
you say that by exercise "the heart
gains in strength and size and
the heart beat becomes slower"
Does this apply to one afflicted
with angina? II not, what exercise
can a person with angina take
without injury to the heart?
Answer: The statement applies
TO young, healthy hearts. People
with angina should not take any
exercise Of any kind. There is no
kind Of exercise for a person with
angina which will do anything but
harm