The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-04-08
By Logan Clendenins. NJ. D.

loOQsl uusly animal oNOAct PAohN
DR.. Clendening will answer
questions Of general interest
only, and then only through
his column.
pollens and various other sub
stances. When these individuals
come in contact with one Of these
substances, this representative
ness causes symptoms in various
parts Of the body.
Hay fever, asthma and hives, TO
name the commonest forms Of al
leroy, are conditions Of this type.
Why some people have this hyper
sensitiveness and others do not is
unknown, although it is quite def
nitely Of an hereditary character.
Allergy may appear in persons
In childhood or in later life. ] have
known Of two sisters, one was af-
ficted with hay fever in childhood
while the other was perfectly free
from IL until about the age Of
thirty when she too developed hay
fever
In children allergy takes several
forms: they may have hay fever or
asthma. They are particularly
likely to have a peculiar reaction
of the mucous membrane Of the
nose which becomes swollen and
Doggy and causes a running drain
age and a chronic cold.
Disturbances Of Stomach
Another form Of allergy in chill
dren attacks the digestive system
and there may be attacks Of dis
turbance Of the stomach with
cramp, a chronic gaseous disten-
sion and diarrhoea followed by
constipation.
One type Of digestive disturb
ance due to allergy in children is
cyclic vomiting. This comes on
in attacks beginning in the pro-
dromal period with loss of sppe-
tite, listlessness and irritsbility,
languor and little fever and then
later, a pain in the pit Of the stom-
ach, gastric disturbance and final
ly the vomiting which lasts from
twenty-four TO forty-eight hours,
followed by severe prostration.
This does not occur in adults and
the patient eventually wears it out.
The average age Of these patients
is seven anG one-half years and
the symptoms appear periodically
for three to four years. Sometimes
they also have asthma and hives
and other skin eruptions.
Another form Of allergy which
affects children almost exclusively
is infantile eczema. These poor
little tots about the age Of one
year begin to have raw, scaly, itchy
areas on the face and hands which
constitute a very distressing con-
dition. No one can blame the baby
for being Irritable and touchy and
unresponsive.
Both cyclic vomiting and eczema
In children are probably due to
food allergy. although it tries the
patience of the parents and the
doctor and all the relatives TO find
out exactly what food causes the
attacks. 1t is usually a combina-
ton Of some Of the most neces-
sary nutritional articles, such as
eggs, milk, bread. etc., and some
how or other these children with
eczema always wear it out. | have
never seen it persist beyond six
or seven years.
To treat a child with this condi-
ton requires a great deal Of pa
thence in getting a good history
and finding out what particular
substance is responsible for the
condition. Sometimes the allergens
can be avoided or eliminated. 1t
may be that the child has a pet
cat or a rabbit which is the cause,
or sometimes the stuffing of his
pillow may be the cause Of his
complaint.
Other sllergens are not 50 cas-
lily avoided, such as the pollens Of
trees, grasses, weeds, house dust
and foods that are necessary for
nutrition.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
L. H.: what do you take ex-
tract Of witch hazel fort"
Answer: Witch hazel Is a long
outmoded counter irritant that has
been used for rubbing on sprsins
and sore places. ! do not know Of
any use for it, taken internally.
W. NJ: what are the symptoms
Of angina pectoris? Can a person
gain weight who has it? Can q
person continue at his regular en-
ployment?"
Answer: Angina pectoris is due
TO a spasm Of the eoronsry artery
Of the heart. 1t is usually associ-
ated with high blood pressure or
hardening Of the arteries else
where in the body. 1t is possible
TO gain weight while having an
gina. Whether or not the patient
can continue with his regular en-
ployment depends on how severe
the work is. People with angina
should not do heavy work or any
thing which causes a great deal Of
exertion.
NJ. c.: "Will you please explain
the meaning Of spondylitis defor-
mans"
Answer: spoudylitis deformans