Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-09


abdomen 10 a severe, condition
of distention, vomiting and
Shock.
4 SECOND cause OF the acute
"A abdomen is intestinal OBJ
struction. The commonest form
OF this is a strangulated hernia.
II is astonishing how many
people do not know that they
have a hernia which may be
dangerous.
or a series Of patients who
entered hospital with a
strangulated femoral hernia, 43
per cent, and their doctors, did
not know that a hernia existed,
and had no idea of the cause Of
the symptoms.
A third form of intestinal OBJ
struction occurs around adhe-
sions.
In any patient who has had
an abdominal operation and
who suddenly has the symptoms
of acute abdomen, this compli-
cation should be suspected.
Another which occurs in chill
dren is known as intussuscep-
i ton
This is a telescoping OF the
small bowel into the large
-bowel,---A-feFm-e Eff intestinal
obstruction that occurs in old
people is known as volvulus and
is due 10 a twisting Of the
bowel on itself.
A CUTE abdomen may be
"A caused by perforation of a
part of the stomach or bowel in
which an ulcer has eaten
through.
This occurs in ulcer OF the
stomach, typhoid fever, ulcera-
tive colitis and other condi-
tons.
|, Still another cause OF acute
abdomen is a twisting Of one
Of the pelvic organs.
The most important thing
that the laynan should know
about acute abdomen is not 10
try 10 treat il AT home, espe-
cially not 10 try TO treat II with
cathartics.
Somebody. who has "a. little
bellyache' almost invariably
thinks il will get better If he
takes a cathartic. In every
known condition which causes
an acute abdomen, this simply
makes il worse and tends 10
throw the patient into a dan
gerous shock.
THE best thing 10 do Is 10
L apply heat until the doctor
gets there.
BY all odds. II there Is any
possibility Of getting a doctor,
do so.
A great many cases get well
by themselves If they are not.
stirred up by cathartic. so
even IL you can't get doctor,
don't get hysterical and don't
give a cathartic.
Put the patient to bed with
heat on the abdomen in the
form of a hot pack or a hot
towel and remember that there
is such a thing as the acute
abdomen which begins with
little symptoms such as a little
pain and discomfort, but which
can quickly grow into big ones.
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS
F. l.: My daughters feet get
white as soon as she gets cold.
She is healthy in every other
way, is "a years old and is work.
ing. Could you advise me as to
what 1 could do?
Answer: These vasomotor
disturbances are often due TO
emotional upsets. She should
wear wooden stockings and
avoid constructions such as gar
tiers around the legs. The blood
vessels OF the feet can be exer-
cised by alternately raising and
lowering the feet 20 TO 30 times
at night before retiring.
L. f. B.: Should a person who
has sinus trouble stop smok-
ing?
Answer: Smoking does no
real harm to sinus trouble. The
only problem Is whether IL
causes discomfort or not. This
is a matter of experience. In
other words / would advise you
TO question yourself honestly TO
see whether smoking does you
any harm and act in accord
ance.
J. z. c.: Please advise me in
your column what the seven
year itch is and what causes IL?
Answer: This question has
come to me two or three times
and have looked in all the
medical dictionaries and books
on skin diseases and readers
handbooks. etc. that l can find,
and have not been able 10 locate
il. If anybody can help in this,
we will be glad to furnish you
with the information IL is OH
viously an old-time and out
NODDED name for something, but
] don't know what.