The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-08-12


 strengthen uterine contractions and make them more frequent once they have begun.
 In recent years many medical men have regularly prescribed small tonic" doses of quinine in the last few weeks of pregnancl. They be- lieve it facilitates the process of la bor and shortens the duration of labor, and by so doing 1t reduces the danger of hemorrhage and in- faction, all without risk to the child.
 Dr. Gamer of University of Bir- mingham reported in the British Medical Journal that such use of quinine accelerat2s the first and second stages of labor without dam age to mother of or child, and that the chance of premature labor was not increased.
 Dr. Linton Smith described in the Jour. Med. Association of Geor- gia, results observed from such use of quinine ill 60 normal pregnant women as compared with results in an equal number who received no quinine. He concluded that dura- tion of labor was definitely shorter and that the first stage was less painful when the woman has had the quinine treatment in the last weeks of pregnancy.
 The usual daily dose of qukhine is 1-2 grains, in three doses of 1-2 grains each, or some physicians believe only one grain three times a day, for the last three or four weeks of pregnancy, is sufficient. One British physician, Gordon Luker, considers it advisable in most cases to combine quinine treatment with calcium. A great many expectant mothers, at least in this country, now supplement their diet with ad- ditional calcium anyway.
 QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
 PeIIagra
 As I understand, pellagra is a disease caused by eating damaged maize, in which some poisonous product causes a disturbance in the digestive and nervous systems.
 (Mrs. w. W)
 Answer-Pellagra is nutritional deficiency disease, not condition due to any kind of poisoning by spoiled food. The chief factor is lack of enough niacin dormerly called nicotinic acid), one of the entities of the vitamin B complex In which such foods as plain wheat, wheat germ, fresh vegetables, fresh meat, peas, beans, greens and milk or milk products are rich).
 Poisonous Spray Residue on Food
 Can you recommend any effective way to remove arSenate of lead from such foods as cabbage, greens, fruit, etc, when dry residues left by spraying may be present? (E. B.)
 ArSWer-Ordinary rinsing in water will not remove all the lead arsenate. Rinsing in 186 solution of hydroch- loric acid in water removes it. A pint of the standard medicinal Dilute Hydrochloric Acid (which is 10% strength) diluted in nine pints Ca gallon and a pint) of water, makes such 1@o hydrochloric acid solution. After rinsing the greens OA AuAU HI pAuIl WdOOAS 44llcC WC4A in the 1%HCI solution, then rinse well again in plain water to remove traces of the acid.
 The Grass Yarn
 Read in - magazine that ordi- nary grass has been found to be the richest known source of all the vitamins, and that little powder ed dried grass will provide all the vitamins any one needs at very low cost. (H. w. B.
 Answer - Probably fresh green grass contains considerable vitamin c, as well as B-complex. Dried DOW dered grass may still contain some B complex, but little 1t any c. Grass contains practically no vita- min D.
 Copyright 1942, John F. Dille Col