The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-06-18
MEDICAL STUDENT CHAL- LENGES OL' DOC BRADY

LENGES OL' DUG BRADY
 am not trying to be annoying, (the young man writes), but I am just beginning the study of medi- cine and want to know. .. Re- gently you mentioned that chest size or chest expansion is no indi- cation of longevity or shortlived- ness. But then you said that hered- ity has no influence on the length of life. Do you deny that a family free from diabetes, tuberculosis, cardivascular degeneration and can- cer would produce offspring with a better life expectancy than the off, spring of a family without that background
 I was astonished to learn that I had said heredity has no influence on longevity or short-livedness.
 But then, am often astonished to hear what have said or to read what have written. Sometimes it is my own fault. Sometimes it is the fault of printer editor or proof reader.
 What I really said was:
 "41CGl1Cl OllC SllCSU 1llCdSul cS more or less than the average, or ones chest expansion is more or less than the average, matters no more than does the age at which ones grandfather died or the na- ture of his final Hines, SO far as ones health and longevity are con- cerned."
 I must concede that this young medica lstudent has me in that in- stance where included the nature of grandfather's final illness. If grandfather died or diabetic coma or following amputation of gan grenous leg, that might reasonably make the examiner wonder if had inherited the tendency to develop diabetes. But if grandfather suc- cumbed to tuberculosis, cancer or cardiovascular degeneration. that interesting statistical information would be of no practical use for determining my expectation of life. It has not been established that cancer or tuberculosis is hereditary, and as for cardiovascular degenera- ton - arteriosclerosis, myocarditis, angina pectoris, cardiac or conorary hrombosis-inheritance, if it is factor at all, is far outWeighted by the influence of the individuals habits, ways of living and casual illnesses, not to mention nutritional deficiencies and exposure to poisons such as lead, carbon monoXide, the lead in dust or fumes, the carbon i monoXide as polluted air.
 Diabetes is the exception-if grand father or any other forebear or antecedant had diabetes, whether he or she was aware of the nature ! of the condition or not, then any or many of his or her descendants in- ! evitably inherit at least the ten | dency to develop the disease, and whether such Carriers of the po- tentiality or tendency themselves I develop diabetes or not depends on ! how they live.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Calcium and Headache How does one obtain copies of your pamphlets ''The Calcium Shortage" and why Have Head ache?' A lady met yesterday told | me she had obtained complete re- lief from frequent headaches by fol- lowing the advice in these pam phlets. (Mrs. T. E. LD Answer-Send stamped envelope bearing your address and mention the pamphlets you want.
 Time for Plates
 Had all my upper teeth pulled about a month ago. The gums are a little tender yet. Would it be too soon to have plates made now? (M. S.) Answer-No. Best results are ob- tained if the dentist takes the im- pression before extraction of the teeth, prepares the plates and tn- serts the plates immediately after extraction, before the patient leaves 1 the office.
 | Conservation of Kidneys Six months ago it was necessary | to remove one of my kidneys. What kind of food and drink may I take without harm to the remaining kid- ney? I use no liquor or tobacco. I drink coffee mornings.
 (R. W. JD Answer-No particular food, Eat moderately, that is, avoid overeat- | ing. No particular water, just or dinary tap water. No alcohol. of 1 course. Cup or two of coffee daily is all right. One kidney carries on the function of two apparently without strain-that's why the body is equipped with pairs of some es- i sential organs subject to loss by in ! jury or disease-so that loss of one will not put the machine on ths scrap pile, as long as demands on the remaining organ are moderate. T@l TiIlA Tn !