The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-09-23
Al NEEDED REFnRM

profession today has to do with the
"clinic" evil. No matter how thin
they slice It IN the best advertised
shops, the reason why some doctors
like the 'clinic'' racket Is, OF course,
that as an irnpersonal "clinic' you
can get away with murder IN the
canvassing Of the gullible public for
customers whereas If you are sim.
pie enough to practice under. your
own name you just can't exploit
yourself without risk Of becoming
known for what you are, q Quack.
The present Principles Of Medical
Ethics contains q section which
reads as follows:
Solicitation Of patients by ply
sicians as individuals, or collective
ly in groups by whatsoever name
these be ca..eo Is unprofession-
al"
But the way the best advertised
clinic and its facisinliles throughout
the country go about 1t. you can't
prove they are really soliciting pa
tents. No, no, they are merely try
ing to enlighsen the public. And
the ANA, promulgator Of the Code
Cor Principles) Of Medical Ethics,
sanctions this dodge
For years I recommended read
ers in certain part Of the country
to a surgeon who did plastic or
sculptural SURGERY never knew
him personally, but only by reputa-
ton, and I believed readers seeking
such treatment would be fairly safe
in his hands. You see, good many
charlatans purport to be plastic
surgeons and It is unfortunate for
the unwary customer who undergoes
any sort Of treatment by such r.
responsible persons. But I was dis
turbed by complaints Of some Of
the readers I had referred to the
surgeon, not so much In regard to
his surgical skill but in regard to
the sharp business or financial
terms Of which they complained.
Then came a new edition Of the
blue book-the American Medical
Directory. I happened to come
across the name Of the plastic SUR
geon in question in the new edition,
and was astonished to find that
his address was not a street num-
Der, but just something like this.
Richard Roe, M. D. Squedunk Ch-
mic. That was official confirmation
Of my suspicion Of the fellows real
character.
If the politicians succeed in sell
ing the public this socialized medi-
cine our way Of life will necessarily
descend toward the level Of the
peasantry Of Europe. 1t win be good
pickings for the politicians who, OF
course, will administer the plan. AS
for the doctors and the people, well,
they have been training for 1t via
brass specialism and the clinic rack
ct for twenty years or more. When
state medicine Is established that
quaint American institution known
as the family doctor will be really
and truly extinct.
QUESTIONS q ANSWERS
Texas Fever
Recently you mentioned, among
the synonyms for undulant fever.
Texas fever. Texas fever Is
disease solely Of cattle caused by
protozoon, the present name Of the
parasite being Babesia bigemlna
formerly called Piroplasma bige-
minurn). Texas fever. Is also known
as splenetic fever, and hemoglo-
binuria. The tick Is the interme-
date host. Texas fever does not
affect man. It Is not undulant fe-
yer.
Il. r. 8, D. v. M
Answer - Thank you, Doctor
Right you are and wrong was I. 2
should have said Texas dust fever"
for undulant fever has been 20
called.
Heart Tonic
Attorney had a bad heart and his
physician prescribed drug for him
to take. He took 1t as directed and
afterwards had a checking-up BY
another physician who found his
heart all right In every respect. This
physician was astonished at what
the drug had done for his heart, and
the first physician then revealed
that the drug was vitamin B COM
pick. q. Q. Al
Answer-In many cases OF serious
heart trouble an optimal daily In
take of vitamin 3 complex Is bet
ter tonic than any drug. Incident
ally I believe vitamin B complex
should be combined with eevry dose
Of digitalis or other heart tonic
so-called which a patient takes over
considerable period Of time. And
the B complex should be continued
indefinitely after the drug is dis
continued.
A. A. Inc.
I have noted your occasional com"
mendation of Alcoholics Anonyms
Gus. For years I carried the bur-
den of alcoholism, tried several diff"
ferent "clares" including institu-
tional incarceration, to no avail.
Nearly a year ago attended q
meeting of the A. A. group here. IL
was a God sent blessing. for I
haven't taken q drink since, and
moreover the program has been
simple and easy to follow.
Answer-Thank you. Yes. do
heartily commend Alcoholics 49,
nymous to any one who wants TO
come back. II you haven't the ad-
dress Of q local group, write TO Al.
coholics Anonymous. Inc. Box 05s.
Church Street Annex. N. Y. City
for information. II is all q friendly
service. and there Is nothing TO pay
for.