The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
TOBACCO, ANoXIA AND
ANGINA


TOBACCO, ANoXIA AND
ANGINA
Anoxia means lack Of oxygen, i1-
sufncient oxygen, asphyxia.
Angina pectoris means breast
pang, spasms Of agonizing pain in
the region of the heart, extending
into the neck and left arm In some
cases, the pain being accompanied
with fear of impending DEATH
In these talks on heart trouble.
which 1 hope will be printed as
fully as war time restrictions viii
permit, I shall quote authorities for
most Of the things I say. So, to
begin with, DIR. Osler pointed out
in his famous Practice Of Medicine
that there is true angina pectoris
and historical, I1euraSthenic or
neuratic angina pectoris," and
Osler quotes Huchard's statistics
(237 cases, only AZ in women) and
Huchard"S differentiation Of true
angina from neuratic angina" the
chief features being that the pain
of true angina lasts minutes and
that Of neurotic angina pectoris"
lasts hours or days; and the pa
itient's attitude In true angina Is
one of silence and immobilitye
whereas the patient with the inn
aginary ''angina" is agitated and
active.
Osler's Practice and his Lumleiarl
Lectures on Angina Pectoris deliv.
cred before the Royal College Of
Physicians, London about 1910,
slide over the etiology (causes) Of
angina without telling much. That
was fair enough, and would be fair
enough today, so far as I can learn
for even now the nature and the
cause or causes Of angina pectoris
are not definitely known. The best
we can offer at present is theory.
I chose the title (Which I hope
will be used with this article) '"ToS
bacco, Anoxia and Angina" in ORE
der to catch the attention of users
of tobacco. What I shall say about
the relation of tobacco to angina
pectoris (and other manifestations
Of cardiovascular disease = heart
artery disease) will be my own
opinion, although I may cite the
views Of real doctors in support OF
the OPINIONS express.
Some physicians regard tobacco
or excessive use Of tobacco as q.
cause if not the cause of angina
pectoris. Some physicians doubt
that tobacco is the cause. And some
physicians resort to the good old
medical practice Of hedging and
keeping the world guessing what
the doctor thinks, as for a shining
example, DR.. Osler Here is the
way Osler dealt with the question
in his Practice: There are three
groups of cases of so-called tobac-'
co heart: First, the irritable heart
of smokers, seen particularly In
young lads, In which the symptoms
are palpitation, irregularity. and
rapid action; secondly, heart pain
of a sharp, shooting character
which may be very severe; and
thirdly, attacks Of such severity
that they may deserve the name Of
angina
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Not Wise Cracking
Is there any harm in cracking
your knuckles? IL. M
Answer seldom crack 'em-
nearly always can find something
else to do to while away the time.
However, if you can't resist the
temptation to crack 'em there is no
serious harm in 1t.
Belly
How can I procure instructions
for practicing the belly breathing
exercise? While in hospital with
broken leg I tried to find the exact
location Of the belly" but got va
rious answers from different doctors
and nurses. (MiSs s. PO
Answer-It is the front wall Of the
abdomen, and the abdomen is the
body cavity containing the stomach,
intestines, liver. pancreas, spleen.
gall-Sac. For pamphlet on Belly
Breathing" send stamped envelope
bearing your address.
Iodine Not Poison
I meant to begin taking your
iodine ration, but when I examined
the vial mote closely I found it
has a POISON LABEL on it, and 2
am afraid. III. M. R)
Answer-Just an old pharmacal
custom; and besides, in some states
the poison" label on tincture OF
iodine keeps the sale of this pop
ular first aid disinfectant out of the
hands Of other dealers than drug
gists.
Copyright, 1914, John F. Ollie co.,