The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-19
MEDICINE Is cOnrICA1.

MEDICINE IS COM1CAE If you are as sincere in your concept aS you would have you1 readers think (writes a medical colleague who seems sincere enough) why do you harp on the harmlessness of exposure to cold and dampness2 Why don't you of- fer your concept of the harmless ness of such exposure and let it 20 at that? You never venture to say that avoiding exposure to cold dampnesS, drafts, etc., and wear ing whatever clothing one may con- slider necessary for protection Is in itself injurious or productive Of tll- ness.
 Regarding the i'll effect of wear ing more clothing than is necessary for physical (mind, I don't say mentaD comfort, let me quote from an article published in one of the leading medical journals recently:
 Sunlight to be effective, re- uuires the exposure of the entire body to the direct rays of the sun. This exposure must be grad- ual. It is not only necessary for proper growth and development, but it is the child's defense against that curse of childhood. ricketS. Out of doors play in the fresh air with scanty clothing" (this was published in AugusO {. twill materially help in banish- ing the common cold
 Whatever "the common cold" may be the medical writer of course does not explain. In fact no medical writer, no physician, no health authority can or will define 'the common cold"-ask him and he'll evade the thing neatly by say-e ing that everybody knows what the common cold is.
 In the same article by the phy- sician who extols exposure to fresh air and sunshine Gin the good old summer time, at any rate) there IS some hackneyed repetition of the old hokum about drop in temper ature chilling the body and render ing the child more susceptible to- guess what, Doctor, but only one guess now-wel, to "cold and tn- fectionS."
 So 1t comes down to the same old line: Of course, my darling daugh- ter, it's fine for your health to go for swim if you don't go too near the water.
 When the old timers stop adviS- ing people to secure fresh air but beware of drafts, Doctor, I'll pipe down, too.
 Anyway, put all my cards on the table. But you physicians, au- thors and health authorities play yours so close to the chest that one never knows when you're going to play your joker. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 Ouch
 Would salicylic acid collection be injurious If accidentally entering the eye? I have 8 large wart on lower eyelid near the lashes.
 CT. E. O. AnSwer-YeS, it would. You should not attempt to treat a wart in such place-it is a job for 8 doctor. MOleS
 What causes moles and what can be done for them
 (Mrs. R. c. Al.
 Answer-Depending on the loc tion, number, size and character O. the pigmented spots. electric -desic- cation( kind of diathermy), X-ray, carbon-dioxide snow, di- chloracetic acid or surgical excision under local anesthesia and trans planation of skin graft to cover the spot.
 Hereditary
 Is diabetes hereditary
 (H. R. J0
 Answer-Yes. At least the ten- dency or potentiality to develop the disease is transmitted to offspring. Whether the child of diabetic will actually develop the disease or not depends largely on how the child hves-especially whether he or she gets sufhcint daily EXERCISE and follows natural (not too reflned) diet. Send ten cents and stamped envelope bearing your address, 10. booklet Training for Diabetes" Copyright. 1914. John F. bile Col ---------------------------