The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-09-30
DOES CHOCOLATE CAUSE
 pFNEpkES?

' have A lot of blackheads and ninnles, I am l5 years old. use only the finest cold cream and 2 little llpstick. Our doctor says I VII not net my skin clear of this trouble untii I stop eating chocolate. He calls it acne something ot other. Please tell me what to do. (Miss W. D -.
 First, Wanlta--hey, what's wrong about that name, shouldn't it ne spelled Juanlta9--first, I remember how much suffered from 0 lot ok hlnckheads and plmples-acne val@ Varis-when l was your age, and SO | have deep sympathy for any youngster 80 afflicted, and especially Q girl,
 tors were going great guns in then unrestricted ballyhoo, so, being young and credulous and enllghs- ened only with public school physi- oloEy-which was pretty sad stun. I assumed that the "skln erupttons" on which the quacks held forth 90 friRhtfully included syphilis and simple blackheads and pimples as well. Thank heaven we were 80 poor that 1t was out of the question for me to consult the quack who was making the most noise ct the time.
 Then, too, the vicious superstition which the gossips of that epoch propagated with great relish, and which is stlll resurrected on occa- sion, infer from the letters young people write, was another kick In the teeth for the kid with acne. That was the belief or suggestion that blacEheads and pimples iIn- piled not only impurity of the blood but moral impurity too.
 Of course only an individual of the lowest grade of intelligence ena, tertains or utters any such thought today. The truth is that acne vul- garis, excessively oily or greasy skin, blackheads and plmples may be rec garded as virtually . normal, phys- illogical manifestation of youth perhaps too rapid development Of sebaceous glands in the skin for Q year or two.
 Now about chocolate. Many phy- slcians. perhaps some authors of textbooks on Dermatology (diseases Of skim mention chocolate among the innumerable causes or contrl- buting factors of acne, Remember, now. I'm no specialist and what I don't know about the human hide and It's diseases or blemishes fills many tones and several epitomss. but Wanita asks my opinion and this is it. I do not believe chocolate in itself Is responsible for any such skin trouble, but In A later talk I'll try to explain that what generally goes with chocolate flavor is, ia my Judgement, sure enough cause .0k' blaekheads and pimples. -.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS {
 Trench Mouth . live in hotels and eat in restaurr. ants wherever 1 find them-whiclFs I suppose, make trench mouth Q dire possibility, If not other infectlons, especially in war time, Can you suggest any mouthwash which would be of any value in preventing trench mouth, sore throats, colds9 (Mrs, s. Mo
 Answer-FTeQuent use of solution of borlc acid, especially after eating, as mouthwash, may be Of value in that way. Prepare your own solu- ton by dissolving one.thlrd to ones half teaSpoonful boric acid powder in half glaSsful of water-enough to last q day,
 Life Expectancy o
 Please explain why 0 womans life expectancy. B greater than . mans.
 (H. O
 Answer--Exeept to confirm your imprs Dsion-recent statistics show that women live a few years longer than men-I have no explanation. I was formerly inclined to infer that women behaved better than men, took better care Of themselves as regards smoking, drinking and assos ciated exceSses or sins. Now I am not SO sure about that. Recurrence of Hernia
 Have had two hernia operations, but my hernia came back few weeks Afterward. I am told theTe is now . non.Surgical method of know what 1t Is, what it costs and curing hernia, and would like Go how successful 1t may be. (H. ]. K.)
 AnSwer-Hernia (rupture, bfeacll) recurs after radical operation In from 10 to 26 per cent of cases. Re-, currence rate after Ambulant (ln- jection) treatment is certainly not greater, perhaps lower, For pamph- lot on Hernia send stamped self. addressed envelope-no clipping, please.
 Copyright iO44. John ?. bile Co.j, Iaaa A@u