The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-06-27
COPPER SULFATE IN THE.
 FIRST AID KIT


 One of the items I suggest that every first aid kit or household medicine cupboard should contain is a vial of blue vitriol copper sii- fate. preferably a half dozen one- grain tablets or, if such tablets are not available, then six grains of cooper sulfate dissolved in two tabiespoonfuls (one fluid ounce, Of , water.
 This is the most dependable emetic for infant, child or adult in a serious emergency, say where a child has found and eaten or sWal- lowed some poison. Couper sulfate indunces vomiting immediately, not ten or fifteen minutes from now or maybe not at all, like syrup of ipe- cac. Ipecac Is all right to give 8 child whose stomach is overloaded with food; or child or adult with bronchitis who doesn't cough up the mucus from the bronchial passages but swallows it instead. If the first dose or doses leverage emetic dose is a teaspoonful of syrup of ipecac for infant or young child) fails to produce vomiting 1t will have some expectOrant effect anyway = that is to sayl, 1t promotes coughing up of phlegm and so aids the bron- chial tubes and lungs to free them selves of phlegrn, nucus or other secretions when infiamed or when the patient is choked up.
 But suppose your baby has found some "candy" in the form Of pretty pills or tablets containing strych- nine or other poison, and you fear or you cannot be sure-the only safe course Is to empty the baby'S stomach immediately. In this emergency 1t might be fatal to wait for ipecac to work, even If you have 1t in the house. You are wretched sort of parent, guardian or neigh bor if the best you can do in the emergency is to rush" the child to a hospital, Of telephone for doc tor, or fool around with mustard, salt water, etc. -........ Give the baby . spoonful tea- spoon, tablespoon, no matter) of the copper sulfate solution. If the copper sulfate is in one-grain tab- lets, give couple of the tablets in spoonful of water. This will lit- terally bounce back almost as soon as 1t enters the stomach. and bring with 1t whatever the child has just eaten.
 I must warn readers who wish to follow this suggestion against the gratuitous cautions some druggists will trump up to cover their un- preparedness to supply this remedy. I have already mentioned that "blue vitriol" Is common name for cop- per sulfate, and may also men, ton that 1t is sometimes known as blue stone" The pure crystalline copper sulfate is of course poison ous, astringent. Nevertheless, so Is ipecac poisonous in large quantity. Most good remedies are poisonous if wrongly used. That is no reason why they may not be sold to the public without dificulty-just as ordinary tincture of iodine is.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 Girls VIII Be Girls
 May have your pamphlet How to Lose Weight" I inclose stamped envelope bearing my address. I had best tell you am 30 years old, weigh TO pounds and cannot take strenuous exercises. If your reduc- ing instructions include taking such exercise. CMrs.. W. J. s.
 AnSwer-No, Ma'am, strenuous exercises are no part of & physiolog- ical. healthful reducing regimen But I can't see why you girls are 50 crazy to reduce when, as you are, you make just a comfortable arm ful and all. I'm sorry, but If you were my girl I'd say Nix on the re. ductng idea. Just stay as you are. BuniOn
 Suffering almost beyond measure with bunion on left foot. Chiropo- dists tell me an operation cannot be guaranteed to cure. Miss w. Al
 Answer-Bunion is IN the foot, not just on 1t like corn or callus It is essentially partial dislocation of great toe joint, with hypertrophy or enlargement of heads of the bones making the joint and often inflammation or infection of bursa pad over the joint. No honest doc tor ever guarantees any operation or other treatment to cure. Slc- cessful operation generally involves resection (trimming down) of en- larged head of metatarsal bone, to permit reduction of dislocation and straightening of toe, then rest of the foot for three weeks.