The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-11-07

oN'eSts NuicdBO, LII.
 I hope, my dear children, that you have by now got the antiseptic nonsense out of your heads. Lest you still imagine the application of antiseptic lotions, salves and the like promoted healing of a wound, it may be well to state here a few specific facts which no physician or surgeon will have the .emerity to dispute, in the opinion of the one horse-and-buggy doctor who con- ducts this column. If any physician or surgeon of standing is in any doubt at all about this I'll be grate- full for his or her view and of course I'll make no aliusion to what such colleague may say to me about it without first submitting anything I propose to say here for his or her approval.
 One fundamental principle of good surgery and good home treatment of wounds of any degree is difficult for the ordinary layman, the prac- tical nurse and the well-meaning but untrained neighbor or by-stand- CA lO SItIICllAlC ltCS
 Probably you won't believe it, but having talked myself into this awk- ward situation I may as well make the best of it and say that, as near ly as I can learn (and don't forget I'm a plodding old horse -and-buggy doctor), once a wound, surgical or traumatic (accidentaD is clean, free from diSeaSe-producing germs, it will heal best If not disturbed or tempered with for week, more or less.
 That is only one part or feature of scientific neglect. Don't handle, tamper with, put healing salves or lotions on, or change the first aid dressing of the wound for sev- eral days, unless some complication arises and then leave it to the judg- ment of the doctor
 This scientific neglect does not mean that the wound should not have rest, whether that involves rest of the entire body Or rest of the part injured, as in Splints. Often the use of adhesive plaster straps or collodion gives this desir- able rest to wound or sore or fisA sure, as of the face or about the mouth.
 Even if the dressing used on the wound be surgically sterile and the doctor or nurse trained in surgical asepSis, the mereSt disturbance of the injured tissues attending the change of dressings must be reck- oned a setback to the healing pro- cess. That is the reason why, after delicate skin grating operation, for instance, the original dressing is left undisturbed for week or more.
 Proper treatment for pain, burn ing. smarting, feeling of tension or throbbing in a wound is strictly problem for the physcan and should never be left to the judgment ot any one other than the physician.
 In all ordinary circumstances, ii physician is not available, the safest course is a single application of Mild Tincture of Iodine U. s. P. (best poured on from the viaD, and then @ covering with any freshly ironed cloth or a pad Of sterile gauge (cheesecloth) or sterile cotton Qncorrectly called "medicated' cot tom which may be held in place with bandage. adhesive plaster straps or gentle pressure with fingers or hand until bleeding stops or a physician can treat the wound. QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
 So Your Stomach Can't Take It
 Until I was past thirty l never knew what stomach trouble or so- called indigestion meant. But for the past ten years have had al- most constant trouble from what some doctors call ulcer and others just hyperacidity, (M. E. E)
 Answer-May be the first to call it Yankee Stomach? Send a stamped self addressed envelope and ask for pamphlet Yankee Stom- ach". It deals with excessive acid ity and suggests how to prevent or correct it. If you want to delve deeply inclose ten cents and ask for booklet 50 You have Indigestion v
 Steel Wool
 Wife uses steel wool for cleaning pots and pans-is there danger in ! this? co. M. F) AnsWer-No.
 Old Folks and Young Folks
 Are you kidding when you speak of rolling somersaults, jumping hedges and the like? (E. T, W)
 Answer-No, sir. Send stamped self addressed envelope for "Young Folks and Old Folks" and "Somer- saults."
 Copyright l945 by John F. Dille Go.