The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-08
TmE HOPELESS PROCNOsIS

The other uay | Salu tnAt ln exc ceptlonal cases the prospect of cure or great improvement Is indeed hopeless. Hopeless means having no expectation ot lasting improve ment or recovery of health,
 In the early days of my country practice a colleague In another vile lage called a surgeon from the city Co operate on boy with acute ape pendicitiS, and me to give the anesthetic. When we reached the boys bedside We found him, as the three of us were certain, moribund from general peT1tonitis formerly known as inflammation of the bowel"--the consequence or rupture of the inflamed or gangrcnous ape pendix that makes appendicitis so dangerous when surgical treatment Is too long withheld, While we were considering how best to tell the parents that 1t was too late to att tempt the operation the boys father solved he problem by announcing suddenly that he would not con- sent to operation. So we three doc~ tors -- the city surgeon the boys family doctor with some years of experience, and I, the tyro fresh from the hospital and, as you may well imagine, pretty cocky about my knowledge of all the latest wrinkles in the doctor trade--expreSsed our great sympathy for the family and retired, with hopeless prognostS we gave the boy not more than 24 hours to live.
 In similar circumstances I'd give the same prognosis today. Probabs ly ninety-nine out Of a hundred physicians or surgeons would.
 Nevertheless the boy made an exc cellent recovery and grew up to vigorous young manhood, only to lose his life finally in a railway ace cident.
 In exceptional cases -I do nos believe 1t would do any good to mention just which cases--but cases of a chronic or long enduring and progressively worsening characters -1 believe the physician should administer or prescribe whatever sedative, narcotic or dope" if you pltase. seems to give the patient any surcease or comfort, and with~ out regard for habituation. More- over I say 1t is wicked and cruel to impose any federal, state or municipal restriction upon the ad- mintstration or prescription of any such drug or narcotic by the at. tending physician in such circum- stance.
 The attitude of the federal, state and local government authorities Is and for years has been eQulvocal and in many instances downright dihhonest in respect to the control of the narcotic traffic. It would be better to let a hundred criminals escape punishment than to harosS or injustly charge one reputable practitioner with improper use of such drugs in his practice.
 QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
 Bone Meal
 have Ben Told bone meal tablets act as preventive of tooth decay. Have been unable to find them in local drugstores.
 Miss A. B.
 Answer-Bone meal is composed of about l5 parts of calcium in a hundred-calcium carbonate and tricalcium phosphate. It would be more effective. I believe, to take calcium gluconate and deicalcium phosphate. of course always with vitamin D. which is essential for utilization and retention of calcium.
 Carb0lic Acid
 Please advise me the correct aver- age dose of carbolic acid in water.
 (F. G. F.)
 Answer U. s. P. says average dose of pure phenol (carbolic acid) is two grains, or say two ar three drops of liqueficd "carbolic.' of course diluted with plenty of wa- ter. I doubt that taking carbolic acid internally every day for forty years. as you say you have done, has anything to do with immunity against any kind of disease. should not advise taking carbolic acid in any dose for any purpose.
 Dentist Is No BOgey
 I've aldays been afraid the dentist cleaning teeth will take of the enamel. It is safe? Do you believe in filling teeth? (C. O.
 Answer look again to see whether your letter is dated l845. It is not only safe. it is the only way the teeth can be kept clean, brush or no brush. believe in filling even the baby teeth. If cavity is discovered. For the sake of health. comfort good looks and long life 1t pays to learn. about the teeth. Send twenty-five cents and stamped envelope bearing your ad- dress for booklet "save Your Teeth"
 Copyright l945 by John F. Dille CO.