The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-06-15
Your Health
Mineral Oil May
be Advantageously
lead
Rv I. \. DUNnERsEN. 81. b.

OF all the mild laxative sub
stances, mineral oil is probably
used most frequently. For this rea-
son, Doctor Charles A. Anderson
and his eo-workers Of Burlington.
North Carolina, have made study
OF its effects and action.
Many statements have been
made concerning the possible
harmful effects Of mineral oil. 1t
has been stated that it may retard
digestion by coating the PARTICLES
Of food; that 1t interferes with
the absorption Of the products Of
digestion; that il may cause an
excessive loss of mineral salts,
such as lime and phosphorus, and
interfere with the absorption Of
vitamin "a"
An Excellent Eject
On the other hand, these physi-
clans think that when mineral oil
is employed by giving 1t directly
by injection into the lower bowel,
it has an excellent effect and they
have found it most useful in the
treatment of cases Of severe con-
stipation.
They found that mineral oil has
a most effective soothing action
on the irritated rectum. By its
soothing action, it reduces spas
ITCHY or contractions Of the bowel.
Because of its weight and bulk, it
acts as a mild stimulant.
When mineral oil is given by IN
lection into the lower bowel, 1t
acts on this part of the intestine
only. 1t permits complete diges-
ton of the food in the small in
testine.
Better Results
In 100 patients treated in this
way, it was found the more severe
the symptoms the better were the
results. Patients with mild con-
stipation due to weakness Of the
bowel muscles reported little II
any improvement. In the severe
cases of constipation, and in all
cases of rectal irritation with or
without n spastic bowel, good re-
suits were obtained. In fact, there
were no failures in the treatment
in those instances in which there
had been irritation Of the rectum.
Relief Of spasticity occurred
with surprising promptness. 1t
would appear that the oil acts as
a soothing protective agent which
gradually permits the tissue to re-
cover and the muscles to regain
their normal strength.
Bedtime Dose
In most instances, the patients
used the oil only at bedtime. How
ever, when there were severe cases
of piles, better results were OBJ
tanned when a small amount of the
oil was injected after each bowel
movement Some patients could
not retain the oil and in these
cases petroleum jelly or petrola-
tum was also used by putting it
into the lower bowel.
In constipation occurring in
babies and small children, it
would appear that this method Of
treating constipation has been
found quite satisfactory. 1t would
seem that the more severe the con-
stipation and the greater the spas
ITCHY of the bowel, the better were
the results obtained.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
P. Tt am sixty-seven and
have been taking treatment for
proetitis. Is there any hopel
Answer:-Proctitis means In
fiammation of the rectum. Such in
fiammation may be due to an infee-
ton but may also come from GER
tain types of tumor growths. A
careful study should be made to
determine the cause for the condi-
ton. Then proper treatment can
be carried out. Whether or not re-
covery will occur in your case
would depend entirely on what il
producing the difficulty.