The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1946-02-13
Your Health
Medicine Chest
Should Include
Antiseptic
BY HERMAN sUNDfsEN. NJ. Z

BY HERMAN bUNDEsEN. NJ.
PRACTICALLY every home
has some sort Of medicine chest or
cabinet but. unfortunately, in most
homes, the medicine cabinet is clut-
tered up with all sorts Of useless
preparations. A bottle Of medicine
which was used for treating some
disease is often kept when IL has
no further use. On the other hand,
many things which ought to be in
the medicine cabinet are not there
and, when some emergency arises,
there is q great deal Of seurrying
about to find the proper thing to
use.
The medicine cabinet should have
in it some antiseptic. A mild tine
ture of iodine, 2 per cent strength.
Is a good antiseptic for cuts and
bruises. II is also suggested that
some boric acid powder be avail
able. One teaspoonful of this pow
der in a glassful Of warm water is
recommended as an eye wash by
some physicians. II may also be
helpful on oozing, itching skin
eruptions for temporary relief.
Liquor Antiseptieus
There is also q prepara.ivn
known as liquor antisepticus which
Is q standard solution available at
drug stores. II is not expensive
and is useful as a mouth wash or
gargle. There are some who favor
having in the medicine cabinet q
sterile boric acid ointment or ster-
lie petrolatum. This may be en-
ployed for the temporary treat
ment Of burns. It is applied and
covered with fine gauze as an
emergency measure only.
For the temporary relief Of
aches and pains, it would appear
that aspirin is the safest prepara-
ton to employ. OF course, when a
condition develops which requires
the use Of aspirin, there should be
no delay in calling a physician, so
that the exact cause Of the diff
Guilty may b. found and effective
treatment carried out.
Another useful drug Is baking
soda or bicarbonate Of soda. A half
teaspoonful in a glassful of water
may be useful in temporarily re-
lieving heartburn, but Of course,
heartburn Is a symptom Of many
conditions such as ulcer Of the
stomach, and gallbladder disease,
as we'll as certain types Of heart
disorders. Hence, when heartburn
occurs, medical care is needed.
Other equipment which should
be in the medicine chest includes
bandages, cotton, scissors, adhe-
sive tape and sterile gauze pads.
1t is always we'll to have a clinical
Thermometer handy for taking
temperatures.
Do not make the medicine chest
. eatch-all for useless materials!
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
NJ. W.: / was operated on six
years ago for adhesions. Now ]
have them again. Is there any
thing that can be done for them
without surgery?
Answer: l know Of no method
Of getting rid of adhesions other
than further operative treatment
However, even. then there is no as
surance that they will not recur.
You should follow the advice of
your physician in regard to this
matter.
J. G.: In what way are reducing
pills harmful?
Answer: There Is a variety Of
preparations used for reducing,
such as gland extracts and such
drugs rs amphetamine sulfate.
Gland extracts, such as thyroid ex.
tract, might be damaging unless
employed IN the proper dosage
prescribed by the physician. Am
phetamine sulfate may be used to
check the appetite but this also
should be used as the physician
directs, since it also may be dam.