The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-03-11
BY WILLIAM BRADY, M. D.

A medical colleague In Quebec have been interested in your article "It Isn't the Heat It's the Aridlty." For few years back have favored the theory that the dryness in cur homes and other buildings during the season of ar- tificIal heating is at least Q con- trbuting factor Of uper respiratory | infections, Thank you, Doctor, for not saying "colds." From what you say I wish to caution you to 90 easy with your investigation Of the air condition ing question. It is donkey'S years since I had that bug, I spent two winters In Buffalo, N. F., doing little else but carrying buckets Of water all day to the dozen hunidi- fiers on al the radiators, but, by crackey, we had a bit of heaven In our house those two winters.
 l managed to complete my uxperi- ments, Doctor, without breaking up my family. But I shall never eii- Joy quite the sarle respect the mem bers Of the family paid me before. They did not deny that the fine balFny climate I achieved for the winter was kinder and pleasanter than the usual indoor Sahara, but for all of that they have regarded me as a cgackpot ever since.
 The trouble was that had to lug the water all through the long hard winter, for each humidifier evapor- ated at least c gallon Q day. l know I could not have carried on but for one little thing-all comments and alIusions by members of the family were on the facetious side, for no one dared to raise the question of , hypothetical "dampness." Tn many homes, am afraid, the "dampness" phobia would defeat such air cone ditioning.
 In the pamphlet on the subject I am glad to send to readers who ask for 1t in writing (no clipping, please) and inclose stamped self-ad dressed envelope, I name various sources of built-in air-conditionlng equipment and the simple but ein- cient humidifiers used.
 Although evaporation of a mere quart or two of water in a day in room may be helpful, 1t generally takes not less than a gallon a day in a small artificially heated room tho matter how heated) to nain- tain anything like ideal or comfort- able, healthy humidity. Hence a pan or container of water, whether heated or not, does not quite sifstce dipping in the water there should be numerous loops of wicks or ad- sorbant material suspended on rack or frame above the water-to aid evaporation.
 Almost every one who suffers at all from dry, chapped, cracked skin, irritation of throat and nose or bronchial trouble, and-well, per- haps we should omit reference to peevishness and irritability of tons perrin the winter time. will enjoy more or less relief from these ef- fects of extreme aridity when the indoor atmosphere is kept fairly hulnidified.
 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
 AIIergy
 Recently have developed what seems to be an allergy for alcohol. drink rarely, but lately even q small cocktail. beer or wine seems to make my lower jaw jingle. my lower lip thick, stiff and unman- ageable. (A.J.l Answer-There are two alterna- tiyeg-have enough independence or character to decline the drink. CT go whole hog and drink yourself unconscious of what a sorry state you are in.
 Alcohol in Blood
 Does alcohol enter blood stream9 If so, how long would 1t take 10 leave the blood if a person stopped dFlnking9 lM. IT. AusWer--Y It is completely el- minated within @ day or two after the person stops drinking, But the damage to the body cells, tissues, organs Is something else.
 Babies should dnaw
 Two gFandsons. Ia and 2 i-2 years old. persist in gnawlng thelF wooden beds, not just the paint off them but the wood Itself
 (Asrs. I. McAl. Answer Danger of lead poisoning