Evening star., 1961-07-11
Stop
Killing
Yourself
By PETER J. sTEINcRoHN

Dear DR.. Steincrohn: I am
As years old and just glad to
be alive. I have rheumatic
heart disease and arthritis
but I am writing because l
want to help others. My real
problem for four years was
gas and heart burn. X-rays
showed nothing, but at last
the mystery was solved: I am
allergic to corn, malt and let
tuce.
Chewing gum gave me gas
and my stomach would swell
after a lettuce salad. And so
many pastries have corn
syrup and malt! I have felt
like a new person since 1 got
over the gas and heartburn.
If any Of your readers have
stubborn stomach symptoms,
I wish they would remember
this: Be sure to go to your
doctor to make certain you
aren't suffering from some
food allergy you don't even
suspect.
Mrs. K, Los Angeles.
FAIR ESTIMATE is that
one out Of every five persons
has some form of allergy.
Most people Immediately
think Of hay fever, asthma,
eczema, migraine, or skin
sensitivity to drugs or local
irritation. AS Mrs. K. sug-
geStS, stomach upsets and
chronic Indigestion are often
overlooked as being due to a
food allergy.
If you have been to your
doctor and have had all sorts
Of X-rays and other tests
without coming up with the
real cause of your diScom-
forts, never forget allergy as
q possible cause. It doesn't al
ways stick out as prominently
as q sore thumb. It's easy to
point to strawberries you had
last night as q cause; or to
shell fish; or to something
that Is a common cause of
allergic disturbance.
It's when the symptoms
and the cause are vague that
you and your doctor have to
go looking; the two of you
must set out on the diagnos-
tic trail. Going on an elimi-
nation diet can try your pa
tience; but it's often worth
all the trouble and expense,
Dear DR.. Steincrohn: I
think we make q mistake
in calling so many doctors
specialists" People have a
tendency to have a half
dozen specialists on a string
and no family doctor they
can turn to for advice. I
believe that specialists should
really be called "consultants."
Only used when the general
practitioner needs help.
Here in Canada we are
making a studied effort to
educate the public in the
adviSability of having a
general practitioner given the
responsibility for their medi-
cal care; and of never seeking
or receiving other care or
advice without the family
doctors knowledge. This
elevates or relegates the
specialist to his proper role
in the profession to that Of
being a "conSultant."
A family or individual
having a multiple number Of
specialists responsible for
their medical care, we feel, is
not making the best use Of
the profession. 1t is bound
to lead to self-diagnoSis or
diagnosis friends. In ad-
dition, the family doctor is
In the best position to know
when, and If, a conSultant
(SpecialiSt) is necessary; and
to advise which one is best.
When the general practi-
tioner is entrusted with the
responsibility. he will accept
it. appreciate it and live up
to it.-Dr. W., Canada
1 AGREE. I have seen too
many patients run off in all
directions because they came
I'm Ideally unguided."
Instead Of going to a family
doctor for advice on where
to go for specialist treat
ment, they rushed off to a
surgeon when they needed
a heart man-and vice versa.
Or, went to a skin specialist
when they should have seen
an allergist.
If ever you have a pain or