Evening star., 1962-09-11
STOP KILLING
YOURSELF
BY PETER J. sTEINcRoHN

(CoA $4s SSCAAACA OAAAAs WY
husband Of two years Is So,
5 feet IL and weighs 214. He
has diabetes and has had q
heart attack. I would like
to see him lose some weight
but because he once weighed
270 pounds he regards him
self as not too heavy and is
quite unconcerned about it.
Any attempt on my part
to make him cut down his
food intake is greeted by re-
marks such as, Just because
you don't like to eat big
meals, you don't want any
body else to have them" He
claims that diabetes should
eat every four hours. Now,
If, overweight is a factor in
causing diabetes (not to
mention heart trouble), how
can he break this habit? I
sometimes think he Is pull
ing my Leg" or would you
call it something else?-
Mrs. M.
I'D CALL 1T "slow sui
eide"
Your husbands reactions
to advice-and that Of thou
sands Of others-according to
letters I receive from anx-
ious husbands and wives, In
dicate that there's a new
generation that needs to be
saved from itself.
II you tell your husband
that he Is slowly but surely
killing himself by not CO.
operating with his doctor. 1t
Is likely that he viii say,
Rubbish" and ask for a
second helping as noncha-
lantly as If he were a healthy
man.
I wish I might help. Mrs.
NJ, but all I can do Is warn
him. He isn't pulling your
leg; he is slowly squeezing
q trigger Of q gun at his
temple.
Dear DR.. st eincrohn:
While my dentures appar-
emily fit. they make me so
miserable ! can't keep them
in any length Of time. I have
had two sets made by Diff
ferent dentists. Still I have
no comfort. The burning sem
sation is very annoying. I
heard Of q woman who spent
large amounts Of money try
ing to find out why she could
not wear her dentures. FL
nally someone told her it was
something in the material
she was allergic to. With dif-
ferent plastics the dentist was
able to make satisfactory
dentures. Is 1t possible that
some patients are allergic to
plastics?-Mrs. s.
HAVE DISCUSSED this
problem with many Of my
dental colleagues. Most agree
that a proper fit is the most
important obstacle to over
come. Some people wait so
long before having bad teeth
extracted that the bony ridge
of the Jaw becomes absorbed
to such an extent, that 1t is
difficult to make dentures
which fit tightly (this is es-
pecially true for lowers).
But they all agree that the
psychological makeup of the
patient is important. Some
people actually become de-
pressed when all teeth have
been extracted and they must
now depend upon artificial
teeth. 1t does something to
them. 1t is like an enforced
farewell to youth and middle
age, and the invitation to en-
ter the gates of senility. They
never get over it.
Fortunately, most do. After
the early discomforts Of the
first few weeks they are soon
chomping at steak, and corn
on the cob. AS to a reaction
to certain plastics, that's a
possibility, too-but not COM
mon.
Mrs. S., you must ask
yourself where you fit in
with these problems I have
mentioned. II you are still
uncertain, I suggest that you
ask your dentist for a con-
sultation to determine
whether the cause Of the
burning is psychological or
due to the material in your
dentureS.
DR.. Steincrohn's leGtlet,
"PrdcticdI Pointers for Cor
ondry Patients" tDiH be
mailed on receipt OF a
stamped, selt-dddresSed en-
Uelope, and 10 cents in coin
for handling. Address DR..
Steincrohn in care OF The
EDeni11n !CfnF