THE DIARY OF A DOCTOR WHO TELLS

Evening Star, Issue 22775, 9 October 1937, Page 2

THE DIARY OF A DOCTOR WHO TELLS

WALKING THE TIGHTROPE OF HEALTH Monday, October 4. “ I didn’t tlxiuk it would really hurt me,” said Pamela Young. She was referring to about half a pound of sweets she had eaten the day before. “I hate lecturing,” I said. “What makes doctors unpopular is that it is their job to act as school masters of health.” “ Then why do it? ” said Pam. “ Becaiuse if I didn’t, you’d die,” I replied straight from the shoulder. Pam is 35, looks 10 years younger, and is altogether charming. “ You have diabetes' and you know it,” I continued. “If you do your dieting and all that you’ll live as long ns I do. You have to remember that diet and insulin will probably keep you enioyably alive indefinitely, but damphoqlisbness will kill you. Someone put it very nicely the other day when h© said that • advanced diabetes walk the tight rope of health.”

“ Is it worth walking? ” said Pamela, miserably. “ Very certainly,” I said. “ You can. live a happy and useful life if you Want to.” Only 15 years ago diabetics died quickly once their disease passed a certain stage. Nowadays they find that the lamp of hope burns rightly and brightly. H. G. Wells keeps going with vigour and valour, despite longstanding diabetes. Old Clemenceau lived to bo 88. A usually reliable American magazine reports. that our late beloved King fought diabetes with success and courage. _ , Diabetes is increasing, being a disease of prosperity, as tuberculosis is a disease of adversity. Diabetic, like tubercular patients, walk a tightrope of health, their balance being dependent on their carefulness and common sense. Tuesday, October 5. I passed Kathleen Morley in the street to-day. She rather hurriedly turned the other w.ay when she saw me coming. Xt wasn’t me she was annoyed with so much as her conscience.

About three months ago she came along with the complaint that she suffered from constant headaches. Eye examination revealed the need for glasses. “I can see quite well, thank you," replied Kathleen, obstinately, when.l told her, I knew she was thinking of'.Dorothy Parker’s absurd dictum: “ Men never make passes at girls wearing glasses.” It is true that man. being rather a stupid creature, falls for beauty first and character afterwards. Nevertheless, I do not know i that wearing a pair of glasses ever prevented love between two people. The clear eye and healthy appearance of a girl who wears suitable glasses are more attractive than the red eyelids and headachy look of a girl who really can’t afford to do without them. And, actually, certain faces are definitely improved by glasses. Wednesday, October 6. Nurse and I are wondering whether Wendy. is extravagantly precocious or merely a, product ofiher time. To-day, for instance, at breakfast, nurse asked her would she have another glass of, milk. . ’■ ’ ■ ' ;. ■ thank' you, mummy,” she said, ; without a flicker of the eyelid, “I have had enough vitamins just now.” The modern child, thank goodness, is being trained to learn something of his body and of the food that keeps it well or ill. It won’t do him any harm. ' Not always is the information assimilated. There is, for instance, the essay of the small boy, who was asked to. write what he had. been taught about, the human body. This was the result : \ “ Our body is divided into three parts, the brainium, the borax, and the, abominable cavity. “ The braienium contains the brain, if any. The borax contains the lungs,' liver, lights, and heart! “ The abominable cavity contains the bowels, of which there are five, a, e, i, o, and u.” , Thursday, October 7, “ Oh, well,” said Mrs Hamlen, resignedly, “ I expect when you get to my age you must begin to expect this sort of thing. I’m prepared for two years of misery from now on.” The more you expect the more you’ll receive,” I replied with some frankness.

“Oh, but doctor,” protested my patient. “ Everyone knows that there comes a time in middle life when life becomes a burden for a woman.”

“A lot of people talk that sort of rubbish,” I replied, “ but in most cases the idea is completely unjustified. Old wives’ tales surround and deceive woman from the day she says good-byo to childhood till she reaches the halfcentury. 'Middle age is actually about the happiest time in a woman’s life. In most cases she at last begins _ to get the rest and freedom from physical worries which have caused her intermittent worries up to that time.” “Then you don’t think that these headaches and palpitations I’m getting, have much to do with my age? ” asked the patient. “ Your age may accentuate them,” I said, “ but a fortnight’s holiday away from too much sewing and reading, and a rest from the family will probably find you quite recovered.” Except in a few difficult cases no women need look fearfully at the approach of the late forties. Her troubles, if any, will probably be more psychological than physical. Friday, October 8. “ I’m afraid that he’s gorn sceptic on me,” said Mrs Higgins, mournfully, as sho displayed the legs of her 10-year-old Tommy. “ I told him to put a bandage and some salve on the cut when he done it, but you know what boys are.” The fall had occurred five days ago, and now the cut was definitely infected, I told the mother that rest in bed, constant hot water bathing, and an antiseptic like iodine between whiles was the correct treatment. Rest, heat, and cleanliness will cure most septic conditions. Ointments have their uses and only certain varieties have antiseptic properties. This should be ascertained before trying to heal a cut or so with any particular ointment. Probably the best and cheapest first-aid treatment of a wound is to wash it with hot water and soap. Soap is now found to have excellent antiseptic powers. Subsequent treatment if any sepsis shows up should include frequent similar bathing plus a gentle use of an antiseptic. It is surprising how often this treatment is not followed . . , and with what unhappy results. Names in this Diary are fictitious. Copyright.