MEDICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14375, 21 May 1910, Page 7 (Supplement)

MEDICAL NOTES.

, THAT COLD IN THE HEAD. Got it now, have you? " Never really ', • free from it? Well, that is worse, and ' * something should be done. The first ques- • tion to ask yourself is, "How did you get it V In a crowded room ? That is likely ■ enough, for until such places are thoroughly ventilated, they will always be dangerous to health. Theatres are, for the most part, just as bad. But will you be surprised to be told that likely your head cold has had a dietetic origin, and that, • properly speaking, it isn't a cold at all, but a "chronic inflammation of the lining '•..'" membranes of the nose, brought on by irregularity in eating and drinking This >.' "induces a kind of fever, the nose and lips become dry from the* body heat, and so r - there is a difficulty in breathing, except ■\- : - through the open mouth. Simple chough'' . ,'..4 these so-called colds may appear to be, but -.:;■', they should never be neglected. Commence : • 'at once to regulate the diet. Eat very . i little meat, especially pork, though a little einoked bacon can do no harm. Plenty of , eggs and fish. Plenty of flour food "aind * fruit. Be most careful to keep the skin in -' good working order, take a warm bath occasionally, with a cold sponge always after it. ~.. Warm clothing, no excitement, early hours ; ; to ensure good sleep. See that the "feet are kept dry ajad warm, and avoid walking in ;• ■ slush. . ' %> - THE MODERN TREATMENT OF GALL-STONES. Modern medical researches have shown that gall-stones occur much more frequently than was formerly supposed. The statistics of post-mortem examinations made by various observers have shown the presence of gall-stones in more than 10 per cent, of all persons dying over 60 years of age. Gall-stones occur much more frequently in "women than in men. Guilbert, Dcminici, Furnier. and Mignot, as well as many other observers, have demonstrated that gallstones are due to infection of the biliary tracts. Germs are absorbed from the intestine, carried through the liver, and discharged in the bile. Gall-stones are formed '.;".■. in the effort to combat theso bacteria,. 1.-, hence are one of the means by which the body defends itself against invading microbes. These microbes found in the lower part of the gall-ducts are of a harmless ■•;/ sort, aerobes, while those found in the gall- * bladder and the upper portions of the biliary passages are anaerobes or poison-forming ;" ' and disease-producing germß. The source of these germs has been shown to be putrefactive processes taking place in the intestines. It is evident that the number ,? of persons who have gall-stones without ; being aware of the fact is very much greater than those who suffer from the presence ,; of these calculi. In fact, it appears that -,«. but a very small proportion of those who have calculi in their gall-bladders are ever *+$ in any ay aware of the presence of stones. Doubtless many persons are discharging 5; constantly from their gall-bladders small gall-stones which pass easily through the -"~_ gall-ducts and produce no inconvenience. ■i'- When, however, the gall-stones happen to ..be of such size as to be able to enter into :. the gall-duct, but too large to pass easily ; ? through it, obstruction occurs, accompanied ~ by great suffering. In many cases in which pain is experienced 'in the region of the gall-bladder, an operation reveals the pre- : v sence of gall-stones, and it is probable that* Y the pain and suffering have been due to JT* the inflammation of the gall-bladder 'ac- ;. companying the gall-stone rather than to ; ; ;„ the gall-stones themselves. Recognising j '■;- these facts, Guilbert, Carnot, 'and Jomier \; have recently suggested the importance of ;■. adopting means to prevent the formation S; of gall-stories, and to render them innocuous when their presence is suspected. The esV—; sential means suggested is .the adoption " •*. of a low protein dietary, , especially the lacto-vegetarian regimen. It is more than probable that the majority of persons having gall-stones, even when more or less disV comfort is experienced therefrom, may, by j the adoption of an toxic dietary, not :; only prevent the further development of the * <Jiseaso,~biai"secure its quiescence and entire .? relief from its symtoms by discarding flesh : I meats and t all substances calculated to en- : courage intestinal putrefaction.' Eggs should v should be" discarded entirely, or be eaten =~'.) very- sparingly, and the bowels should be made to move two or three times a day, so as to. give no opportunity for putrefaction, and the absorption of poisons. In "addition, ■ hot cloths applied • over the , region of the ; liver, twice daily,; the moist abdominal . bandage worn ,at f night,:; copious drinking .- and the adoption *of all possible measures" • v ■-. for building up the general ■ health are J. essential. •';" "• ' ..;'';"-,: - \