MEDICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16032, 25 September 1915, Page 6 (Supplement)

MEDICAL NOTES.

•i TEETH AND HEALTH. ■ In a' recent public lecture at' the Harvard' Medical School Dr. E. G. Braekett, of Boston, called attention to the importance of the teeth in the human economy. "The teeth," said Doctor Brackett, " are often a primary cause of rheumatism. Many persons seem to have perfect teeth, or the dentist has treated them so scientifically that the patient has no trouble; but it has been found in many cases that abscesses hav% formed at the root of a filled tooth, and upon the removal of these abscesses the rheumatism has disappeared." Doctor Braekett also showed; the close relation of the teeth to the general health of the body. Bacterial poisons are commonly found round the roots, especially where pus pockets exist. Not: only do these pus pockets cause swollen i joints, but .they are responsible for other I complications, including intestinal ail-! ments. Fortunately, it is not hard to! discover the sources of the trouble; an X-ray photograph of the jaw at once re- ' veals the tiny pockets, which then can be easily removed. HOME REMEDIES. Put six or seven sprigs Sf ordinary dried .-sage into a quart jug, pour boiliug water on to the sage until the jug is nearly full, add a dessertspoonful of vinegar. Inhale with wide-open mouth as long- as the liquid remains hot, making a screen of the hands around the top of the jug to prevent the steam escaping. Repeat every few hours until the <|Uinsy breaks, which will be in a much shorter time than with any other application. This process also induces refreshing sleep. Care must be taken afterwards that the throat and mouth are not exposed to cold air until quite well again. For neuralgia and muscular rheumatism a capsicum plaster is useful. In case of faintness or hysteria give from half to a taespoonfnl of sal volatile in a little water, and bathe the face and hands with cold or tepid water. In a severe fainting fit a mustard leaf may be applied over the heart. It should be kept on for about 20 minutes, and then be followed by a linseed poultice 91- a hot flannel laid over the part to prevent a chill. In the case of violent hysteria continuous applications to the face and back of the neck of cold water with a large sponge are generally effectual.

INDIGESTION. All forms of indigestion, merge into one another, but classifications that are easily mad© in practice are not always able to be argued out on paper. Bulk is necessary to healthy digestion, bat bulk and excess are words : that differ widely in their meaning. "As a rule," says a great writer, the rich eat too much, and it evidently tells upon them. Both men and women get stout, and between 40 and 50 many Jiecin to suffer from affections which are called by divers names and affect divers organs, soch as the lungs, the liver, or- other parts, but -which are more or less allied to dyspepsia< and gout." " The life of a gourmand," says another writer, "is one of continued fever; the blood of such an individual is often unnaturally hot- his secretions are vitiated; his flesh unwholesome, the teeth decay at an early age, and in temper he is often unbearable, not only to his servants, but also to his wife and children. When you find a man of this sort you may be sure that he not only eats but drinks' too much." Too mat a deviation from the normal lines of living must react unpleasantly. To crowd the stomach may mean not to crowd it alone, but every tissue in the body. The furred tongue, the white of the eve tinged with yellow, complexion of a muddy-hue, a bad taste in the mouth in the morning—all these tell the simple story of something more than a strained liver working imperfectly. They tell of poisoned blood and breath, irritated nerves, weakened muscles, and a general impairment throughout the body.Either there has. been great or- long-con-tinued overeating, or something has- been taken which has tended to impede the excretory organs in their work and to retain uv the wb*fc- should hay* been thrown out.

GASTRIC T7LGXS. The stomach wall, like any other part of the body, depends upon a healthy supply of blood in order to preserve its integrity and activity. In an ulcer of the stomach there is. always some interference with the blood supply in a certain area of the stomach wall—the area in which the ulcer occurs. ' In the vessel, or vessels, supplying such an area the blood supply is deficient, owing to some such condition as clotting of blood in the vessels, or to spasm of the latter preventing an adeouate 'supply of the fluid. It has been advanced that bacteria may also play an active part in causing degeneration and. death of a small portion of the mucous membrane Mining the stomach. Given in any case a small area of mucous membrane devitalised by deficiency of blood suoply, or by the agency of bacteria, it follows as an inviting hypothesis that the gastric juice capable of dissolving protein foods introduced into the stomach is also capable of dissolving this small portion of devitalised stomach wall, and thus producing further ulceration. Treatment of. gastric ulcer, like its diagnosis, must be left in professional hands. Many ulcers will heal under strict rest and dieting, but a certain number become chronic, Rnd surgical interference has to be contemplated. Even so, many , people are going about with 'chronic ulcers who think their complaint is " acid dyspepsia," and so forth, and manage to live a tolerable; existence, although they would . undoubtedly be greatly benefited at the hands of a „surtreoii. In some cases the aid of surgery is undoubtedly called for, hut if symptoms are not severe, it may be borne in mind that a chronic ulcer is not so pron» to perforate completely the stomach wall on account of the inflammatory thickening; set no in the latter in the course of time, which acts as - a natural protective measure. The acute, recent ulcer is usually to he regarded as more threatening than that which has existed over a lengthy period of time.

INFLUENZA. The term influenza has, unfortunately, in an age which likes to put the last ounce of stress upon its every topic, been very iauch abused. Everything with a headache, some fever, and a general heaviness all over the body, is now gliblycalled influenzafrom acute follicular tonsilitis to ptomaine poisoning. The public has a respect for influenza as a disease liable to spring the most awful and unexpected complications upon its victims and it is to be feared that doctors have not been wholly innocent in securing it this reputation for "frightfulness." When the exact nature of a malady was obscure and the friends of a patient were urgent for a namewhy, influenza did admirably as a temporary label, and kept all concerned in peace until the disease matured its attack and showed its real nature. And, of course, that had to masquerade as a complication and add fresh renown to the cruel grippe. . Here, however (writes Dr. Robert Watson), I want to write some notes upon the typical attack, an infection which has run like a plague through the kingdom during the past month. You may have an incomplete experience of the influenza, a sort of drawn battle where neither you nor the germs can win, and the contest drags on in slow, indefinite misery until circumstances favour either you. or your enemy, and the issue is decided. But the characteristic influenza knocks you over almost without warning. In the forenoon you may be rejoicing in your fitness, and the afternoon find you completely collapsed. Or you go to bed well and cannot rise in the morning. It has been proved that, where other infections take - days or weeks to develop after one has come in contact with a sufferer, the influenza bacillus can in a few hours after its arrival in your body so multiply and so manufacture its .poison that your whole body responds in an unmistakable manner. The symptoms produced are especially a severe rigour or shivering fit, some soreness of the throat, a hot feeling about the eyes, very oppressive headache manifested, especially low down behind the brow and • eyes, a crippling backache, soreness of the whole length of the limbs, as if they had been strained or bruised, generally some cough, and always a smart rise in 'the' temperalure. i