MEDICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17145, 26 April 1919, Page 5 (Supplement)

MEDICAL NOTES.

OHILDREirS TEETH. §|§lyte#fc-' |||§P '■s Chilareß hav* a complete sot of twenty : - teeth, at -the end of th» second year. , Nature gives them the hard little teeth go that they can tackle hard food. They Ijftlfe' can easily manage oatmeal biscuits, and \;jis!j . it is a goou plan to let them bake a bone %A.V in their hands and use their teeth on $o*l that. Their lower jaw and teeth will Iff!-*" develop much beter if they are given HP some work to do. If yen give them tflf. nothing but pap which requires no chewing the jaw and teeth begin to fade §f| away almost before they have begun to -S; develop at aIL ifeP, . ———_____ fH. HAIB FALLING OUT. |fe- One of the complications of influenza is the falling out of the hair. This need I'; ' cause no worry, it will all grow again. It is an example of the well-known fact that the condition of the hair depends on the condition of the blood. After tvphoid fever or any long debilitating illness the hair may fall. The roots of the bail are nourished by the blood, and if the blood is poor the nourishment is poor, and so the hair weakens. Indeed, the treatment of falling hair is in nine cases out of ten a matter of treating the general health and leaving the scalp alone. MYXOEDEMA. Myxoedema is a remarkable disaese, in which a lesion of the thyroid glands is one of the principal attendant circumstances. Myjo a dema, like Graves' disease, is more common among women than among men, though it usually occurs at a later age than does the latter. Occasionally, however, cases have been known to occur so early as eight years of age, though between thirty and fifty is the usual period. Here, again, no definite cause has been traced, though, liko exophthalmic goitre, it occurs inoro frequently amongst the neurotic. The symptoms develop slowly and insidiously, and it is usually not until the disease has well developed that the patient becomes alarmed. There is a gradual thickening of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, accompanied by a curious dryness or parched condition of the surface. The face appears to get broader, a certain sallowmss shows itself, though there is generally a patch of bright colour in each cheek. The nails thicken, the fingers become thick and uniform in shape, the thumb also swells, and the nose, eyelids, and lips become thicker. The mind becomes dull and stupid and very slow in movement. The speech also becomes slow and indistinct, the voice becomes monotonous. The pulse becomes weak and slow and the bowels constipated. Left to itself, the disease slowly develops along these lines, though it may continue for many years without causing death. HANDKERCHIEFS AND DISEASE.

It. is not fully appreciated by the public that tile article we carry as an every-day j' and necessary part of our attire may j becomt charged with elements of infection, j It it were, there would be shown much j more care in the use of the handkerchief j and in its cleansing. - Especially should ; this be the ca6e in families of whom any ! member is troubled .with a cold, influenza, ' or otherwise. One person with a catarrhal affection may impart the trouble to an entire household. This fact should make it common practice to isolate, the I handkerchiefs of an individual who is affected by an "influenza," The handkerchiefs used by such a person, too, should he treated in "the ; following manner:— They should he placed under water, and there remain for, say, two"or three days; then the water is to be heated—by pouring on boiling water— when this is cool enough they may be washed, soap, being , used, of course. Another washing.makes disinfection sure, and completely removes all rtain and effect of nasal appropriation. Then rinse the handkerchiefs carefully in warm water, and if possible hang upon a line to dry in the open air. Let them remain on the line over night.. When J handkerchiefs are treated in this manner,, diseased matter is robbed of its danger, a fabric of delicate character spared the sacrifice occasioned by hard rubbing and washboard penalty, and the luxury of a soft clean and white appliance may be had for the suffering nose, which is liable to be- for a time very sensitive from the effects of " blowing and excoriation." - THAErTING LITTLE CHILDREN. The training of children should begin almost at their birth. Untrained and uninfluenced by contact-with other members of the race, the human child would, gow up s brutal and somewhat; disgusting animal His purely selfish and greedy instincts would probably be tempered only by euch social conduct as would be dictated by fear. Human culture—mental, moral, and physical—is the fruit of steadily accumulated tradition, not inherited, but handed on from one generation to another, each feneration in turn adding to or modifying the tradition to some extent. This tradition is the most sacred possession of the race; and the man or woman who fails to keep its lamp trimmed is guilty of what is perhaps the greatest and most unforeiveable sin of aIL Men and women who bring children into the world have a special responsibility, and an increasing number of parents are coming to realise this, their duty to their children by no means ends when they have made provision for their purely physical well-being, for, while in the dense communities of which modern human society is mainly composed, children have numerous opportunities from very early years of supplementing the mental and" moral influence oi their parents through contact with thrir contemporaries, ; the effect of which thy psychological influence of a father and even more of a ' mother during the first few years of a child's life is a chief determining factor in his outlook and attitude to life and to humanity throughout his career. To bo a perfect parent one would need to be not only an embodiment of love and spiritual beauty, but a great philosopher as well, few art so humbly furnished but that if they choose they can direct the child's inherent energy, ambition, and desires for self-expression along channels of beauty, reverence, truth, and social eanity. - GRAVES DISEASE. Graves Disease, or exophtalmic goitre, na? only been known and described within the last century. It is a curious disease, with three prominent symptoms; goitre or enlargement of the thyroid glands, prolusion of the eyeballs, and rapid heartbeat. It occurs eleven limes more frefluently among women than among men, and most commonly begins between the a.-es of fifteen and" thirty. The cause is i t very clear, but it seems more usual ■.r-iutii; the hysterical and neurotic. The first 6\mptom to show itself is in nenr.y all cases rapid beating of the heart. Ami not only does the heart beat far more rapidly than usual, but beate with far more force, and the large arteries such as the carotid throb with some violence. A f»w months later a uniform enlargement of the thyroid glands is generally noticeab'e and at about the same time the eyebails become prominent, giving to the patient an unpleasant and terrified appearance. It mien becomes almost impossible f"r (he patient to cover the eyeballs even duri 115 sleep. The general health soon become- affeeled, weakness and lassitude devi'li.i. frequent headaches, the appetite is capricious, and the patient generally increasingly unstable, often giving way to repented fits of crying and irritability. In the way of treatment there is very little to be done. It is hoped that specific treatment will be discovered in the form of extracts or sera prepared from some one or other of the ductless glands. At present, however, the results are to be hoped for from hygienic treatment; residence in healthy situations, generally at a moderate altitude, combined with very gentla execise, simple nourishing diet. Tea, alcohol, and tobacco are generally to be avoided.