OCR Text |
Show HEALTH j BY UNCLE SAM, M. D. Health Questions Will Be An-awcrcd An-awcrcd if Sent to Information Bureau, U. S. Public Health Serv. . Ice, Washington, D. C. 4 BUNIONS. Bunions arc enlarged Joints, dc-i formed, with tender calluses over them. They cm be curod by operation, opera-tion, but the operation is a relatively serious one, involving reshaping of the Joint, and calling for special skill. Even minor operations for bunions, such as paring calluses over tho Joint, aro not free from real risk of Infecting Infect-ing tho "bursa" sac underneath, a serious matter. Bunions start from tight, short or other bad shoes, but proper shoes alone do not cure them. There arc special "splints" for bunions, but they are not vory satisfactory. Solid-soled soft shoes, broad enough, with a felt pad behind tho sore place to relieve it of pressure from tho shoe, give a good deal of relief- Apart from these measures all that enn be done Is an operation. COUNS AND CALLUSISS. Calluses result from pressure; unlike un-like corns, they have no "core." Thoy are merely thickened skin. Corns may bo treated with salicylic acid applications, but, owing to the changed structure of the skin composing compos-ing them, thpy tend to re-form even if the pressure is relieved. "Soft corns" between the toes are of an entirely different nature. They cm be rendered loss troublesome by bathing the foot in alcohol or salt water. Sometimes they demand a small but delicate surgical operation for removal. In the treatment of corns and calluses, cal-luses, a good chiropodist will usually obtain excellent results, but one siiumu niiiKe certain mat tne cniripo-dist cniripo-dist understands his work and is scrupulously clean. In old peoplo, or those whose circulation or general strength is poor, and especially in I those with diabetes, such work should 1 be undertaken only with great caution and in all cases, If there Is any doubt about the patient's condition, the fam-l lly doctor should be consulted The results of carelessness and incompetence incompe-tence are often disastrous. EXCESSIVE SWEATING. Sweating may be duo to poor health, to nervousness, to the disturbance of circulation due to arch troubles, or it may bo simply a personal peculiarity. In some cases, decomposition of tho sweat leads to troublesome odor, not rarely to much reddening and skin Inflammation. Bathing with modlcaled alcohol and water, and tho use of talcum of alum-talcum alum-talcum powder, give groat relief and may cure. Formalin solutions, more effective should not be employed except under medical supervision. Q. Will you please tell me some way to get rid of bedbugs? We have .them in one room, have used different differ-ent things, but can't get rid of them. Have washed everything in the room and put coal" oil in the cracks. Would fumigation kill them? A. In the eradication of bedbugs, coal oil, which you have been using, is almost always successful, provided it is properly applied. One must "track the beasts to their lair." Pic-turo Pic-turo moldings are very likely to be invested. in-vested. The same is true of the backs of pictures hanging on tho walls. In the bed they are usually found in the corners' and .dusty crevices. In the bed springs thoy may be found In the oust collected in the spiral spring near the attachment to tho frame. In mat-tressos mat-tressos they are often found beneath tho tuffs of cotton. Fumigation is usually much less effective than the proper application of coal oil. 00 1 |