Show THAT BODY OF YOURS n By Dr James W. W Barton The Tongue Tells of Many Ailments Many of ot us remember when I the physician not only took the pulse and nd temperature o of the patient but also looked at his tongue It was our thought that i if the physician found the tongue was coated he prescribed a laxative or purgative The purgative purga purga- purgative tive not only cleared out all the wastes in m the large bowel but also cleared out much of ot the poison polson in the blood For many years physicians have not been looking at the tongue but today physicians look at the tongue because aside from any coating it tells much about the general condition o of the body In the Bulletin New England medical center Dr Harold Jeghers Boston university states that changes in the tongue arc are numerous and re reflect reflect re- re or are actually diagnostic of many systemic disorders Dr Jeghers has not in mind the local diseases or even cancer or syphilis lis but even when the tongue is nearly y normal in appearance there are changes that can be seen by the naked eye or low power magnifying glass Thus dryness o of the tongue especially If output of urine Is below normal or urine is too heavy Is a re reliable reliable reliable re- re liable sign that the body is dehydrated de de- de- de hydrated lacks hydrated lacks water in the cells and tissues Dryness of the tongue may result from lack of nicotinIc acid or vitamin B complex com com- plex Disease of salivary digestive digestive digestive diges diges- tive glands such as mumps may cause tongue and lining of mouth to be dry For many years it has been known that much tongue discomfort dis dis- comfort comfort pain itching burning may may be caused by pernicious anemia Pain in the tongue may result also from irritation caused by teeth tobacco dentures being be be- ing allergic or sc sensitive to drugs and mouth washes local disease o of the tongue and derangement of the joint between upper and lower jaws A coated tongue brown In color Is a definite sign of lack of water in the tissues and tongue appears matted A coated tongue is common in and the strawberry tongue isa is isa isa a common symptom in scarlet fever An upset stomach or a chronic inflammation of the stomach causes a persistent coa coated ted tongue Where only one side of ot tongue Is affected It Is usually due to some nerve |