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Show itiaiiMMiii Jhe Value and Limitations of Specialists' - yish I could impress upon every follower of this department the real value and limitations of specialists. So many, many letters reach me from people who have paid dearly for ignorance ig-norance of these matters. First, in no place in America is thcre any legal restriction upon the practice of any specialty of medicine or surgery. So long as a candidate has received a license to engage in general practice he is entitled to practice prac-tice any specialty he chooses without further preparation. Hence a specialist special-ist or a surgeon is not necessarily better educated or better trained than any other doctor. Of course, many physicians do voluntarily pursue special spe-cial study after receiving the medical degree in fact, all the better specialists special-ists and surgeons do so; but so do all the better general practitioners nowadays. Second, it docs not follow that because be-cause a practitioner calls himself a specialist in this or that line, or even because he limits his practice to some particular line, that he is at all expert ex-pert at such work. Many a young tyro is a sort of "born" specialist, without any general experience at all; and many a traveling charlatan is a kind of all-round specialist, take it fiom his own paean of self-adulation. A doctor who devotes all his time to the study and treatment of certain types of disease naturally acquires some special skill, becomes more or less expert in his own line, if he is of a scientific, studious turn of mind, but not otherwise. There are quite as many incompetents incompe-tents in special practice as in pulpits, business offices and every other line of endeavor. Specialists are a great blessing. No one doctor can hope to master the whole field of medical science. Therefore, There-fore, it is a fortunate thing that the family doctor can study his patient, 'find evidences of some special condition, con-dition, and refer the patient to a. competent specialist for help. This is true economy. It is alsothc best evidence of honcstv and skill in the Dr. Brady will answer all slpnca le writers are never printed. Only inquirie column; but all inquiries will bo ansia envelope fa enclosed. Requests for diagnc be considered. Address Dr. William Brae family doctor. He sends the patient to a man he knows is worth consulting.. consult-ing.. His selection of the specialist is likcty to be more appropriate than the patient's selection would be, for the patient, as hundreds of letters to this department show, too often consults con-sults the wrong specialist. How i3 the patient to know who is reliable? The way to a 'specialist lies through the family doctor's consulting-room, and it is the only economical and efficient way. QESTIONS AND ANSWERS. Singers and Speakers Plcaso suggest something- to prevent tho thickening and roughness or hqsklneaa of the voice which bothers a person much engaged In public Breaking or singing. I havo known singers and BpcakerB who lined some gargle and obtained great relief (A. W. II.) ANSWER. Powdered Alum , 1 dram Decoction of Barley 6 ounces Honey of Rose 2 ounces Dissolve tho alum in the barley water, and then stir in tho honey of tobc. Use as a garglo before singing or speaking. Stiff and Painful Shoulder I am 64 years old, and have suffered for four months with a stiff and painful shoulder, which I bellevo resulted from trying to pull down a heavy window. It keeps me nwake often, nnd 1 havo to wnlk the lloor with It. I cannot get my hand to tho top of my head to brush amllrcss my hair, nor can I put on my corset, or hook anything behind. Have had nn X-ray picture which was negative Have blistered, blis-tered, baked and otherwlso maltreated the shoulder to no apparent purpose I can hear a snapping or grating In the shoulder, shoul-der, but I sometimes hear that In the opposite sound shoulder. Is thore no relief for my trouble? (Mrs. E E. R.) ANSWER Tho description suggests bursitis luflnmmatlon of a little pad or sac, probably the one under tho acromial process (tip of the shoulder) Try this: Lean forward as to tie the shoelace. Let flomeono hold the arm In that position whllo you straighten up. If you now discover dis-cover that the arm goes well above tho head without pnln (though It does hurt when you lower It yourself), then the likelihood like-lihood of bursitis is strong. The treatment of subacromial bursitis would be surgical loosening up adhesions under an anesthetic, anes-thetic, or perhaps Incision and drainage of the Inflamed sac. ttcrs pertaining to health. Tho namc3 of s of ocncral ititcrcst are answered in thli trcd by mall if a stamped sclf-addrcsscd sis or treatment of individual cases cannot ly, care of this nowspaver. |