Show THAT BODY OF YOURS Dr r. r J James me W W. Barton O I By Tho Placebo Medicine to 10 Please nease tho Pa Patient ent Some years ago during an epidemic of a mild form of in influenza influenza influenza in- in a busy city physician stated that he had visited 60 patients the previous day I asked him what treatment he had given for this illness which while causing causing- some prostration apparently was Va not dangerous I see that the the patient is comfortable that a good nurse or attendant Is present If they are my regular patients I give them no medicine because they know I would give it if it were needed Where the patient is a stranger I see that the nursing is efficient and prescribe a pill pm or powder to be taken regularly the said pill or powder r being just a placebo What is a placebo A placebo is an epithet given to any medicine adopted more to please than benefit the patient pa pa- tient While it is recognized that medicine should not be prescribed prescribed prescribed pre pre- scribed to relieve symptoms until the patient has been examined examined ex examined ex- ex except the pain of a severe burn or cancer it is sometimes necessary to raise the patients patient's morale because he de mantis manos attention DC De given to 10 re relieve relieve relieve re- re lieve his real or imaginary symptoms In the Transactions of the College of Physicians Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadel Philadel- phia Dr O. O H H. Pepper professor sor of medicine University of Pennsylvania states that often a physician is forced to prescribe prescribe prescribe pre pre- scribe some medicine for a patient patient patient pa pa- tient before any diagnosis has been reached This is done especially especially especially espe espe- when the patient is ignorant Ignorant ignorant ant and does not understand that the nature of the illness must be found before treatment can be given Other patients are displeased if no medicine is given on the first visit Also while making necessary tests tests blood blood urine sputum X-rays X and others others others-no no medicine can be given lest it interfere with the test Yet the patient must be encouraged by treatment treat treat- ment None of this is necessary if the patient and family are sufficiently intelligent The physician may quite prop prop- erly give a placebo to a high strung nervous patient the examination increases blood pressure and heart rate The placebo reduces tension Constipation It has been estimated that there are more persons with constipation than there are without it For information on this subject send today for Dr Bartons Barton's helpful booklet entitled en en 5 titled Constipation To obtain it just send lOc and a stamp to cover cost of handling and mailing Wrap coins carefully and mall mail your letter to Dr James W W. Barton care of or The Salt Lake Telegram Home Harne Service Bure Bureau u Salt Lake City Utah |