Show I e eAL 1 AL S CHRONIC ACETANILIDE POISONING I Most people who have occasion to take headache powders or tablets migraine or neuralgia tablets so called cold cures or grippe remedies s are aware that the acetanilide the kicker kicker kicker kick er In these medicines medicines is is a poison poiso n capable of producing serious effects effect s upon the heart But It Is not commonly commonly commonly com com- known that persons who take tak e acetanilide containing medicines fo for r any considerable period suffer from m chronic poisoning and acquire a veritable veritable ver ver- ver- ver drug habit in every way comparable comparably com com- parable e with the opium habit This Thi s is one reason why the law requires require s that the quantity of acetanilide shall be printed on the label But how w few scrutinize the label before downIng down down- ing lag the dope edin any any medicine containing these should be taken taken un under un un- der a doctors doctor's supervision only Among the characteristic symptoms s of the acetanilide or coal tar drug dru g habit chronic poisoning are general weakness nervous excitability insomnia loss of appetite palpitation palpitation palpitation pal pal- shortness of breath the Individual Individual In In- In- In is easily winded by moderate e exertion numbness and weakness o of ef f arms anns and legs pain in the side spells spell s of faintness and a tendency to stomach stomach atom ach disturbance Cyanosis blueness s of lips nails or general skin surface is often present The blood Is weak a a. destructive anemia The face shows show s a marked pallor The blood when th the e skin is pricked has a dark brownish brownis h color unlike the scarlet of ot norm normal blood In some cases delirium o or r mania develops and the patient i Is s committed to a hospital for the insane Yet this same acetanilide under another another another an an- other name is alleged to cure a co coIn cokl in one day to o be fine for that tired tire d feeling to be a good thing for travelers travel ers era to carry to ward off oft seasickness o ocar or orcar orcar r car sickness to act like magic i incases In Incases n cases of neuralgia to relieve periodic c pains pains and and It certainly does relieve e pain ache fatigue or any other sensation sensation sensation sen sen- by clubbing the brain to slee sleep p and dangerously depressing the heart A rather potent medicine for simple ailments which are not sufficient t to 0 require intelligent medical attention I IA iA A powerful lot of mischief can be b e compressed into a pleasant little tab tab- let QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Pennyroyal Tansy and Please tell me what effect pennyroyal pennyroyal pennyroyal penny penny- royal and tansy have I note that they are listed in the United States Phar- Phar I What Is an gogue Answer Answer No No legitimate effect and no illegitimate effect other than poisoning poisoning poi poi- often fatal The Pharmacopoeia Pharmacopoeia Pharmacopoeia still sUll lists considerable junk junk it it Is revised by old or practicing non-practicing men for the most part An is an agent which restores menstrual function No drug can possibly do so When this function ceases or is de delayed de- de the general health should be attended to without particular regard to the sex of the patient It Is inadvisable inadvisable mad mad- visible and dangerous to administer any poison which purports to be an Death from convulsions convulsions is about the only eff effects such drugs produce Hay Fever I am a boy of 13 and have hae hay fever when I am In the East but do not have it when I am at home In Montana I know it is not the weeds because we have lots of weeds where I live Can you you tell me what causes it Answer Hay Answer Hay fever is alwa caused by some kind of pollen The particular plant or weed which causes your at attacks at- at attacks tacks probably does not grow near your our home in Montana Here are some of the plants known to be responsible in different cases Bastard feverfew I dock plantain canary grass careless weed Johnson grass cocklebur giant I ragweed common ragweed marsh elder goldenrod and according to some ob observers observers observers ob- ob servers timothy hay though this Is doubtful Determine by experiment which plant is your nemesis then either either eithe eith eith- er avoid the plant or have your doctor immunize you against its pollen Ear Drum Would you advise wearing an ear drum for tor deafness caused by measles when a child Answer If Answer If heating is improved by wearing a plug of cotton in the ear e ear r canal an artificial drum might help Otherwise not In any case such an appliance must be carefully fitted by the aurist lest it set up serious in in- in Dr Brady will answer all signed letters letters let let- pertaining to health The names name of writers are never printed Only In Inquiries Inquiries inquiries In- In of general Interest are answered in this column but all inquiries will be answered by mail mall If a stamped self addressed envelope is Requests Requests Re Re- Requests quests for diagnosis or treatment of individual cases cannot be considered Address Dr William Brady care of ot this newspaper |