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Show (1 T A L KS H Asthma Many theories have prevailed at different times in the study of asthma. asth-ma. Heredity, of course, was blamed, as it has been blamed for most diseases dis-eases we have not understood. "Nervous," "Ner-vous," "bronchial," "spasmodic" and 'idiopathic" arc adjectives applied to asthma in a groping effort to define its nature. A few years ago "reflex irritation" from nasal deformities came to the front, and a few remarkable remark-able cures were produced by the removal re-moval of spurs on the naal septum or hypertrophied (thickened) turbinate turbi-nate bodies; but more such operations opera-tions failed to give any relief, because the "reflex" theory was wrong, after all. The present view is that asthma and not chronic bronchitis, or the shortness of breath from heart disease dis-ease or from kidney disease, or em-phesema em-phesema is produced by a peculiar condition known as anaphylaxis or protein sensitization This is most familiar in the case of hay fever, which is an expression of sensitization sensitiza-tion to the protein of some variety of pollen; and also in the case of hives., which is usually a sensitization to some food protein like shell-fish, pork, strawberry and the likc. It is possible now to apply ender-mal ender-mal (skin) tests and determine what particular type of food protein may be responsible for sensitization in an individual case. Other sources of protein sensitization sensitiza-tion are responsible for many cases of asthma, however. The presence of a focus of infection anywhere in the body in nasal sinuses, in tonsils, about the roots of teeth, in the pelvic organs in men or women, even a chronic bronchitis, may cerve as the source of the asthmatic attacks. Some individuals arc sensitized to the protein emanations from horses, dogs, cats, parrots and other animals. Even sleeping on a pillow of goose feathers has been found to be a cause in some cases. When chronic bronchitis, with more or less expectoration, accompanies genuine asthma and continues between be-tween the irregular asthmatic attacks, the isolation of the bacteria in the sputum, and the prolonged administration adminis-tration of a vaccine made therefrom, is an essential adjunct to any treatment, treat-ment, and sometimes the only way to effect a cure. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Mouth Breathing I have a bnblt of breathing through my mouth at night. I control It all right In the daytime, but cannot do bo In my a!ep. I wake with a dry, parched throat and lips every morning Had my tonsllx and nuenofds removed Inst winter la thera nny way you can suggest to overcome the dtfflcuty? (I,. V. T) ANSWER. Several First, the turbinate turbi-nate or spongy bodies of the nnssl sage normally relax In sleep; this tend! tc. narrow or close the passage, and muke mouth breathing necessary. The condition condi-tion Is aggravated In your case, perhupw. by prolonged neglect of tonsils and ade nolils. You hould therefore have your doctor make a few topical applications to the spongy bodies, to Improve thetr tone and prevent excessive relaxation In sleep Yoq shuld sleep In a place where you can breathe cold or cool air all night, never warm air which relaxes and depresses. You 6houid wear oltber a chin strap to hold the Jawe closed, or crtBS-cross stripe of adhesive plaster to keep the llpe together to-gether In sleep The Follicular versus the Suppurative Please explain what Is the difference betwen follicular tonsllltls and quInBy (D. 8.) ANSWER. Follicular tonsllltls Is the common acute Inflammation of the tonplls, chum terited by the appearance of whitish, whit-ish, perhaps malodorous, cheesy masses here and there over the surface of the tonsils In the follicles or openings. Quinsy Is any tonsillitis accompanied by pus formation, the pua usually pointing In tbf Boft palate between the tonsil and tW uvula (that little finger-like tip of tho soft nnlafo in th median line of the throat). Dr. Brady will answer nil HanmL letters pertaining to hmlth The names of writers aro never printed Otllp inquiries of general interest are answered in this column, but all inquiries will be answered by mail if a stamped srf-addref-d . nvelopi '5 mclosed Rrnurxts fox diagnosis or treatment of indu idual cases cannot hr , nnxidered. Address Dr. William Brady, care of this newspaver. |