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Show U TA L R.S 1 fj Eczema Eczema is acute or chronic dermatitis derma-titis (skin inflammation) the cause of which is not obvious, but usually ascertainable by a careful study of the patient. Eczematous infants usually present evidence- of an excess of fat or starch in the food (excesses discoverable in the s'ools). A few cases depend up on an idiosyncrasy, or as we now say, a sensitization of the individual to'egg albumin or even to cow's milk, and this peculiar sensitization may now be detected by means ot skin inoculation tests like the tests of victims vic-tims jf hay fever and spasmodic asthma with minute quantities of different protein substances. Moist eczema in children is coin nion-ly nion-ly due to an excess of fats in the food. Dry eczema is commonly due to an excess of starch. Proprietary foods often cause eczema of the dry type In a few cases, in both children and adults, a deficiency of thyroid gland function is found to be the cause of mild chronic eczema. An eczematous adult reacts to the skin inoculation test with his particular particu-lar protein poison, whatever it may be. while a normal individual shows no reaction to such a test. Sometimes Some-times more than one kind of food substance is found to be a cause; certain cer-tain irdividuals have eczema when the consume more than an arbitrary quantity of a given food substance, even milk. Parents frequently rind that a child cannot take even minute quantities of egg without suffering an acute attack of hues, eczema or asthma. The child is sensitized to I egg albumin. Possibly acne (blackheads and pun-pies) pun-pies) is produced by a similar sensitization sensi-tization in a f av cses. Dyes may ause eczema. Heir dyes and fur dvs are a frequent source of trouble. Pony cats and cheap brown ' rs dyed with paraphenylendiamin (a common ingredient of hair dyes) are likely to produce eczema about the neck and han Is. Strong alkalies in soaps and cleaning powders produce eczema of the hands. The facts show that the disease is one which requires not experimentation experimenta-tion and gursswork but intelligent study of the individual patient by his doctor To try every old treatment is equivalent to dieting on hmbergcr chee e because Ty t ohb or Jes W'ill-ard W'ill-ard ate some and then became famous. fam-ous. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS The Adenoid Obsession Our little boy, 5Va yeurc old. Hns Dot et Tory benrdly one iloi tor lenkorl Ht hlru nml Raid there i-oulil ! no doubt that the boy hna adenoldl, mid serious results will develop If thft adenoid are not rc-mnvrij rc-mnvrij Another dot t"T saw hlni down streft with mo the otber djv and lauphed al the Idea of adenoids hat an w-flO? w-flO? F. H. R.) ANSWER a doctor ean'1 mt whether n child has adenoids MllCM I"' inMrtfl hU finger behind the palnte and feels them, or looks at them through BDe nlum or throat mirror and a necdllffBt. Belter find a doctor who doeflD I lump at on-clualon. on-clualon. Several other troubles beside? adenoids mar eause the 10-called adenoid faee simple" chronic rhinitis, enlarged tonIN, dental abnormalities and developmental develop-mental defects, for example. Dr. Bradv ictJ nnstcer ell Signed Uttrrs prrtniiung to Health. If your nitration s oj general interest it wtU be aniicered through these columns; if not it cU le ansuered pc: Ton'-V.y if stamped addressed envelope is enclosed. Dr. Brady vcill not prescribe f cr individual cases or Moke diagnoses. Address Dr. M'ihiam Brady, care of this neicspof |
