Show ib r Talk Dr By JOhN JOliN nEl I ERT MD l In recent months the readers read read- ers er's attention has been call called d to the fact that infectious ills His Is once again a public health menace This Increase has been apparent during the past several years and the number of cases In many large metropolitan areas are arc causing much medical con con- cern TilE rU PUBLIC uc must be made aware of the problem and should be reminded of the exIstence ex ex- of venereal diseases once again Several diseases are classed as venereal but butof butof of these syphilis and hen hea are arc of chIef concern to the public health authorities In general the term venereal dl- dl senses transmitted for Cor the most part by sexual inter course Syphilis Is the one ye- ye disease that proves to tobe tobe be the exception to the 1 rule its transmIssion being possible by kissing The greatest increase In the venereal disease rate is found among the younger age groups agers young peo peo- plc TilE GENERAL public and particularly young persons must once again be made or symptoms and the tho grem grea aware of the danger signals need for prompt medical at at- DurIng the primary stage of the Infection every genital sore must be regarded as syphilis until proved other wIse Such patients must con con- suit with their family Camily clan who will then carry out the necessary diagnostic tests to prove or disprove the presence pres pres- ence of venereal s 15 e. e Treatment of such lesions should never be undertaken until a positive dIagnosis Is made This article will prove of In terest to all readers In their late lat thirties and early carly forties Glaucoma is the subject for discussion this being a condition con con- affecting the eyes in such a way that the Internal pressure within the eyeball increases in in- creases and brings about vis ual changes which can result in blindness This disorder causes one seventh of all the blindness in the United Stat States i and is found In one person in 50 more than 40 years of age GLAUCOMA IA Is divided Into two wo types referred to as nary mary and secondary glau glau- coma Secondary glaucoma usually us us- follows known conditions of the eyes such as acute in In- or injuries where as primary glaucoma denotes the cause to be unknown Primary glaucoma is the tn type e all persons ix in the 40 year age group should be aware of One type of primary glau gau- c coma ma usually arises as an acute condition resulting in pain near the eye sometimes severe nausea and vomiting poor visual acuity dilated pu pUs and the appearance of rainbow colors or halos around lights The diagnosis of this typo type of glaucoma is fairly easy to make by your Our physician but at times may be confused with sinusitis or an acute abdomen abS ab domen A SECOND type of primary referred to as an open angle glaucoma has an insidious onset which causes no acute changes and can progress pro pro- gress to the point of near blindness before correct nods Is made This type of glaucoma is commoner and far more difficult to suspect for in the early stages there is no pain and the above described described de- de scribed eye changes do not occur oc oc- cur to make one think of an eye disease Your suspicion should be aroused if frequent changes of glasses are necessary sary in middle age Luckily glaucoma can be easily detected early by a simple office orrIce test measuring the pressure The pressure in the eyeball Is mea by first anesthetizing the eye with a local anesthetic eye drop and then using an instrument called a |