In some children, toilet training seems extremely difficult. In a very small proportion of children, this may be due to an underlying developmental or medical cause. For example, children who have significant developmental delay will be trained at a later age than the average child because they will take longer to reach the neurological and mental capacity necessary for successful training. In rare cases, a child has an anatomical or neurological problem, or a urinary tract infection. A small number of children have difficulty in being trained because of constipation or chronic diarrhoea.

By far the main reason for difficulty in training is the interaction between the child and his parents. Whatever the characteristics of the child and parents that contribute to it, there is a power struggle going on and the more the parents try, the more the child resists. The only way out of this relatively common impasse is for the parents to opt out completely and transfer all the responsibility to the child. This is not easy to do, and often the parents may benefit from guidance provided by their family doctor or a paediatrician.

*126\90\8*

Vitamin E, which is one of the fat-soluble group, has been hailed as an aid to sexuality. Advertisements have stated or implied that it will improve a man’s potency, increase fertility or remove wrinkles.

As well, in this coronary-prone society, it has also been claimed to reduce arterio-sclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, and lower cholesterol levels in the blood.

While it has some famous people lauding its use, there is no worthwhile valid medical evidence that is acceptable to medical scientists to prove that it is of any use whatever.

Vitamin E occurs naturally in the germ of cereals and in green vegetables. An intake of 30mg a day is necessary for the development of red blood cells.

But its place in human nutrition and in the treatment of all those other situations is still very much in doubt.

Vitamin A is required for the proper nutrition of the skin and tissues of the eye. It also forms part of the chemical known as Visual Purple, which is necessary for clear vision in poor light.

It occurs in liver, dairy products and fish oils. It can be formed in the body from carotenes, which occur in green vegetables, carrots and apricots.

*607/71/1*

It has been found that the brain produces chemicals similar to morphine. These are called endorphins. Regular exercise seems to increase the production of these chemicals and produce a feeling of wellbeing. Perhaps you can become hooked on your own endorphins.

But the picture is not all good. Those who are out of condition should begin slowly. Ligaments, joints and muscles become soft and flabby with lack of exercise and too sudden a strain by running on hard ground or doing too much too soon can lead to muscle and ligament strain.

If you are more than 35 and wish to start an exercise program, you should have a medical check before you embark on a get fit campaign.

It is recommended that those over 40 or 45 should have a stress test before starting to exercise regularly. This involves having an electrocardiograph during exercise to see if the effort of exercise reveals any evidence of heart abnormalities under stress.

*349/71/1*

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women.

A fifth of all cancers in women develop in the breast. Eventually one woman in 20 will develop breast cancer and in Australia 1600 women will die each year from it.

The cause of breast cancer is unknown.

Cancer of the breast is rare in men and also in women under 25. Its incidence is greatest in the age group 40 to 50. It is more common in the unmarried and the less fertile — just the opposite of the next commonest female cancer, that of the cervix or neck of the womb.

‘As with all cancers, the earlier it is found and treated the better the results.

Regular palpation or feeling the breasts can detect lumps, which can be further checked to see if they are cancerous.

The doctor should regularly feel his women patients’ breasts, but the woman can be taught to do this herself.

Not all lumps turn out to be cancer, but I believe a doctor should be consulted about any lump in the breast.

Biopsy is best carried out by frozen section. The lump is removed, then snap-frozen using carbon dioxide snow, cut into thin sections and examined under the microscope. An experienced pathologist can give an accurate opinion within minutes and if cancer is present the surgeon can go ahead and do the proper operation.

*99/71/1*

Pollen is the male germ cells of the plant kingdom. Pollen in beehives and honey comes from flowers. It is believed that it comes to the beehive in two ways: it attaches itself to the legs of honey-collecting bees and then falls off their legs while they deposit their honey; also it is believed that it is deliberately collected by the bees to feed the young working bees which produce royal jelly—another amazing substance on which the queen bee lives exclusively.

Analysis of pollen has shown that it is indeed a food for gods—it is the richest and most complete food in nature!

Pollen contains 20 percent protein; all the water-soluble vitamins (with the exception of Bi2); a rich supply of minerals and trace elements, and enzymes and coenzymes. The other vital substances are so-called deoxiribosides and sterines, plus traces of steroid hormone substances and other plant hormones. Most researchers believe, however, that there must be some other as yet undiscovered substances in pollen which must share the credit for its acknowledged prophylactic and therapeutic value. It has been demonstrated that pollen does increase the body’s own immunity and also stimulates and rejuvenates glandular activity.

Pollen for prostate trouble

Extensive studies were made by three Swedish doctors, Professor Gosta Jonsson, Dr. Gosta Leander and Professor H. Palmstierna. They reported that strictly controlled tests on 179 cases of chronic prostate inflammation showed that Cernilton, a pollen preparation, together with conventional treatments gives in 60 to 80 percent of the cases better results than conventional therapy alone. By 1965 their studies included over 1,100 cases, with the same positive results.

Pollen for hemmorrhoids

Dr. Lars-Erik Essen from Sweden reports that he has used a pollen preparation, Cernitory, for the treatment of hemmorroids. He said that in many cases where treatments with the traditional chemical suppositories were ineffective, the pollen preparation brought about fast relief, even in advanced cases. The preparation is available without prescription in Swedish drug stores.

Pollen for a healthier digestive tract

Many researchers suggest that pollen has an extremely beneficial effect on the digestive tract and intestines. A French researcher, Dr. Remy Chauvin, reports that pollen seems to have an anti-putrefactive factor. It destroys harmful bacteria in the intestines and improves assimilation and elimination. In clinical tests the administration of pollen has relieved chronic constipation and colonic infection. Patients suffering from chronic diarrhea have also showed improvement.

It has been suggested that Bulgarians, Rumanians, Russians, and other East European peoples known for their enviable record of longevity have to thank lactic acid for their excellent health and youthful vitality. Their diets are high in soured foods (rich in lactic acid), such as sour milk, yogurt, black sour-dough bread, sauerkraut, and the like. Lactic acid has a beneficial anti-putrefactive effect on intestines and keeps the digestive tract in good health.

Probably the most beneficial effect of pollen is that, taken internally, it quickly produces the same anti-putrefactive effect as lactic-acid foods, and thus contributes to a healthy digestive system and good assimilation of nutrients—absolute prerequisites for good health and long life.

Other indications

Pollen in pure form or in the form of Swedish Cernitin preparations has also been used successfully for the following conditions:

As a general tonic, especially in convalescence and in conditions of neurasthenia.

In chronic bronchitis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, gastric ulcers, and arthritis.

In hay fever.

In treatment of symptoms of aging.

Pollen completely harmless

French doctor Remy Chauvin fed hundreds of experimental mice nothing but pollen for two years to discover possible harmful effects from pollen. Not only he did not see any adverse effects, but through several generations of mice there were increasing vitality and greater reproduction. He continued similiar experiments with children, adults, and old people. There has never been reported any example of the possible harmful effect of pollen on human beings.

*118\58\2*

Keep in mind that high blood pressure is not a disease, but rather a symptom of other disorders in the body. Hypertension can be due to nervous tension, kidney disease, glandular disorders, obesity, hardening of arteries, etc. In general, it could be said that a great number of diseased conditions in the body will raise the blood pressure. However, by far the most common cause of high blood pressure is the hardening of the arteries. When arteries and arterioles become constricted by cholesterol or other deposits, they lose their elasticity and become brittle and hard, so the blood has difficulty passing through them and the heart has to work harder and increase its pressure in order to maintain circulation. In case of infections or other diseased conditions in various parts of the body, blood pressure is increased as a defensive measure in order to increase the flow of blood to the diseased area, to supply it with the nutrients, hormones and other vital substances needed for the healing processes, to accelerate the detoxification of the blood, and to speed recovery.

*92\58\2*

1 The Vertex-Foot line = Equilibrium line—is an imaginary line erected through the middle of the iris from top to bottom, dividing the iris into an inner and outer segment (nasal and temporal segments: medial and lateral segments). Since the vertex lies in the upper part of the iris, and the foot in the lower part, it is named the Vertex-Foot line. If this imaginary line actually registers in the iris, through lightening or darkening, then the patient is subject to disturbances of

equilibrium. Hence, it is also referred to as—Equilibrium line.

2.The Throat-Neck line = ‘change-over’ line—also called the Disharmony line—divides the iris into an upper and a lower half. It runs from the throat area in the iris which lies medially (nasalwards) in both irides, to the neck which lies laterally (temporalwards).

In the upper half of the iris lie all the organs of the head, besides the heart, lungs and other respiratory organs. In the lower half of the iris lie all organs which are between the neck and the feet. In the upper half of the iris we also have the special sense organs, larynx, trachea and oesophagus. In the lower half of the iris we have chest, back, abdomen, abdominal and pelvic viscera, and extremities.

When this Throat-Neck line registers, there exists a disharmony between the head and the rest of the body, hence the term: Disharmony line. Hyperthyroidism, coupled with heart and lung disturbance, is a possibility.

*3\78\2*

Signs and symptoms

In a child who has not been immunized, whooping cough begins with a runny nose, low-grade fever (37.8°C to 38.3°C), and a cough that gradually worsens over the next two to three weeks. Then, the cough becomes characteristic: it is worse at night than during the day and paroxysmal (several coughs occur at once without inhaling in between). At the end of a spasm the child makes a “whoop” or strangling sound as air is sucked into the lungs; vomiting of thick mucus follows. The severe, strangling cough persists for another two to three weeks and gradually subsides in three to six more weeks. But the cough may return with new respiratory infections.

In an unimmunized child, the diagnosis is unmistakable. The diagnosis may not be obvious, however, in infants who never develop a “whoop,” and in an immunized child the diagnosis may be impossible. The child who has been immunized may have full or partial immunity, but without boosters the immunity declines over the years. A child who is partially immune may have a mild case of whooping cough that produces none of whooping cough’s identifiable characteristics. In the absence of characteristic symptoms, laboratory tests don’t help. All the organisms that cause whooping cough are difficult to grow on cultures and more modern techniques for the isolation of these organisms are not readily available. Because it may be difficult to diagnose and because both doctors and parents mistakenly believe the disease is rare, over 90 percent of cases of whooping cough are never detected, or even suspected.

Home care

A child who has whooping cough should be isolated from young brothers and sisters. If the vomiting is severe, feed the child several small meals a day.

Precautions

• Infants should be immunized against whooping cough. Risks from the disease far outweigh the risks from the immunization. Infants are not naturally immune to the disease, and the mortality (death) rate among infants who contract whooping cough is high.

• A child who has a mild cough may have a mild form of whooping cough, in which case he or she could spread the disease. Avoid unnecessary exposure to others.

• If your child has been exposed to whooping cough, take the child to a doctor.

• Report to a doctor any cough that is getting progressively worse at the end of two weeks.

Medical treatment

Your doctor will try to establish a diagnosis with the help of a complete blood count and cultures of the secretions from the nose and throat. Most often, however, the child’s medical history and the doctor’s clinical judgment are all that you can depend on. All infants with whooping cough are hospitalized, while older children may or may not be, depending on the child’s condition.

Your doctor may prescribe the antibiotic erythromycin for ten to 14 days to make the disease less contagious. If given early enough, the medication may shorten the course of the illness. If your child has been exposed to whooping cough, he or she can be given erythromycin by mouth, a booster shot of vaccine, or a large dose of human antipertussis serum.

*249/84/5*

Coming home

When you come home from the hospital with a new baby, a brand-new period of your life begins. It may take several weeks, or even several months, for the mother to recover from the physical stress of labor and delivery. At the same time, the new baby is completely dependent on the parents for food, shelter, and comfort. To accommodate the mother’s physical tiredness and the baby’s constant needs, you may have to review what is most important to you as a family. For example, keeping the house spotless may have to take second place to caring for the baby and allowing the mother to get the extra rest she needs. Household jobs may have to be reassigned so that the mother can devote more time to the baby. Your social schedule may have to change as well. You may find that your preferences have changed, and you would rather stay home with the baby than go to a party or a movie. This certainly does not mean you must—or should—give up going out or never do the things you enjoy. It only means that your priorities will probably change when you have an infant in your household.

Feeding

In the first months of life, eating is a major concern of your baby. This activity will take up a lot of your time and a lot of your energy. But whether you breast-feed or bottle-feed your baby, feeding time is a time of closeness. You are giving the baby nourishment and thus meeting the child’s most basic need. At the same time you are holding and cuddling the baby, and he or she is getting to know your touch and your voice.

Burping the baby

As the baby nurses, from the bottle or the breast, air is swallowed along with the milk. Burping the baby helps to expel excess air and prevent discomfort. Interrupt the feeding once in the middle for a burp, and also burp the baby after a feeding. Expelling extra air in the middle of the meal ensures that the baby’s stomach will fill up with food, not air.

To burp an infant, put the baby over your shoulder, sit the baby up on your lap, or place face down across your lap. Pat or rub the baby’s back gently until you hear a good, solid burp. Some babies prefer one position while others need to be moved around until they burp. If burping is difficult, experiment with different positions and combinations of patting and rubbing. Some babies will protest the interruption of the meal, but burp them anyway at mid-meal. They will get more nourishment and your life will be easier.

*3/84/5*

Dr. Scanes Spicer (Welbeck Street) writes:

In reply to “Stertor’s” query, I would suggest that the condition of the nose and naso-pharynx be thoroughly explored by anterior and posterior rhinoscopy, to ascertain whether there is an obstruction, structural or erectile. In my experience, most snorers have some obstruction of the nose, which increases from erectile conditions of the mucous membrane on assuming the horizontal position; and most cases of snoring will yield when the physiological path of the breath is permanently restored, together with many of the symptoms so often accompanying snoring, such as nightmare, restless nights, dryness of mouth, and unpleasant taste of mouth in the morning, necessity for placing the water-bottle by the bedside to allay the parched throat, post-nasal catarrh, and throat irritation and cough. Over-indulgence in food, alcohol, and tobacco undoubtedly increases the erectile condition of the obstruction.

Thereafter, some discussion could always be found on the causes of snoring and methods to minimize it, but it was not until the 1960s that the diverse branches of medical science began to focus their attention on the subject, paving the way for significant developments into our understanding of snoring and its consequences. Research into the nature of sleep was accelerated after the late 1930s when it was discovered that sleep, rather than being a steady state, was characterized by a series of discrete and measurable stages. However, it was not until the late 1950s and the following decade that these stages were accurately described to an extent where they could be applied with some confidence in a clinical setting. An unfortunate fact of medical practice and research has been the need for some sort of invasive monitoring, a good example being the collection of blood samples. After years of observation and speculation about the effects of snoring, medical scientists had accumulated enough evidence to suspect that the airway obstruction of severe snoring impaired the normal oxygenation of blood. The most direct way to measure blood oxygen levels was, and still is, to take a sample of blood with a needle and syringe and have it analyzed, but this presents very real problems if one proposes to take samples from sleeping, snoring patients. Many patients are so intimidated by the thought of multiple blood collections that they would find it impossible to sleep, and it would also be necessary to take a large number of samples during the period of sleep to give a true indication of oxygenation throughout the night.

In the 1940s a non-invasive technique for estimating blood oxygen levels was developed which, to put very simply, relied on the absorbance of light by oxygenated blood. The device was called an ear oximeter, and by placing a light source and detector on the earlobe it was possible to measure blood oxygen levels continuously with minimal trauma to the patient. The first commercially viable oximeters became available in the 1970s, a decade which established their usefulness in a variety of clinical situations, particularly in the management of respiratory and sleep disorders. Oximeters have since been substantially modified. They are readily portable and suitable for bedside use, are attached with reasonable comfort to either ear or finger and are probably the most important diagnostic tools in those laboratories which have been set up to investigate snoring and other sleep disorders.

An understanding of snoring has resulted from the contributions of several medical specialties. Mention has been made of advances in sleep staging and oxygen monitoring technology but we owe just as much to the physiologists who told us about the mechanisms which control breathing, to the radiologists who filmed the collapse of the upper airway during snoring, to the cardiologists who verified the dramatic response of the heart to the suffocating effects of severe snoring and finally to the band of dedicated researchers who would spend months observing the snoring patient from one night to another while the rest of the community slept.

*3/51/5*