HERMIA.--We have never seen nor heard of cancer occurring in a girl of
eighteen. The earliest age at which we have seen cancer of the breast
was twenty-four. The disease is exceedingly rare before thirty-five.
You have probably got a simple swelling. Go to a surgeon and ask his
advice. Possibly a trivial operation may be needed to remove the lump.
MA TANTE.--What is your work? This is the first question to ask anyone
who is troubled with roughness of the arms. We would have been pleased
if you had given us a description of the roughness of which you
complain. Roughness above the elbows may be due to so many causes. If
there is nothing to see upon your arm, no spots or patches, but simply
a slight scaliness of the arm, wash the place in warm water and soap,
and then smear on a very little lanoline or simple ointment.
COMPLEXION.--1. We have published many long “Answers” on the subject of
face-spots. In last year’s volume you will find a very long account of
“acne” in an answer to “Fair Isabel.” In 1896 we published an article
on face-spots. You should read these and they will tell you practically
all that you require. The little article on the complexion, recently
published, will also help you.--2. The soap that you mention is made
for household and not for toilet use. We strongly dissuade you from
using it for washing your face.
TIGER.--We are always pleased to answer questions about the feet and
hands, for the subject has great fascination for us. The cause and
treatment of flat-foot are well understood; but it is far more easy
to prevent the feet from becoming flat, than it is to restore the
natural arch of the foot after it has once been broken down. The causes
of flat-foot are numerous. Occupations which necessitate prolonged
standing. How often we see flat-foot in policemen. Occupations in
which you sit down all day. The office clerk is generally flat-footed.
Weakness of the muscles of the legs, whether part of a general weakness
or not, is another cause. Lastly, and vastly the most important cause
of all is ill-fitting foot-gear. We do not believe that flat-foot would
ever occur if people did not wear boots or shoes. If your boots are
very well made, and do not bend at the waist, but are flexible in the
toes, they will not produce flat-foot. But by far the greater number
of boots bend in the waist only, the result is, that the centre of
the foot, where nature intended that but little movement should take
place, is the only part of the civilised foot which is free to bend.
Its joints are dragged open at every step, the tendons and ligaments
give way, the arch collapses and the foot becomes quite flat. To treat
flat-foot, get boots which fit well, and which are prevented from
bending in the centre by being stiffened with a steel waist. Pads are
often used for this complaint. The pads are shaped like a division
of an orange and are placed in the boots to support the instep. If
they fit and are comfortable they are useful. If, as is usually the
case, they do not fit, they cause extreme discomfort and do great
harm. Walking on tip-toe for half an hour a day, without boots or
shoes on, will help to strengthen the foot and relieve the flatness.
Walking, running and jumping, are excellent exercises for the relief or
flat-foot. Skipping is a pleasant and useful pastime for flat-footed
girls.
FORGET-ME-NOT.--1. We are much pleased to hear that your daughter’s
hair has improved from using the wash. Continue to wash her hair
once a week with the boracic acid. After having washed and dried her
hair rub a little sulphur ointment into the scalp. It is useless to
apply the ointment to the hair itself.--2. Your second question is
rather difficult to answer. Your daughter is certainly suffering from
blepharitis--a most intractable disease. The treatment that you are
carrying out is the best we know; but we would suggest that she should
bathe her eyes twice a day in warm solution of bicarbonate of soda
(5 grains to the ounce). In your daughter’s case it is probable that
something more than lotions and ointments is needed. It is well worth
your while to consult an ophthalmic surgeon. The longer the disease
has lasted the more difficult it is to cure. You should attend to the
general health of your daughter and feed her well.
HESPERUS.--Do not feed your children on condensed milk alone. If you
continue to do so you will have five rickety children to look after.
Cow’s milk diluted with fresh barley water is the best artificial food
(excluding asses’ milk which is very expensive) for infants. The elder
children may be allowed to eat much the same as you do yourself. It
is always well to let children have plenty of milk even when they can
digest ordinary adult diet. Give the child with “weak legs” a little
cream with her milk.
URSULA.--1. A pale swollen tongue is a symptom of many complaints.
Usually it denotes indigestion, constipation or anæmia. It is
constantly present in atonic and amylaceous dyspepsia.--2. The
incubation period of mumps is rather variable. It is usually from two
to three weeks.
ROLY POLY.--1. The usual expedient adopted to cure children from the
habit of biting their nails is to dip their fingers into tincture of
aloes or solution of alum. If you cannot cure yourself of the habit
by rational means, you might try one of these measures; but surely a
girl of seventeen can restrain herself from such a habit. It is a very
silly trick to get accustomed to, for it interferes with the proper
development of the nails, and, consequently, spoils the look of the
hands.--2. Clean your nails well and rub a very little lanoline into
them.
JANET.--Go to an ophthalmic surgeon and get your eyes seen to at once.
If taken in time squint is usually cured without operation.
MIRIAM.--We cannot too strongly insist upon the foolishness of taking
patent medicines. How anyone can trifle with her health in this way we
cannot conceive. When you take patent medicine, what are you doing? You
are throwing into your blood a decoction of which you know nothing. You
are feeding yourself upon drugs which, for all you know, may poison
you. And what do you take these drugs for? Oh, for a headache, or for
biliousness! And yet you have no stronger authority for taking the
stuff for your ailment than the assurance of the company who sells the
medicine. Of course we know that most patent medicines are inert; but
only this morning a case is related in the newspapers of a woman who
died from taking somebody’s pills. Give up your silly habit of taking
drugs at all. If you were not careless with your health you would
probably not be suffering from your present troubles.