1. health and fitness

national health journal • vol.93 no. 1 • S1
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY MENTAL HEALTH?
HOW TO PREVENT SERIOUS DRUG REACTION
rII•1i f
~
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Putting Good Taste Into Good Nutrition.
national health journal
LITEMEALTH
LEO VAN DOLSON, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Editor
JAN CHURCH HAFSTROM
Assistant Editor
BYRON STEELE
Art Director
BONNIE PAINTER REED
Editorial Secretary
RICHARD KAISER
Braille Editor
GARY WEDEMEYER, M.S.P.H.
Marketing/Advertising
EDMUND M. PETERSON
Circulation Manager
SAMUEL L. DE SHAY, M.D.
J. WAYNE MCFARLAND, M.D.
Medical Consultants
94th Year of Publication
Volume 93, Number 1
January, 1978
14
5 Benjamin Kovitz, M.D.
Klein and Elliott
8 Diane
Klein, M.D.
11
12
Jean E. Stephenson
Nearsighted viewpoint "I knew I existed someplace
behind that blur."
Patti Feldman
Will that dog bite me, Mom? That dog's bite may be
worse than his bark.
Warm beverages for health and enjoyment A warm
drink increases the feeling of relaxation and comfort.
My stubborn father Riding with him at the wheel is an
unforgettable experience.
Your child may grow back a finger tip A new method
of treatment makes it possible for the tip to regrow.
Getting into circulation Walking is the best exercise—
providing you can dodge those who aren't.
What can we do about hiccups? What happens and
why.
20 Beckman
0 Better Life
2 Gazette
Are you creative? Creativity can be threatening to
others, but it makes life worth living.
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LIFE & HEALTH is published monthly
and copyrighted cLn 1977 by the Review
and Herald Publishing Association, 6856
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20012. (202) 723-3700. Second-class postage paid at Washington, D.C. Vol. 93,
No 1. All rights reserved. Title
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0 Martha J.
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prevention. Only those articles
How to prevent serious drug reaction There's no
guarantee you won't get allergic symptoms.
Everything you always wanted
Toss the lettuce lightly
to know about the world's most popular salad plant.
21 Dorothy Carey
Audrey Carli
23
24 Albert E. Shirer
OBJECTIVE: A family magazine featuring
reliable health information. The official
journal of the Home Health Education
Service.
What do we mean by mental health? Understanding
what it means is not as easy as it seems.
Ruth Adler
14 Vivian Buchan
16 Selma Chaij Rhys, R.D.
26
21
CONSUMER SAP-ETV: Since Life & Health
is written for the lay person, we take great
effort to screen those products and
services that are felt to be harmful to our
readers, although the companies who
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their products or services.
ADVERTISING: Life & Health accepts
those advertisements that have been
found to be compatible with the aims
and objectives of the journal. Those
wishing to advertise should submit
Q Man and his spirit
I
,"Life is too short to be little"
LIFE AND HEALTH—IANUARY 1978
3
c pacoallal itllaptt5
this month's
MENIAL HEALTH
FL
RE
Once again Life and Health plans to give, over a
12-month period, special emphasis to one particular
facet of total health. During each month of 1976 at
least one major article appeared dealing with the
physiology of the human body. During 1977 the vital
topic of human nutrition was given thorough
treatment. This year, 1978, the journal will deal with
a subject of universal concern, mental health.
The plan is not merely to present a collection of
articles on the topic at hand, but to approach the
matter systematically. If the reader carefully follows
the subject in each monthly issue, by the end of the
year he will have a comprehensive layman's
understanding of the field of mental health. We begin
this series this month with a background article
entitled "What Do We Mean by Mental Health?"
Each article in the series will be written by a
professional competent in dealing with the subject of
mental health. The reader will not want to miss a
single presentation in this fascinating area of common
concern.
Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation of
LIFE & HEALTH, published and printed monthly at 6856
Eastern Avenue NW., Washington, D.C. 20012.
The names and addresses of the publisher, editor, and
managing editor are: Publisher—Review and Herald Publishing Association, 6856 Eastern Avenue NW., Washington, D.C. 20012; Editor—Leo R. Van Dolson, 6856 Eastern
Avenue NW., Washington, D.C. 20012; Managing Editor—none. The owner is the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 6840 Eastern Avenue NW., Washington, D.C. 20012, a nonprofit, charitable corporation. There
are no bondholders, mortgagees, or other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount
of bonds, mortgages, or other securities.
4
LIFE AND HEALTH—JANUARY 1978
Average No. Copies Single Issue
Each Issue During
Nearest to
Preceding 12 Months Filing Date
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Paid circulation through agents,
etc.
Paid circulation to term subscribers
Free distribution
Total number copies distributed
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None
None
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I certify that the statements made by me above are correct
and complete.
E. M. PETERSON, Circulation Manager
SKIP BA KE R
By Benjamin Kovitz, M.D.
WHAT DO WE MEAN
BY MENTAL HEALTH?
The difficulty begins with the
words themselves. Each term, health
and mental, carries more than one
The phrase is simple, but the facts are meaning. Health, for example, may
not, and lengthy discourses have not mean an ideal state of functioning, or
found it easy to do this topic full an absence of illness, or the average
justice. The following reflections can condition of the population at large.
only suggest one point of view in the The word mental is especially enigsearch for deeper understanding of a matic. Sometimes it is equated with
conscious life; sometimes it includes
complex human problem.
• t may seem strange that so popular
I a subject of discussion as mental
health should be so difficult to define.
psychological processes that are unconscious; and to many people it suggests an intangible something, presumably distinct from the body yet
mysteriously intimate with it, that
sometimes controls it and is sometimes controlled in turn.
The best medical thinking, however, has given up the assumption that
a human being can be split into two
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
5
this month's
MENIAL HEALTH
FELF1J
such diverse fragments. The mind is
not something separate from the
body. Both terms refer to complementary dimensions or interwoven
strands of the total organism. Body
refers to the physical aspect of the
organism, with the mental aspect arbitrarily left out. Mind, on the other
hand, refers to the capacity of the
organism to function as a unit, to its
property of acting as a living whole.
Mental qualities are those which
can be found only in the whole person
rather than in any part. A muscle
contracts; the organism desires or acts.
The heart beats faster or slower, or
stops; only the whole human being
feels joy or anger, or dies of a broken
heart. Changes in the body are mirrored in the mind, and the fortunes of
mental life always write their physical
record. Our bodies behave one way
when we are frightened or discouraged, in an altogether different
way when we are happy and confident. In short, the mental and physical are inseparable and complementary
views of a single reality.
Two mind functions Therefore, the
mind has two fundamental tasks: to
give the personality unity or wholeness, and to interact with the outer
world. These two functions of the
mind underlie two different concepts
of mental health. According to one
view, mental health is primarily a
matter of adjustment, of accommodation to the surrounding world. The
emphasis is on adapting, on meeting
the requirements of society and surviving in a complex universe. But
6
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
important as such adaptation may be,
not everyone equates it with health.
Simply adjusting to the world, the
objection runs, can lead to the surrender of our individuality and to the
sacrifice of our health or our principles. Instead of adjustment, the goal
of mental health should presumably
be self-fulfillment. Proponents of this
latter view like to talk of self-realization or self-actualization, with the assumption that health demands, above
all, being true to our inner nature and
expressing our unique potentialities.
The second concept makes up for
the shortcomings of the first, but it
poses still other problems. If taken as
final or absolute, it seems to approve
the self-centered expression of any and
every potentiality. There would then
be no selective concern for the better
or the worse, but a blind self-will
pursuing the indiscriminate gratification of every impulse. And appealing
as the prospect of unlimited self-expression may appear at first, in the end
it must prove not only detrimental to
health but incompatible with reality.
Obviously we are not restricted to
these two extreme alternatives, yet
neither one can be ignored. A third,
more balanced view expects the mentally sound person to order life according to a scale of values, obeying
some impulses and rejecting others in
accord with a rational ideal. But as
soon as we make this reasonable assumption, still other problems arise.
If we are to approve some impulses
and deny others, we are caught in an
inner conflict that divides us against
ourselves. A paradox appears: the ef-
fort to achieve mental health entails
an inevitable mental strain. But if we
are to be discriminating in our choices
and concerned about consequences, we
cannot escape such inner contradiction. We can never successfully evade
the challenge of two pressing dilemmas: the first, of weighing immediate against ultimate satisfactions,
and, the second, perhaps even more
critical, of choosing between our own
wishes and the wishes of others.
We achieve mental
health in any real sense by facing these
dilemmas in a straightforward fashion. We cannot avoid them except at
serious cost to the personality. How
we resolve them determines, it is
worth noting, not only our mental but
also our physical well-being, for misguided living can damage our organs
as well as our minds. The predicament, often difficult and at times agonizing, of having to live at the same
time for ourselves and for others,
turns out to be one of the basic sources
of anxiety. The dilemma here springs
from a fundamental human need; everyone, at least potentially, is concerned not only about himself but also
about the reactions of everyone significant in his life. The problem is
how to reconcile these two concerns.
The ideal was set down long ago in
Leviticus 19:18 (R.S.V.): "You shall
love your neighbor as yourself," but
the fulfillment of this great commandment has never been easy. To
despair of the reconciliation is to renounce hope of genuine mental
health.
Confrontation
This line of reasoning has led us to
a definition of mental health as a twin
reconciliation: between the contrary
forces within us, and between ourselves and the world around us. Every
infant faces this twofold problem
from the moment of birth but he may
take a lifetime to achieve a solution.
(Tolstoy gives us an unforgettable example in his story "The Death of Ivan
Ilyich.") Daily experience teaches us
that we cannot achieve this ideal
merely by saying the right words or
professing the proper intentions. It is
a matter of how we live, as well as
what we think.
What the ideal requires of us may
be termed respect, but respect in the
larger sense of an instinctive regard
for human beings, an affirmation of
their value and our own in actual
practice, whether or not it is put into
words. Unfortunately, such an attitude cannot be commanded at will,
and herein lies the difficulty of winning mental health by sheer intellectual effort or by the recital of appropriate sentiments. Genuine health of
the mind, of the personality, and ultimately of society demands a real capacity to tolerate differences and to
reconcile or transcend contradictions.
It requires the faith that we can endure our inevitable conflicts, and that
we can live our lives without destructive sacrifice of others or of ourselves.
Self-knowledge A long tradition,
going back at least as far as the Delphic oracle, has emphasized insight or
self-knowledge as the touchstone of
mental health. To be mentally well we
should know what we are, what we
want, what we feel, and what we are
really doing (in contrast to what we
think we are doing).
Without question the capacity to
know ourselves and to foresee consequences plays a fundamental part in
healthy living. But even this capacity
is not enough. It needs to be backed
by the will to take responsibility for
our decisions. Total consciousness or
self-awareness is impossible in any
case, even if it were desirable. Some
self-deception and some ignorance of
self is ingrained in everyone. What
counts in the end is to live by the
principle that we all have intrinsic
value—that you and I both matter.
Mental health is necessarily never a
finished state but a continual process,
a lifelong striving toward inner and
outer harmony.
The symptoms of mental disorder,
other than the direct results of brain
or body disease, betray a failure to live
successfully either for one's own sake
or for the sake of others. A vast range
of disturbed living becomes intelligible as a defense and as a signal of
distress, as an effort to conceal yet
confess the trouble we are having in
coming to terms with life. Such
symptoms are largely foredoomed attempts to mask anxiety (which means
evading our dilemmas) by behavior
that is impulsive, unrealistic, or even
pseudomagical. On the other hand, as
we struggle toward honesty with ourselves, toward mutual respect, and
toward realistic decision in the face of
conflict, we are moving toward
health. Mental health cannot assure us
freedom from strain or anguish; it
does mean the courage to face the
mistake and pain of existence with all
our resources and with a living sense
of responsibility for our fellows and
ourselves.
The foregoing has all been in a
general and philosophical vein. It remains to say a few words about the
visible evidence of mental health in
everyday life. With their remarkable
ingenuity in self-concealment, people
can, of course, do an impressive and at
times astonishing job of hiding their
emotional difficulties. But somehow,
sooner or later, the lack of genuineness makes itself known in physical if
not in psychological forms.
When mental health is a reality, we
see it in a natural, unforced zest for
living and in productiveness without
exhaustion or depression. People show
it in the success and stability of their
work, in the freedom and innocence of
their play, in the unaffected sincerity
of their manner, in the flexibility that
accompanies healthy conscientiousness, in the fortitude with which they
endure failure or adversity, and in the
dignity with which they tolerate insult. The marks of true health are not
limited to individuals in isolation; we
can see the signs in the faces of their
children and their mates, and in the
reaction of all those whom their lives
have touched.
Benjamin Kovitz, M.D., is professor of
psychiatry at Loma Linda University,
Riverside, California.
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
7
0
0
z
0
z
e
How to prevent
serious drug reaction
By Diane Klein and Elliott
Klein, M.D.
T
he sky was slate gray that
afternoon in February. Michael
Ross, a 36-year-old engineer,
walked slowly into the doctor's
crowded waiting room. His head
ached, he felt hot and feverish
despite the freezing weather, and
his throat was so swollen and raw
he could barely swallow.
"Mr. Ross, I don't like the look
of those white spots on your tonsils
and you've got a fever. I'd like to
give you a shot of penicillin. Have
you ever taken it before?"
"Yes, I think so, Doc, in the
Navy."
"Any reaction to it?" asked the
8
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
harried doctor as he prepared the
needle.
"No, not really," Michael replied
quickly, eager to get some relief
from his misery.
Yet within minutes after the
wonder drug entered his
bloodstream, Michael Ross was
dead—a rare victim of the dreaded
allergic reaction, anaphylactic shock.
Despite all of the blessings that
modern drugs have bestowed on
mankind, the relief of untold
sufferings and the prevention of
millions of tragic deaths, drugs
themselves are now among our most
common causes of serious allergic
reactions.1
Although fifty or sixty years ago
there were few chemical weapons
available to physicians to fight
disease, there are, presently,
hundreds of drugs and combinations
of drugs in the doctor's arsenal. In
fact, the discovery of antibiotics has
been one of the greatest miracles in
the thousands of years that man has
lived upon the earth. Yet any one
of these wonder drugs has been
proved to have a harmful effect on a
person who is sensitive to it.2
According to research studies,
five or ten out of every one hundred
Americans have an allergic reaction,
at one time or another, to
penicillin.3 And even the common
aspirin can cause serious stomach
problems in some of us or bring
about a violent asthmatic attack in
people who suffer from asthma.4
But, as Allergist Dr. William
Sherman points out, "These
reactions rarely, if ever, follow the
first dose of the drug." Sensitization
develops through use, and the
severe immediate reactions generally
occur after previous milder ones
have been ignored.5 Therefore, it's
important that each person know
his own medical history and be
fully aware of any drug sensitivities.
Modern medicine has changed
enormously within the past few
decades.. Americans move their
homes and families with an ease
that would have astounded their
grandfathers. Also the complexity of
medicine with its specialists,
medical groups, and clinics makes it
even more urgent that we develop a
sense of responsibility with regard
to our own drug usage. Most of us
will see many different doctors for
various ailments during our
lifetime.
Hundreds of new drugs are being
introduced in an attempt to
alleviate suffering and to lengthen
our lives. Unfortunately, when a
new medication is used, it is
sometimes only by sad experience
that we learn what hostile reactions
it may produce. A drug can be
perfectly safe and even lifesaving for
thousands of patients, yet for others
a drug reaction can develop.
The drug then acts as an
irritating substance. The tiny cells
in the tissues produce material,
called antibodies, which attack the
substance. Once these antibodies
have been formed, further contact
with the drug produces irritations
in sensitive tissues such as the skin,
the bronchial tubes, and the
digestive tract.6 Though doctors are
unsure as to whether every drug
reaction is really allergic in origin,
the symptoms often mirror such a
reaction.
What are the symptoms?
Fortunately, the most common
symptom is a skin rash, a visible
warning such as hives,
inflammation, peeling, itching
eczema, or purpura, which are small
hemorrhages of the skin.7 Our own
youngster developed severe purpura
after only two oral doses of a longacting sulfa preparation.
Although it was seven years ago,
it's a sight we'll never forget. Her
little body was covered from head
to toe with a deep-purple-tinged
rash that invaded even her ears and
the insides of her mouth. The rash
persisted for twelve frightening days
before it faded. But not every skin
reaction is so dramatic. Therefore,
any change in the skin, even the
mildest of rashes when you're on
medication, should be reported to
your doctor immediately.
Moreover, some types of allergic
reaction can cause not only a skin
reaction but also other distressing
symptoms. Serum sickness, for
example, is a delayed reaction to
foreign animal serum such as
tetanus tolcoid. It may produce
hives, joint pains, fever, and
weakness. The reactions generally
occur within one to ten days after
the injection, and it can even affect
the kidneys and the circulatory
system. 8
Another example of delayed drug
reaction is known as "drug fever."
It's most often seen on the fifth to
seventh day of treatment and can
cause a high temperature until the
drug is stopped and completely
eliminated from the body. Although
it's usually associated with other
allergic symptoms, fever can
sometimes be the only warning
signal. The most notorious cause of
drug fever is sulfa, but quinidine,
certain antihypertensive medicines,
and antithyroid medications can also
be the culprits.9
It's also possible to develop upper
respiratory symptoms from sulfa, or
abdominal cramps and diarrhea from
antibiotics, as well as sores inside
the mouth. Obviously, drug
reactions can attack almost any part
of our bodies and almost any drug
can cause a problem.
Nevertheless, the most feared
drug reaction is anaphylaxis. This is
an immediate severe response that
results in a drastic drop in blood
pressure and shock. These alarming
symptoms are most frequently seen
after injections of penicillin or
sulfa, or less often, other drugs. 10
Fortunately, such dangerous
reactions occur only in a very small
number of people.
But not only can drugs
themselves cause medical problems
at times, patients react violently not
merely to the drug itself but to
hidden additives, such as
preservatives or coloring in the
coating of pills and capsules. Often
the coloring or flavoring agents are
made of coal-tar derivatives or other
chemicals that sometimes produce
allergic reactions. It's because of
these additives that one brand of
drugs may be different from
another. n
Another complication in
prescribing medication is the fact
that many patients need to take
more than one drug at a time. In
recent years, we've become
increasingly aware of drug
interaction, because studies of
laboratory animals have shown
certain medicines can increase or
decrease one ahother's effectiveness
or dangers. 12
Can doctors test drug
sensitivity? It's a sad fact
that
skin testing is of doubtful value in
revealing possible allergic drug
reaction. This method is rarely
successful and, according to New
York allergist Dr. Richard Snyder,
may involve a severe risk for
LIFE AND HEALTH—JANUARY 1978
9
someone who's highly sensitive. Or
the skin test itself can show no
reaction though it may be enough
to trigger a response when the drug
is actually used.
For instance, the teen-age
daughter of a physician nearly died
in spite of a negative response to a
skin-test for tetanus-antitoxin.
Within minutes after being injected
with the actual medication, the
youngster keeled over and went into
shock. Fortunately, she was revived
quickly with an immediate injection
of adrenalin.
Doctors
constantly hear these statements
from patients.
"Doc, can you renew the green
pill you gave six months ago, or
was it last summer?"
"You know, Doctor, the yellow
and green capsule I took three years
ago that made me sick."
"I got a rash from an orange pill
when I was in service. Are you
giving me the same medicine?"
It's almost impossible to guess
the drug history of some patients
with such clues.
Therefore, it's vitally important
that all medications be clearly
labeled by the druggist. And each
of us should remember the names
of the medicines we take, as well as
what's being prescribed for our
children. In New York State,
labeling of medication is
mandatory, and the American
Medical Association has strongly
encouraged physicians all over the
country to see that drugs are
precisely labeled by the
pharmacist. 13
Another way you can help
safeguard yourself and your family
from serious drug reaction is to tell
not only your own doctor about any
drug sensitivities but also the nurses
and house staff, if you or your
youngster require hospitalization.
In addition, when you're given
drugs, either in the hospital or by
prescription in the doctor's office,
How can I protect myself?
10
LIFE AND HEALTH—JANUARY 1978
ask for example, "Do these eye
drops contain sulfa?" (if that's your
sensitivity). Mistakes can happen
and it's wise to see they don't
happen to you.
And the fact that you've tolerated
a drug on a number of previous
occasions is no guarantee you won't
get allergic symptoms with the next
dose. So, if you have any peculiar
reaction whatever to medication,
stop taking it immediately and call
your doctor.
What symptoms require
immediate attention? If
you
notice swelling of the face, lips, or
eyes, heaviness in the chest,
difficulty in breathing, palpitation,
pounding in the chest, faintness, or
a cold sweat and pallor, act at
once." Have someone call your
doctor and go to the emergency
room of the nearest hospital as
quickly as possible. Tell the nurse
you're having an acute allergic
reaction and insist upon seeing the
house physician immediately, if
your own doctor isn't available.
Explain to the doctor what drugs
you've taken and you'll be treated
promptly with an injection of either
cortisone, ephedrine, an
antihistamine, and possibly oxygen,
if necessary.
Medic Alert In 1958, the young
daughter of a California surgeon,
Dr. Marion Collins, had a
frightening brush with death after
receiving a test for tetanusantitoxin. Dr. Collins and his
wife were determined some way
must be found so that others could
avoid such dangerous situations.
Out of their concern and
compassion, the idea of Medic Alert
was born.
The Medic Alert Foundation is a
charitable nonprofit organization
whose main purpose is to educate
and encourage people to wear
identification of medical problems
that should be known in an
emergency.'
There are now 650,000 members
of Medic Alert all over the world.
Each member wears either a bracelet
or a disc with his or her hidden
medical problem and the emergency
phone number of Medic Alert. The
central file is at P.O. Box 1009,
Turlock, California 95380, and
there's an international phone
number to call for data. The
organization will accept collect
emergency calls twenty-four hours a
day from doctors and hospitals
anywhere in the world. The fee,
paid once, for lifetime protection is
minimal and tax deductible. The
stainless steel bracelet, including
registration, costs $7.00.
But why should this be
necessary? Perhaps there may be a
time when someone you love cannot
speak for himself because of
unconsciousness, shock, hysteria,
loss of speech, et cetera. And there
are people, for example, for whom
a shot of penicillin, dilantin,
codeine, or tetanus could prove
deadly.
REFERENCES
' Howard C. Rapaport, M.D., and Shirley
Motter Linde, M.S. The Complete Allergy
Guide. Simon and Schuster, 1970, chapter
12, pp. 278-310.
2 John E. Kasik, M.D., Ph.D., and John S.
Thompson, M.D. Allergic reactions to
antibiotics. Medical Clinics of North
America, vol. 54, No. 1, January, 1970, pp.
60-62.
3 Rapaport and Linde. Op. cit., p. 283.
4 William B. Sherman, M.D. Drug Allergy.
Southern Medical Journal, vol. 64, No. 1,
January, 1971, p. 24.
5 Answers to some Questions About Allergy
and Allergic Diseases. Published by Allergy
Foundation of America, 801 Second Ave.,
New York.
° Rudolph L. Baer, M.D. Hints for diagnosis of
skin reactions. Medical World News, April
12, 1%3, pp. 62, 63.
Emile Somekh, M.D. A Parent's Guide to
Children's Allergies. Charles C. Thomas,
1972, p. 153.
Drug Allergy: Causes, Symptoms,
Diagnosis, Treatment. Published by Allergy
Foundation of America, 801 Second Ave.,
New York.
9 Kasik and Thompson. Op. cit., p. 61.
10 Rapaport and Linde. Op. cit., p. 280.
" Harvey Baker, M.D., and John Almeyda,
M.D., Drug reactions and interactions.
British Journal of Dermatology, Quarterly
Review, September, 1970, pp. 425-427.
12 AMA Drug Evaluation, 2d ed. Acton, Mass.,
Publishing Science Group, Inc., 1973.
Kasik and Thompson. Op. cit., pp. 61, 62.
14 H. W. Bottomley, M.D. Allergy: Its
Treatment and Care. Funk and Wagnalls,
1968.
.5 This Could Save Your Life. Published by
Medic Alert Foundation, P.O. Box 1009,
Turlock, Calif. 95380.
VERNON TOOLEY III
Toss the lettuce lightly
By Ruth Adler
T
he world's most popular salad
plant, lettuce, recently made the
headlines in a syndicated newspaper
when seedsmen in Atlanta, Georgia,
named it the "Vegetable of the Year."
They decided on the loose-leaf variety
for three main reasons: one, it is easy
to grow, as the seeds can be sown
directly into the garden and the mature leaves will be ready to pick in
fifty days; two, its cost is reasonable,
as a 35-cent packet of seeds will yield
hundreds of plants; and three, no
garden should be without lettuce, as
the frilly loose-leaf plant can be
planted among the flowers, making
the garden more decorative.
The reasons are valid enough to
suggest that we get out the rake and
hoe and start digging. However, some
types of lettuce are almost always
available in the produce department of
the local market or at the grocery.
The cultivated lettuce grown in this
country is closely related to the wild
lettuce from which it derives. It was
popular among the Romans about the
beginning of the Christian Era, and
even by that time had been brought to
an advanced state of culture and development. Ancient physicians used
the milky juice extracted from the
lettuce plant as a sedative. The name
is derived from the French laitue, the
root word of which means "milk."
And lettuce was among the first garden seeds sown in every European
colony on this continent.
It is a fairly good source of vitamin
A, which raises our resistance to infections, gives a feeling of well-being,
preserves skin health, and promotes
tooth development. Lettuce is a source
of vitamin Bi (thiamine), vitamin B2
(riboflavin), and potassium. Because
it is so low in calories, it is excellent
for those seeking to control their
weight.
Among the different varieties of
lettuce are asparagus lettuce, which
has long narrow leaves and tall, thick,
succulent edible stems. Cos lettuce,
commonly called romaine, is dark
green, and forms an erect, compact
rosette of elongated leaves near the
head. Its name indicates an Italian
origin. Bibb and butterhead lettuce
are light green. Curled lettuce has a
loose rosette of crisped leaves, and
iceberg lettuce is a heavy, greenish
white and has a firmly packed head.
Most of the lettuce in the markets
today is not the loose-leaf type that is
grown in vegetable gardens, as the
latter is highly perishable after harvesting. Loose-leaf lettuce is rarely
grown in the Ppited States for commercial purposes. Instead, we buy the
New York variety or several of the
Imperial strains of lettuce produced in
the Imperial Valley in California.
People mistake these strains for the
iceberg variety, which has red-tinged
leaves.
For maximum benefit from the
vegetable, carefully choose fresh lettuce with a well-shaped head and a
minimum of wrapper leaves, which
should not be discolored. All lettuce
should be crisp, served raw either
alone or as a hearts-of-lettuce salad.
The vegetable may be cooked as any
other green vegetable, or made into a
soup.
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978 11
\EARSIGHTD
VIEWPOI\T
T
blundered gleefully through my
youth in a state of perpetual activity, never giving a thought to the
future. My only sorrow, lurking behind garish blue plastic perched on
my nose, was that I didn't know what
I looked like.
It wasn't that I didn't want to
know, and it wasn't through lack of
effort. I spent many an emotiondrenched session in front of the mirror, sans spectacles, peering intently
into the glass. But by the time I got
far enough away from the mirror to be
able to see my entire face, I couldn't
see!
Oh, the agony! The pain of knowing I was there, lost to sight through a
quirk of nature. I knew I existed
someplace behind that blur, behind
the anonymity of plastic ear pieces and
thick concave lenses. I wanted out!
Besides, vanity soon raised its sinister head. A boyfriend told me that
my eyes were my best feature. If they
were better than my figure, which I
could appraise with no difficulty with
my glasses on, I wanted those eyes out
in the open!
But time passed. I married and
became a mother. One day our small
daughter snatched off my glasses and
threw them on the floor once too
often. They shattered, and my freedom took shape from those sharp
splinters of glass.
By Jean E. Stephenson
I
12
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
The pain of knowing I
was there, lost to sight
through a quirk of nature!
As long as I had to get new glasses
anyway—why not contact lenses? I
ran—or rather, had my husband lead
me—to the nearest optometrist, and
my new life began. I was 24 years old,
released at last from obscurity.
My first look into the mirror was
something of a disappointment. Removing the glasses hadn't lengthened
my nose or eliminated any freckles.
Everything was basically the same—
except the eyes. I had to admit, they
helped. My morale zoomed up fifty
points.
Liberated from my inhibitions, I
found that life took on new meaning.
I could look people in the eyes without first having to push my glasses up
on my nose. Cooking became a thing
of joy, without my trying to work
through steamed glass. And my poor
nose and ears, tired from years of
carrying around the heavy frames, got
a well-deserved rest.
Fifteen busy years went by. Life
was full of fun and activity. Then
came the day I was sitting in the
ophthalmologist's chair, hearing the
words I'd been dreading.
"Your eyes are tired. That happens
sometimes when you get older. The
only thing you can do is stop wearing
contact lenses."
So there I was—back where I
started. My fifteen-year reprieve was
over. I had finally surfaced, only to be
driven back by tired eyes. The future
looked dim.
I walked through the door in my
new modern-shaped lenses, turning
defiantly toward my husband. He
kissed my cheek as I glared up at him.
"Welcome back, Honey. I've
missed you all these years."
My son came bounding through the
room. "Hey, Mom, you look weird!
What's for dinner?"
Nobody knew I was different. I did
the same things, and my family
treated me as they always had. There
wasn't time to convince people that I
had retreated to my former self.
Someday I'll get around to that.
But I'm keeping the contact lenses.
When days get long and my spirits
sag, I'll know what to do. With my
lenses in place I'll look in the mirror
to find what everybody else has always
known. I've been there all the time!
Jean Stephenson, who has a son and a daughter, is
a homemaker who became increasingly interested
in writing. Among other things, she says she
enjoys reading and camping.
V ERNONTOOLEYIII
I knew I existed
somewhere behind that
blur!
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
13
WILL
THAT DOG
BITE ME,
MOM •
110
By Vivian Buchan
14
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
H
ow do you answer a child who
asks that question? Tell him
Yes, and he'll develop a fear of dogs.
Tell him No, and he'll approach any
strange dog. So what do you tell him?
The trauma I had when my 10year-old son came crying into the
house some years ago, holding his
hand over a bleeding face is something
no parent should have to experience.
He'd reached down to pet a strange
dog that had leaped up and had bitten
his upper lip until it took eleven
stiches to close the laceration. It was
days before we located the strange dog
that we feared might be rabid. Although it wasn't, dog bites are serious
nonetheless.
Now that so many people keep dogs
for protection, we should teach our
youngsters neither to fear nor trust
strange dogs, but to respect them.
Most cities have laws to prevent
dogs from running loose, but dogs
still do so. And State-wide laws demand that dogs be given rabies shots,
but there are strays everywhere that
could be rabid.
The U.S. Disease Control Center in
Atlanta estimates that at least one
million people are bitten by dogs
every year in this country alone. Other
authorities believe it could be twice
that number. And the incidence of
dog bites is going up, not down. The
cost of treating dog bites runs up to
some $50 million a year. Dog bites are
topped only by gonorrhea among the
reported diseases and injuries.
A survey made in New York City
between 1965 and 1972 showed that
52 percent of the victims of dog bites
were under 20 years of age. And 64
percent of facial bites were those inflicted on children under 10. Dog
bites began to rise in March, reaching
a high point in summer, and declining after August. In 79 percent of the
cases, the dog was known to the victim, and only 11 percent of the people
bitten were bitten by a stray. In 16
percent of the cases the dog belonged
to the family.
Dogs can be temperamental Susan Welsh of the Humane Society
auxiliary in a Midwestern city, issued
a warning that strange dogs can be a
threat. Youngsters who have dogs of
their own come to believe that all dogs
are as friendly and affectionate as their
pets. But dogs vary in temperament
just as people do, and need to be
treated with respect and understanding.
Lost or strayed dogs often follow
children on their way to school, but
even a playful and friendly dog can
become a threat if it's teased, threatened, or frightened. Ms. Welsh said,
"If you see a dog loose on the playground or on your way to school,
report it to the principal or your
teacher. You'll be doing the dog a
favor, as well as yourself and your
playmates, if you report it. It's far
kinder to do that than to let it roam
the streets and perhaps be struck by a
car."
A dog that bites someone puts its
owner into jeopardy and sometimes
writes "the end" to its life. So a dog
that has jumped over its fence or
slipped its leash needs to be returned
to its home. The owner will be grateful, and the dog will be protected
from harming itself or someone else.
Nothing delights some dogs more
than chasing a moving object such as a
car, a bicycle, or a running person.
Attacking a bicycle is lots of fun, for
its easier to catch hold of the person
on it. Advise your child that if a dog
does approach him as he's riding his
bike to get off at once to avoid being
tipped over, bitten, or having his
What if you're sauntering along minding your own business
and a dog rushes at you growling and
snarling? What do you do? Nothing!
Just stand perfectly still, no matter
how scared you might be, with your
hands hanging at your sides. The
worst thing you could do would be to
start screaming and running away.
The next worst thing would be putting out your hands toward the dog or
over your head. Nothing alarms a dog
quicker than such movements.
If he doesn't become bored by your
playing statue and slink off, he may
lose his fear of you. He may cautiously
approach you (still growling) and
begin sniffing at your hands and feet.
Don't move. Talk softly and slowly to
him without making any attempt to
touch him. He may begin to trust
you—then, again, he may not—so
stand absolutely still until he either
goes away or someone calls him off or
comes to your rescue.
advice to respect strange dogs and said
to me, "Ha, all dogs like me. I can
make up with the crossest or strangest
dog you'll ever see. Look at that big
shepherd sitting in that truck over
there. Just watch me make friends
with him."
As he reached his hand through the
half-opened window of the truck, the
dog gave one low growl that made me
step back. But Randy just kept
reaching through the window. "Come
on, fella, I'm your friend," he said.
Without another sound of warning,
the dog's jaws clamped around
Randy's right hand. And before he
could get loose, his thumb was almost
torn off.
People are so security conscious
these days that more and more big
dogs are seen walking beside people,
some on leashes, others not. Dogs
pace behind link-chain fences, stand
guard on front porches, and protect
cars and children from strangers, or
even from people they know, if they
are alone with their charges. Most of
them are prepared to attack without
warning, and most of them are wary
and suspicious of any stranger.
Even friendly little dogs who trot
up to anyone can become unfriendly if
they're threatened by someone making
quick movements that startle them.
So it's wrong to say "No, that dog
won't bite you," because it just could.
And it's not sensible to say, "Yes, that
dog will bite you," for that generates
fear in a child that may carry over into
a phobia.
It's far better to say, "I don't know
if that dog would bite you or not. All
dogs require respect and understanding, so that's how you act if you do
encounter a strange dog anywhere."
Randy's a
brash teen-ager who laughed at the
Vivian Buchan is a free-lance author,
and frequent contributor to Life and
Health.
clothes ripped.
The cyclist should keep his twowheeler between him and the dog,
using it as a shield as he walks quietly
along. If he keeps saying calmly, "Go
home, now, go on home," or "No,
No," the dog may tire of the inaction
and go trotting off to find something
more exciting to do. But if it does
persist in threatening his quarry, keep
walking slowly along until someone
comes to help.
Another way to respect a dog is to
keep your hands off him. Never,
never, never reach out your hand to a
strange dog. And never, never, never
reach over a fence to pat one confined
to quarters. Any threat or invasion of
a dog's territory is asking for trouble.
Play statue
Respect those dogs
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
15
/,,olf-Eyb NA.
Warm beverages
for health and enjoyment
16
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
By Selma Chaij Rhys
W
hen the temperature outside
drops and every attempt to get
some fresh air sends a chill into our
lungs, we treasure those moments relaxing at home in front of a fire. What
comfort to curl up cozily in our favorite nook while we hear the wind
and rain or watch the snow come
down.
It's the time to enjoy popping corn
over the fire, relaxing, sipping a warm
beverage slowly, sharing quiet moments with family and friends.
A warm drink increases the feeling
of relaxation, and seems to comfort
the spirit as well as the body. It can
also contribute to good health and
resistance against disease. Certain
fruit beverages, for example, have
been found to have antibacterial and
antiviral properties. During winter
there is less opportunity to be in the
fresh air and sunshine, so sickness is
more common and frequent. This is
an excellent opportunity to benefit
from the health-giving virtues of fruit
beverages.
Two Canadian food virologists reported in a recent issue of Science that
some fruits—and fruit juices—such as
grapes, strawberries, and raspberries,
may be of value as antiviral agents. *
This is owing to certain naturally occurring tannins and phenols. Some
juices, such as grape juice, are very
active against viruses that cause disease, said this report. This is especially true of red-grape juice—more
than white, which is apparently because the skins, which contain most of
the phenols, are removed in making
white-grape juice.
Fruits and juices should be included
in our diet every day. They are good
sources of many vitamins and minerals. Among these are vitamin C, vitamin Bs, potassium, iron, copper,
chromium, and traces of most other
nutrients. This balance of nutrients is
absent from fruit-flavored sugary beverages.
For your health, and that of your
family, read the labels and buy only
pure, unsweetened fruit juices. Here
are some piping-hot fruit drinks you
can make this winter:
Golden wassail
1 qt. apple juice
1 qt. pineapple juice
1 12 oz. can apricot nectar
1 cup orange juice
5 inch stick cinnamon
1 tsp. whole cloves
1/4 tsp. crushed cardamon seeds
In saucepan combine all ingredients.
Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Strain
and serve in mugs with cinnamonstick muddlers. Makes 9 cups.
Hot berry lemonade
2 12 oz. packages frozen strawberries or raspberries
1/4 cup honey
1 6 oz. can frozen lemonade
concentrate
3 cups water
2 tbsp. mint leaves
In saucepan combine all ingredients.
Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Put in
blender to purée berries or serve with
berries slightly crushed. Makes 8
cups.
Hot grape punch
1 qt. grape juice
1 qt. cranberry-apple juice
3 inch stick cinnamon
1 tsp. whole cloves
1 lemon, thinly sliced
In saucepan combine juices, cinnamon
and cloves. Cover and simmer for 10
minutes. Strain and serve over lemon
slices. Makes 8 cups.
Sweet dreams warm-up
This drink is good at any time of
the day—at breakfast, after dinner, or
as a nightcap. Research suggests that
there is some truth to the idea that
milk may help us sleep better. Studies
with animals found that the amino
acid tryptophan seemed to trigger
sleepiness. This amino acid is found
abundantly in milk. Since the following recipe has no caffeine or other
stimulants or irritants such as those
found in cocoa, tea, or coffee, it may
in fact be an excellent relaxant. The
molasses is a rich source of iron,. one of
the minerals lacking in milk, so that
it not only adds a flavorful sweetness,
but complements the milk nutritionally.
hot skim milk
instant cereal beverage such as Posturn, Pero or Sano-Caf
molasses
For each serving place a teaspoon of
cereal beverage and a teaspoonful of
molasses in each cup. Pour hot skim
milk into cup and stir to dissolve well.
Sip and enjoy.
* Jack Konowalchuk and Joan I. Speirs. Science,
vol. 190, p. 1074, June 3, 1977.
LIFE AND HEALTH—JANUARY 1978 17
null mon do ogbio?ia
" Life is too short to be little"
By Annie Laurie Von Tungeln
n the delightful story of her life,
the famous writer Pearl S. Buck
characterized a servant she had in
China as one of those women "who
battle whatever they do." In cleaning,
she "opposed" and "attacked" the
furniture, and the destruction of a
spider web in the beams of a ceiling
called for "mutterings and threats." 1
I too am inclined sometimes to indulge in a sort of pseudobusyness.
When I attack the room where I
write—with its clutter of papers,
books, card and clipping files—I am
given to mutterings and threats,
though I try to keep them discreetly
tucked under my breath.
Although on such occasions my industry is little more than bustling
fussiness, there are times when I actually have too much to do—and not
busywork, either. Many persons face a
similar situation. They range from
young mothers who care for their
families and at the same time hold
jobs outside their homes, to retirees
who have bitten off too many volunteer "do-good" activities (and I don't
say that in a derogatory way) or who
are harassed to serve on committees or
as callers for organizations of all sorts.
It is possible to wear ourselves out
with good works, as well as with our
regular occupations. In our eagerness
to accomplish a great deal we may be
like the man who felt so good after the
I
18
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
first dose of medicine the doctor prescribed—to be taken one teaspoonful
every day—that he swallowed the
whole bottle the following morning,
with near-disastrous results.
Perspective The insight that enables us to sort out the essentials from
the nonessentials is one of the most
useful qualities we can develop to
keep our lives from becoming cluttered. In the words of Benjamin
Disraeli, nineteenth century prime
minister of Great Britain, "Life is too
short to be little." 2 And yet, it's often
the little, apparently trivial things
that keep us so busy. Petty demands
and imaginary obligations crowd in on
us inexorably, gnawing away at our
time and energy. It's then that we
need to recall the injunction "Catch
the foxes, the little foxes, before they
ruin our vineyard in bloom" (Song of
Songs 2:15, T.E.V.).3
On the other hand, little things
that seem only a mass of everydayness
may be of vast importance, the very
essence of a good life. We dare not
cast them aside too lightly. It takes
wisdom to distinguish between the
two: the best test of what is important
or what is inconsequential is whether
it has enduring values.
It is important for young people to
learn early in life to be selective. A
bright high school student may have
opportunities to participate in athletics, the band and orchestra, the debate
club, class plays, the student council.
Obviously, he cannot do justice to all
these activities, worthy as they are.
The choice becomes a matter of not
letting the good crowd out the best.
Most of us, young and old, can usually tell when we have selected the
work that is most vital, because we
experience such a feeling of satisfaction.
Organization can also do wonders
in eliminating overbusyness. Although I don't work well by a rigid
schedule, once I have formulated one I
feel annoyed if I deviate from it by a
split second—I do like a flexible plan.
My
mother taught me a great deal. As a
farm wife she accomplished more
work than seemed possible for one
rather frail human being—and all
with so little fuss or fanfare. Her
secret lay in organization. Although
our house was small, she had a place
for everything and kept everything in
place. There was a time for everything
too. Some tasks, such as preparing
meals for the family and the hungry
farmhands, gathering the eggs, and
making beds, had to be done daily.
But there were assigned days for other
major activities, although Mother
could cheerfully accept a necessary
The secret of organization
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LIFE AND HEALTH—JANUARY 1978
19
null 2,rspdi
o2Ant/, ©Mt
change in her routine.
Sunday was a day of worship;
Monday was washday; Tuesday was
devoted to ironing, Thursday and
Friday to cleaning, Saturday to baking, I'm not sure which special day
Wednesday was—maybe sewing and
mending—but I know that it was
used for a definite purpose. Mother
did things in order with careful attention to what would facilitate each
step in any process. She had a way of
first pitching into hard tasks or ones
she disliked, whether it was windowwattling or writing a "just-right" note
of sympathy or congratulations. She
had a rare facility for using fragments
of time. She might glance at a newspaper or a magazine, sew on a button,
or dust the end tables between major
tasks. (By following her example in
the use of bits of time, I find sometimes that I have more than I thought
I had.)
Some people require a certain atrnosphere to work at their best—a
particular setting or an accompaniment of music. I don't need any special background and I don't wait for
the right mood. But I do accomplish
more if I create some semblance of
order—even clearing my cluttered
desk (in all honesty it's an old bridge
table) can be a help.
Learning to say No Besides perspective and organization in keeping
us from overfilling our lives, consideration for self is important. That
doesn't mean an egocentric refusal to
share our lives and make our lives
worth sharing. It does mean recognizing that we can't do everything and
learning to decline unreasonable or
overtaxing demands on our time and
strength. God accepts our limitations;
we can do no less.
20 LIFE AND HEALTH—JANUARY 1978
Much has been said and written
recently about assertiveness training.
Some of the statements are amusing,
some selfish, but others make good
sense. To achieve our highest potential without scattering our forces or
overdoing does require a certain
amount of controlled assertiveness.
Several years ago a young friend of
mine was faced with so many activities and responsibilities—from den
mother to president of the P.T.A.—
that she had all too little time for her
family or herself. As she laughingly
tells it now, she couldn't find time to
attend a class in assertiveness, but she
still had a little common sense. One
morning when the telephone rang, she
thought to herself, No matter what
I'm asked to do, the answer is No.
The caller was her friend Alma.
"Since you're such a marvelous cook, I
thought maybe you wouldn't mind
baking a couple of cakes for that little
club I belong to," she said. "We're
having a food bazaar."
"Thank you for the compliment,
but I'm busy," Mary answered before
her friend could add that it was for a
good cause.
At first Alma was insistent and obviously annoyed. But when Mary persisted courteously but firmly in her
refusal, Alma said, "I shouldn't have
bothered you. I know you are busy."
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, a couple
who retired recently from their small
business, were called on for so much
baby-sitting with grandchildren that,
until they mastered some assertiveness, it kept them busier and more
tied down than when they were
working.
When the Robertses assured their
daughter that they loved the grandchildren dearly and would be happy to
baby-sit on occasion but not every
evening, she realized the justice of
their reasoning and helped them plan
an excursion to a part of the United
States they had long wanted to visit.
Another way to avoid feeling harried is to take the long view. It is
possible to concentrate on an object
close to our eyes for so long that we
have trouble focusing until we look
away for a while. Likewise, we may
need to look away from our work for a
while so we can see it in proper perspective. According to a Chinese saying, "Of the thirty-six ways of escape,
the best is to run away." 4 The proverb
probably refers to running away from
something one fears, a physical
danger, perhaps, but when things pile
up we may need to run away from
work or responsibility. (Running
away isn't cowardly so long as it
means self-renewal, and not an evasion of duty.)
Ways and places of escape vary with
individuals. Some of us like to escape
through a good book. Relying on Isaiah's comforting words "In quietness
and in confidence shall be your
strength" (Isa. 30:15), some folks
prefer aloneness and meditation. We
may even need to escape, body and all,
for a little vacation from too many
pressures.
The motto of the renowned sports
columnist Grantland Rice was
"You're here only a short while. Don't
hurry, don't worry and don't forget to
smell the flowers." 5 That is still good
advice.
REFERENCES
Pearl S. Buck. My Several Worlds, pp. 248, 155.
2 Quoted in The Upper Room, April 28, 1972, p. 68.
3 Bible text credited to T.E.V. is from the Good
News Bible—Old Testament: Copyright C)
American Bible Society 1976, New Testament:
Copyright © American Bible Society 1966, 1971,
1976.
4 Buck. Op. cit., p. 155.
Quoted in Reader's Digest, December, 1965.
John N. Wheeler. "My Most Unforgettable
Character," p. 103.
V ER NONTOOLEYIII
MY STUBBORN FATHER
By Dorothy Carey
M
y father, at 85, is at an age where
a person ought to be allowed to
be a little foolish, which he is, to do
pretty much what he wants to, which
he does, and be protected against his
own folly, which I try to do.
It is in connection with protecting
him from his folly that I have the
most trouble. It was after a harrowing
ride in his car that I decided something must be done.
"Daddy," I said hesitantly, "perhaps the time has come—uh—when
you should—uh—give up driving." I
was shocked into silence by the sheer
audacity of my words.
"Give up driving?" he asked in the
horrified tones of one who had just
received a suggestion to cut off his
arm. "Give up driving?" he repeated.
"Why, if I gave up driving I might as
well be dead!" which is what he will
be if he keeps it up (driving, that is).
When I pointed out he could easily
kill himself on the road he jauntily
said he'd had a good long life anyway
and if he were going to die he might
as well die while doing what he wants
to, which is to drive.
I pointed out that while he might
have lived his four-score-plus years,
there were those of us who had not
reached our quota and might like co
stick around a while.
Unfortunately, he thinks he is a
good driver. Since he lives in a small
town where everyone knows him,
when they see him driving his car they
usually get off the road. (Maybe even
the sidewalks!)
He sails past stop signs, apparently
thinking they are meant for other
people, the kind responsible for all
accidents—those that speed, which he
considers anyone to be doing if they
go more than forty miles an hour.
Riding with him at the wheel is an
unforgettable experience, one likely to
give a person nightmares for months.
The last time I rode with him I
thought it might really be my last
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978 21
ride. He asked me to tell him when he
should head into traffic—I don't have
depth perception. When I finally got
courage to say Go his reaction was so
slow the cars were almost upon us. I
felt as though we'd entered the
Indianapolis speedway.
I was in a state of near collapse. My
father, however, blithely drove along
as if this were a part of everyday
living, which it probably is.
When we reached the main shopping area, there were two lights on.
He stopped the car in the middle of
the street.
"What does a green arrow and a red
light mean?" he asked. Since I don't
drive I don't pay attention to things
like stop lights. I didn't really know.
However, from the cacophony created
by drivers behind us leaning heavily
on car horns, I deduced it must mean
Go. Which he did.
The exhilaration of whizzing along
in traffic at 40 miles an hour while
everyone else does 60 has to be experienced to be appreciated. "Speeders,"
Dad muttered under his breath, while
I closed my eyes and braced myself for
the crash.
Through some miracle we reached
home safely. I felt like kissing the
soil, much as early-day sailors did on
surviving a hazardous journey. My
husband, noticing my state, suggested I stop drinking coffee. It
seemed to be affecting my nerves.
From that day forward I tried to
think of reasons to keep Dad from
driving. Since death held no fear for
him, I had to think of something else.
"You could be scarred from an accident," I said. Now this really
stopped him. Dad is a vain man,
proud of making a good appearance,
and the idea he might be scarred for
life (however short) scared him. Once
when he was a youngster of 75 he
injured his leg. We worried about
whether he could walk or not again.
Did that worry him? No. Of course,
he could walk again.
His chief worry was the accident
might leave a scar. Since he was 75
22 LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
years old and a man, I didn't figure
anyone was likely to be looking at his
legs anyway. And since he doesn't
wear shorts, I couldn't see that a scar
on his leg could be all that drastic, but
it was to him.
While the possibility of being
scarred was serious enough to be taken
into consideration, he said he always
wore his seat belt and insisted anyone
riding with him wear theirs. He said
he had driven sixty-some years without a serious accident and he was a
better driver now than he was at 25,
which, if true, leads me to believe
that there really are modern-day miracles.
He mentioned also that it was necessary for him to have a car. For one
thing he needed it to see his lady
friend, which is, of course, true. For
though there are widows by the dozen
in his hometown he imprudently
chose as lady friend a widow who lives
100 miles away—and not on a bus
line yet.
So it is, as he pointed out, absolutely essential that he drive. However, he tried to assuage my worry by
saying when he reached her house she
did all the driving and that she's a
good driver.
I was somewhat reassured until I
learned she was a spring chicken of
83. This led me to believe she might
not be a much better driver than he
was. But, if I had a choice of drivers, I
was willing to bet on her. She couldn't
but be a better driver, I thought.
However, that was before the time
we stopped at a lumber yard to pick
up boards so Dad could build her a
new garage door.
"What happened to the old one?" I
asked. And, without thinking, my
father innocently mentioned his lady
friend had crashed through it one day
when she was pondering something
else and forgot to open the door.
Somehow this doesn't give me much
confidence in her as a driver, either.
I try to get my father to take the
bus when he comes to visit us. However, he says that to catch the bus he
has to ask someone to drive him eight
miles to a nearby city, and he's not
about to do that. I told my husband I
can't understand why he should not
get someone to drive for him, since
Dad has driven for every funeral held
in town as long as I can remember.
Surely someone must owe him a ride.
But, as my husband pointed out,
those people are all in the cemetery.
Recently Dad planned to visit my
sister out West. After much urging he
agreed to take an airplane. He had a
through trip on the way out. But on
the way back he had to change at
Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Fearing he
might get lost since he was changing
from an airline at one end of the
terminal to one at the other, my sister
arranged for a guide to meet him in
Chicago. Dad was relieved and pleased
by this arrangement. Then my sister
made the mistake of telling him they
would probably have a wheel chair for
him.
"A wheel chair!" he exploded.
"That's for old people. I'm not a
cripple. I will not ride in a wheel
chair!"
"Why not?" my sister asked. "If
someone wanted to wheel me where I
wanted to go, I'd let them," she said.
Though he was afraid of not finding his airline at O'Hare, he absolutely refused to let a guide help him.
Because time was short he practically
ran from one end of the terminal to
the other, frantically asking people
where to go. As he reached the correct
terminal he was hot and perspiring.
When he got on the plane he became
chilled from the air-conditioning and
spent several days in bed when he
arrived at home. But he had not used a
wheel chair in O'Hare. He'd shown
us!
Someday, God willing, I, too, may
reach his age. And I intend to be
foolish sometimes and to do pretty
much what I want to also. And, when
others try to protect me from my
folly, I will thwart them at every pass.
For I'll know how. I've had a master
for a teacher.
le
Your child may
grow back a linger tip
By Audrey Carli
I
f your child, under age 11, loses a
finger tip in an accident, you will
rush him or her to a hospital for
complicated emergency treatment.
Soon that treatment may be simpler
all over the world. In England and
Australia, for example, a new treatment method in dealing with a child's
finger tip amputation involves the use
of a mitten. If the lost finger tip is not
below the first joint, the child may
even grow back a new finger tip. It has
happened many times in the accident
and emergency department of Children's Hospital in Sheffield, England,
reports Dr. Cynthia M. Illingworth,
M.R.C.P., consultant in pediatric
accident and emergency.
Originally, treatment for a child's
accidentally amputated finger tip involved suturing while using a general
anesthetic. Before the new treatment,
too, a retrieved finger tip was sutured
and treated like other trapped-finger
injuries. If there was no tip, but there
was sufficient pulp, a small graft was
applied to receive it. Or if the bone of
the terminal phalanx protruded, it
was shortened. Then a surgical procedure took place to tidy the tip.
Dr. Illingworth reports that a child
with a cut-off finger tip, whom the
senior house officer planned to send to
a plastic surgeon, had the finger covered with a simple dressing.
Because of an error, the child was
not sent to the surgeon. Several days
later, when he was again examined,
the doctors found that the finger was
healing nicely. Eventually there was
complete regrowth of the tip.
8
0
"We now know that this happens
in young children," says Dr. Illingworth. "Some months afterward I
found that this had also been noticed
in Australia."
Of the 300 to 350 cases of trapped
fingers seen by Dr. Illingworth and
the staff at Children's Hospital in
Sheffield, there were all degrees of
severity, including amputation of the
tip.
"We have adopted simple methods
of dealing with them, which are
completely effective and inflict very
little discomfort," explains the pediatrician.
First, she states, never suture
trapped fingers. Instead, hold in position with Steristrip or Ethistrip, then
cover with a nonstick dressing and a
mitten-type bandage. The injury then
is examined after one week, and the
strips are removed after the second
week. By then almost all injured fingers are healed. Dr. Illingworth says
the results are excellent. "No antibiotics are given." *
What is done if the bone protrudes
in an accidental finger tip amputation? At the Children's Hospital in
Sheffield, they do nothing except clean
the area gently. Then it is covered
with a thick layer of Tulle-gras and a
mitten bandage. This stays on for
about two weeks.
Parents are told not to expect an
attractive finger at the time of the first
dressing. But excellent results are assured. Again, no antibiotics are prescribed.
How many dressings are used and
how long will it take for regrowth of
the tip and nail?
Treatment at the Sheffield Children's Hospital includes three or four
dressings. After the first two, there is
usually a four-week span between the
final dressings. "Full repair in a young
child takes about eleven or twelve
weeks. We have treated dozens of
cases by this method, with consistently good results," says Dr. Illingworth, who adds that even finger
whorls are restored.
B. S. Douglas, in Australia, has
learned, in independent findings, that
it is possible for the finger tip to
regrow along with the nail by using
the proper treatment.
Dr. Illingworth points out that the
top age limit for successfully using
this lost-finger-tip treatment is not
known. "The oldest child treated in
this way was 11 years old, but we see
comparatively few older children with
trapped fingers."
* Journal of Pediatric Surgery, vol. 9, No. 6, December, 1974.
LIFE AND HEALTH—IANUARY 1978
23
By Albert E. Shirer
getting
into
circulation
bout five years ago, my doctor
suggested that I walk a good distance every lunch hour to stimulate
circulation, since my job requires a
good deal of sitting. This advice has
not only accomplished its purpose but
has revealed and developed several enjoyable side effects. The program that
evolved from this could prove both
enjoyable and beneficial to anyone
who has one hour off for lunch.
Industry Week Magazine, in its September, 1975, issue quoted from
"Walk Away Your Worries," by
Terry Warren, in the January, 1975,
LIFE AND HEALTH magazine. "No
matter what ails you, one of the best
cures may be a good walk, said the
article. Walking helps to overcome
fatigue and aids circulation by speeding blood to the heart against the pull
of gravity. And a brisk walk has a
soothing effect on the nervous system;
it creates rhythmic contractions that
drain anxiety and tension and melt
away frustration."
Here's a ten point system for making a one-hour lunch break a healthy
activity:
24
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
❑ I—The walking route Since
there are five working days each week,
select five different walking routes.
Determine a turn-around point at exactly one mile from the start as indicated on your car's odometer. This
establishes a two-mile walking course
that experience tells me can be walked
at a brisk pace in 40 minutes. That is
20 minutes out and 20 back. Having
five routes is for variety—and to prevent boredom.
0
❑ III—Light reading Select a
good, inspirational-type paperback
book and tear it up into 40 to 50 page
sections. This gives you something to
do with your eyes while you eat, instead of staring aimlessly. The tornup sections fit easily into your pocket
and are always available.
I
I
§
Locate within
these five routes, five fast-service (but
nutritional food) restaurants, or carry
your food. Walking two miles consumes 40 minutes, which leaves 20
minutes for lunch.
❑ II—Eating out
❑
IV—Watch where you're going
Train yourself to look about you as
you walk and get involved with the
world around you. Look and see children, houses, buildings, flowers,
grass, and clouds in the sky.
❑ V—Go alone Resolve that this
routine is to be a solitary activity.
This way the walking time allows
your mind to float and to forget business for one full hour during a working day. This divides an eight-hour
day into two much-easier-handled
four-hour segments.
❑ X—Tension free Resolve that
your lunch hour is going to be a
health-building, relaxing, tension' free experience with the side benefit of
expanding your reading time. In the
❑ VIII—Rain or snow Determine
past year, I read 11 books, all with
to make this a daily routine all year
more than 200 pages each that I know
round—summer, winter, spring, and
I never would have found time to read
fall. It can be warm, cold, hot,
without my "walk and read" lunchwindy, snowy, but still walk. On
hour program.
rainy days, take a day to take care of
Some people prefer jogging for exneglected errands, away from your
ercise, but it is far too strenuous and
routine.
would "sweat up" traditional office
clothing. Besides, Dr. Joseph Beninson, 57, a specialist at Detroit's Henry
Ford Hospital, said at a health semi00
nar:
"Walking is better exercise than
❑ VI—Shoes Wear substantial
jogging because of less risk of damshoes and comfortable socks.
aging your back. When you jog, you
come down on your heel and squash
your back like an accordion. . . . Only
walking satisfactorily promotes blood
circulation."
So why not start on this program?
It will not only improve your blood
circulation but will put you into a
wonderful world of books and the
❑ IX—Check your mileage
outdoors—where
breezes blow, flowKeep a running tally every day of
ers bloom, children laugh, and birds
accumulated walking mileage. Imagsing.
ine, in the usual 200 days that approximate a working year, at two Al Shirer is manager at Envirotech Cor❑ VII—Clothing Dress warmly in
miles a day, you can cover 400 miles! poration and has just branched out into
free-lance writing. This is his first artithe winter (or coolly in summer), but That's farther than walking from
cle sold. He is also active in his comallow for increased body heat during Washington, D.C., to Cleveland, munity, and has been married for 31
the brisk walk.
Ohio—a distance of only 351 miles. years to another free-lance writer.
H. AROBERT
O
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
25
NBACH
KURTREICHE
By Patti Feldman
WHAT
CAN WE
DO
ABOUT
HICCUPS?
26
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
U
nlike other physiological commonplaces—coughing clears
the throat, sneezing opens the nose,
and belching relieves the bloated
stomach (and some say, compliments
the chef)—hiccups are useless.
Hiccups, technically a spasmodic
contraction of the diaphragm, the
thin sheet of muscle separating the
chest from the abdominal cavity, are
usually a passing phenomenon. People
can and do get them from any situation that causes them to swallow air,
such as laughing after eating too
much food or using or chewing tobacco or gum. Hiccups often accompany indigestion or other forms of
gastric irritation.
Known medically as singultus, the
name "hiccups" (or "hiccoughs")
comes onomatopoetically from the
sound of the explosive interruption
that results when the diaphragm's
rhythmic movement is hindered and
an involuntary intake of air is abruptly
checked by the glottis—part of the
windpipe—snapping shut.
Like heirlooms and skeletons in the
closet, every family has a special cure
for hiccups. Even the ancients did, for
hiccups are as old as gluttony and poor
eating habits themselves.
As far back as the fourth century
B.C., Plato, in his Symposium, noted
the plight that must to this day occasionally plague public speakers,
actors, singers, and lawyers in court.
He observed, "The turn of Aristophanes was next, but either he had
eaten too much, or from some other
cause, he had the hiccough." The
playwright was advised by a companion to " . . . hold your breath, and if
after you have done so for some time
the hiccough is no better, then gargle
with a little water; and if it still
continues tickle your nose with something and sneeze; and if you sneeze
once or twice, even the most violent
hiccough is sure to go." It worked.
Hippocrates documented the cure
in his clinical tome, Aphorisms. "If
sneezing is produced, the singultus
being temporarily suppressed, the
singultus will be cured." As the old
doctor noted, induced sneezing and
similar respiratory methods work effectively to break the rhythm of the
hiccups.
Depending on where relatives are
from and who believes whom, most
families believe in their own favorite
home remedies. Some might work
well. Others may seem to work well
because they coincide with the hiccups
having run their course.
Folk remedies include drinking
water rapidly from the far rim of the
cup, swallowing bread or crushed ice,
holding the tongue, applying pressure
on the eyeballs, or chilling the right
ear lobe. The last two—if they do
work—must draw some potency from
the power of mind over matter.
Many people are sure they have
been helped by breathing air deeply
from a paper bag, which amounts to
inhaling more and more carbon dioxide concentration. Several doctors believe this is the simplest effective
method.
Several of the more popular home
cures are based on indirectly shocking
the nervous system into normal behavior by introducing a stimulus
stronger than the original stimulus of
hiccups—thus interrupting their contractions. Collaborators, however, are
essential for such cure methods as
frightening the sufferer, thumping his
back, or slamming your shoe on the
table before him.
Of course, no one would hit a baby
or try to scare him merely to eliminate
hiccups. Instead, for babies already
started on solids, try a teaspoon of
sugar, which may make the infant
gasp and, hopefully, resume normal
breathing. Adults can upgrade the
recipe to a small amount of vinegar for
themselves if they can stomach it.
A symptom If hiccups last as long
as a couple of days, they may become
serious, causing discomfort, fatigue,
exhaustion, and interference with eating, resting, and sleeping. Although
the connections are not at all clearly
defined, persistent hiccups may be
symptomatic of more serious pathologies. Prolonged attacks are more
prevalent than chance would have it in
victims also suffering from toxic conditions such as uremia, gout, and
malaria, from thoracic diseases such as
pneumonia, pleurisy, and pericarditis,
and from meningitis, encephalitis,
syphilis, and brain and spinal-cord
tumors. No one, of course, should
suspect these conclusions merely because of hiccups.
Hiccup spasms in the more tenacious cases can reach up to one
hundred hics, or tics of the diaphragm, per minute. Such cases—
which may endanger the sufferer's
physical and mental well-being or
worsen his already poor condition if he
is otherwise ill—are frequently
treated with ether, which acts as a
form of hyperventilation, or by sedation with barbiturates, morphine, and
other depressants that act to relax the
nervous system.
Serious hiccups are sometimes triggered during surgery, especially of the
upper abdomen, perhaps partly because of inadequate ventilation during
anesthesia. On-the-spot treatment
varies according to the doctors present. One option is to increase the
depth of anesthesia, another to hyperventilate the patient. Some doctors
use muscle relaxants to stop the hiccups. A more direct method practiced
in some operating rooms is to physically block the vagus nerve in the
neck. While these actions often seem
to do the job, skeptics may wonder if
the hiccups would not stop spontaneously anyhow.
One group of doctors has developed
an almost guaranteed technique for
managing hiccups in conscious or anesthetized patients. It involves stimulation of the pharynx with a catheter
introduced through the nose. In 84 of
85 sufferers, 65 of whom were anesthetized, the hiccups stopped immediately. In those cases where the
hiccups recurred, the same maneuver
worked again, at least providing temporary relief.
The validity of relating hiccups to
the pharynx is gaining recognition.
Those folk cures based on forcible
traction of the tongue and swallowing
may in fact depend upon pharyngeal
stimulation to alter the abnormal
respiratory pattern of hiccups.
But hiccups can also result from
psychogenic factors stemming from
psychological or emotional conditions
such as addiction, hysteria, grief,
anxiety, enuresis (involuntary discharge of urine), and malingering.
And there seems to be some distinction by sex.
In a study of 220 people with
stubborn hiccups, conducted at the
Mayo Clinic from 1935 to 1963, 92
percent of the otherwise healthy females had psychogenic hiccups, and
93 percent of the males had one or
more organic diseases, each one by
itself capable of producing or frequently coinciding with hiccups.
Although hundreds of cases of prolonged attacks have been documented
in recent years, doctors have yet to
agree on either what actual physical
phenomenon turns hiccups on, or
what physical act best shuts them off.
Until medical research concurs on a
sure cure, folk medicine, potluck, and
pragmatism will have to do.
Patti Feldman is a free-lance writer with
articles on medical and general topics
published frequently in such national
publications as Diversion, Medical Dimensions, National Enquirer, Ski, and
several in-flight airline magazines.
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
27
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By Martha J. Beckman
C
an you give me ten ideas about
what you like? Do you do
something about your ideas? Chances
are, then, that you are a creative
person.
You may pay a price for your creativity. Studies show that a person who
has ideas that would change things
threatens others, usually the people
closest to him—his wife, his employer, his teacher, his friends. People
who are not creative want to keep the
status quo, the things they are familiar with.
Yet creative people don't usually
care if they are held back from success
or fame as a result of using their
imaginations. Their creativity gives
them so much pleasure it makes life
worth living.
University of California at Berkeley
scientists have come up with eight
"criteria" for creativity.
I. Sensitivity—A love of seeing,
hearing, touching everything, and a
recognition of hidden meanings and
flexibility of use in what one sees.
2. Fluency—A flow of ideas, constantly changing, that makes a person
laugh or cry or see a new way to solve a
problem. Have you ever told your
child a bedtime story created from
your own mind?
3. Flexibility—It means making
lemonade out of a "lemon," not being
stymied by a problem or accident, but
seeing angles that turn it into good
use. If someone spills grape juice on
your best tablecloth and you can't get
the stain out, then tie-dye the whole
tablecloth in grape juice!
4. Originality—It's the opposite
of conformity. Ideas that spring from
a person's mind, using his own special
knowledge, plus imagination, give
uncommon answers. He marches to a
different drummer, and he likes it
that way.
5. The ability to redefine and
rearrange—Using something known
for something uncommon.
6. Analysis—It can mean breaking down a whole into details and
seeing how it all fits together, spotting differences in people, as well as
seeing the whole person, an attention
to detail that enriches experience.
How many separate colors can you see
in a rainbow?
7. Synthesis—It is the opposite of
analysis, by putting details into a
whole, sometimes in unusual ways—
like making a new recipe from the
leftovers in the refrigerator.
8. Coherence of organization—
Arranging something to suit yourself—moving furniture to make a
room different or hiring new employees to make a new product.
Why should we foster creativity in
our children? Why should we give
free rein to our own ideas? Because no
one has too much joy in life, and
creating is just plain fun!
kr" 'Better Life (44
,,
**•k
N2 GazetteirtLa
2%4 Focus aart 11-lealth highlights1
Stress and illness
People subjected to high levels of stress caused by "litechange events" exhibit increased psychiatric symptoms and
may be more susceptible to illness, according to a University
of Utah study.
Dividing the population into nine age groups, Dr. Thomas
Timmreck found that stress levels are highest during the ages
19 to 24,40 to 44, and over 60, and lowest between the ages of
30 and 34.
Two tests were administered to 450 employees to measure
neuroses and the frequency of "life-change events," such as
a loved one's death, a divorce, or financial problems as
precursors to illness.
Dr. Timmreck says his survey indicates "the younger years,
the older years and a middle-aged range of 40 to 44 show an
association of high stress and negative mental-health status."
Young people are subjected to stress, according to Dr.
Timmreck, because their lives are at a stage of uncertainty
and transition. Their "life-change events" may include marriage, assuming a major debt for a home, starting or finishing
school, and in-law trouble.
On the other hand people in their forties may be under
pressure from a job promotion that increased responsibility,
or troubled by the departure of a son or daughter from the
home or by sex difficulties resulting from menopause.
Strain or tension among people in their early sixties often
can be traced to the death of a spouse, or retirement or
concern over its imminence, he says.
Dr. Timmreck said one of the major implications of his
findings is that stress does not increase as age increases.
Cancer of the colon
A significantly large
number of tests for cancer of
the colon or rectum proved
positive when a "captive"
audience of 1,155 patients
over 40, hospitalized for totally unrelated conditions,
were screened.
Six hundred and seventyfour patients were women,
and 481 were men. Malignant disease was found in
seven, four of them men.
Benign polyps, indicating the
possibility of future cancer
and alerting patients to the
need for annual rechecking,
were found in 83 patients.
Such screening is of great
value in locating colorectal
cancer in its early stages and
should be administered routinely, according to a report
by J. Harris Joseph, D.O., in
the July Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
MATERNITY
"Relax .. . this is the laundry."
LIFE AND HEALTH-IANUARY 1978
29
new?:,6
EARN EXTRA CASH
IN YOUR SPARE
TIME
Floss away
Thermometer with a
memory
A new product, the Day &
Night Thermometer, records
the most recent temperature
extremes, as well as showing
the present temperature.
Markers inside two capillary tubes are pushed up by
the mercury, then remain at
points of low and high temperature measurements until
the user turns the knob at
the bottom of the thermometer to reset the recording
mechanism.
The black plastic case has a
full-length clear face lens,
and attaches to a nine-way
mounting bracket. All working parts are enclosed and
rustproof, and users get a
one-year warranty. Centigrade as well as Fahrenheit
scales are shown.
Mounted outside a door or
window, the Day & Night
Thermometer can be used
inside a greenhouse, where
it shows when temperatures
at night are approaching
freezing, or when daytime
temperatures are getting too
high for optimum growth.
It is also helpful for people
who enjoy outdoor sports.
The thermometer costs
$18.50 and is available from
some nurseries and outdoor
supply stores or from Lab
Systems, 1330 Grove St.,
Berkeley, California 94709.
The makers of the Oral-B
tooth-gum brushes have developed an improved Oral-B
unwaxed soft-spun dental
floss and the new Oral-B
Lite-waxTM soft-spun dental
floss.
The unwaxed floss is designed to minimize breakage and shredding in use;
the Litewax has just enough
wax to help it glide easily
between tight teeth and
cover more tooth surface.
Available where Oral-B
toothbrushes are sold.
dental floss
Write your own
gardening book
The Plant and Gardening
Record Book lets you know
exactly what works best in
your own garden; which fertilizers, plant varieties, and
products perform best for
you and when; what to use,
where, how much, and how
often.
This can let you cultivate
success through your own
gardening experience (and
maybe let you become an
author at the same time).
Price $7.95 plus $1.00 for
postage and handling. La
Crosse Associates, Dept.
F.D., Golden, Colorado
80401.
Get the dust out!
Breath-Easy face masks are superior protection from
dust, droplets, pollens, germs! Comfortable, light
weight, foolproof, double protection. Inexpensive.
Sample bag of 25 face masks - $5.50 postage paid.
Larger quantities at lower prices.
RCF Developments, Dept.LH, 2509 Browncroft Blvd.,
Rochester, New York 14625. Dealer/Distributorships available.
30
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
You can earn $100... $200... or
more a month in a few hours
telling your friends and neighbors about the amazing new
UN-SKRU—the clever new invention that every housewife
buys on the spot. The UN-SKRU
mounts under cabinet or shelf,
opens screw top jar lids from 1/2"
to 31/2" with one hand. Recommended by doctors and therapists for physically handicapped
and arthritis patients. Write for
FREE details. Or send $2.00 for
sample (retails $3.95). H. Hutson, 2731 S. Colo. Blvd., P.O.
Box 1415, Denver, CO 80201.
Unsuitable?
By Corinne Adria Bariteau
I've bought myself a new fall suit
That's just one size too small;
Now I'll be forced to follow suit
And shrink that much by fall!
Write away
Vision—yours and
your child's
The following pamphlets
are available free from the
American Optometric Association:
"Do you know these facts
about vision and school
achievement?" This pamphlet gives, with other information, a list of the symptoms to watch for as
indications of a child's possible vision problems.
"A teacher's guide to vision problems" gives a list of
symptoms for a teacher to
watch for.
"Reading takes seeing"—
what does Johnny see when
he can't see?
"Visual and perceptual
checklist for the retarded
child"—such a child doesn't
need an additional handicap.
This gives a good checklist of
visual considerations.
Send a self-addressed,
stamped envelope to: Public
Information Division, American Optometric Association,
7000 Chippewa Street, St.
Louis, Missouri 63119.
A 1r
TEACHER'S
GUIDE TO
VISION
PROBLEMS
"First the good news.... The left foot and ankle and the right inner ear seem to be in perfect order . .."
PRESCRI PTIONs
"This is a wonderful new drug. .. . It's cured over
200 rats, 150 guinea pigs, and 75 white mice."
LIFE AND HEALTH-IANUARY 1978
31
„,Book review,,`
Thin From Within,
by Jack D.
Osman, Ph.D., Hart Publishing
Company, Inc., New York, $9.95.
There are many books written today
on weight control. It would seem that
this subject has been approached from
every angle possible. Thin From Within
is different. Within the pages of this
book there are innumerable suggestions that would undoubtedly motivate the majority who would need
motivation.
Dr. Jack Osman is at present associate professor of health science at
Towson State College in Baltimore,
Maryland. He has conducted research,
taught classes, and lectured about
weight control, nutrition education,
and sexual education.
This book could really be used as a
workbook, as there are a variety of
interesting psychological strategies in
every chapter. All through the book
Dr. Osman gives clear evidence that
he understands not only the overweight problem but also meets it with
a balanced, logical, and optimistic
approach for solution.
There is no question hut that this
book definitely would aid not only the
overweight reader but also the individual who is interested in a healthful
life-style. It would also give excellent
help, especially with motivational
ideas, to those leading weight-management programs.
It is refreshing to find a book of this
caliber, prepared by a health educator
who uses an intelligent, balanced approach to healthful living.—
Reviewed by Ella May Stoneburner,
R.N., M.S., associate director, Department of Health, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
ACHES
AND
PAINS
GETTING
YOU DOWN?
Relief is just a snap away
Moist heat provides soothing temporary relief from the minor aches
and pains of arthritis, rheumatism,
backaches or muscle soreness.
The Battle Creek' Thermophore
is an automatic moist heat pack
that provides all the benefits of an
old-fashioned hot compress, with
just the snap of a switch. Available
at surgical supply houses or better
pharmacies. Or mail coupon below.
BATTLE CREEK Equipment Co.
Dept. 70M 307 W. Jackson ST.
Battle Creek, Mich. 49016
Mr./Mrs./Ms.
Street
"Of course it isn't
covered it!”
32
LIFE AND HEALTH—JANUARY 1978
there—Reader's Digest
just dis-
City
\,..2tate
Zip
5
3
Total Juicesu', hot soups, all grain
cereals, flour, instant dinners, salads,
hamburgers, cakes, peanut butter,
baby foods, bland diets, purees, party drinks, chopped ice, freeze "ice cream."
SAVE MAKE BREAD
"3600" VITA MIX® makes them all INSTANTLY ...
SIMPLE AS ONE, TWO, THREE . . .
1. MERELY PUT FOOD IN
PATENTED "SPLASH GUARD
ACTION DOME"®
Always wide open. Safe for hot
liquids! Your "3600" juices,
freezes, cooks boiling soup,
porridge, pudding, etc. in a
never-ending stream as long
as you continue to add food
through the wide open top.
The one that throws
NOTHING away!
Now is the time to start saving money
and the nutrition in your food
Use patented "impact" method—not old
separation "throw-away" method.
U.S. Dept. Agriculture handbook says:
LEMONS (VIT. C)
ORANGES (VIT. C)**
'•Fresh, ripe Cal. Valencias
extracted
juice only.
peel and
everything•
90 mg.
109 mg.
346 mg.
319 mg.
2. FLIP FULL-IMPACT LEVER —
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE!
Hammer blades revolve and
reverse — smash into foods up
to 1,000 times harder than any
one-way appliance that just
pushes food around.
•per pound of fruit
3. OPEN THE PATENTED
PRESSURIZED SPIGOT
serve Total Juice® "ice cream",
hot soup—over 800 recipes—
by dish, glass or by gallons. No
lifting, pouring or lid handling.
Continuous usage for the first
time — right at the table.
Large or small quantities.
Now you can get up to the nutrients
shown above the Vita Mix way.
("Peel and everything" is the VITA MIXe way)
SUPER 3600
STAINLESS STEEL
VITA MIX.,
BREADMAKER
Free Recipe Book
The easy way to make home made
bread — not only fresh-baked but
of fresh-ground grain with precious,
fragile vitamin oils retained for that
yummy "3-minute fresh" flavor.
Only VITA-MIX® can grind grain,
mix and knead the bread all in one
easy 3-minute operation.°
No need for old fashioned, oversized
bowls, kettles, dough hooks or stone
grinders that clutter your kitchen
and take so much time.
TOTAL JUICES!
COOKS!
FREEZES!
IMPACT
LEVER
° 3 minutes for us
5 minutes for you if you are new at it
CHECK THESE FEATURES
❑ Full 5 Year Parts Replacement
❑ U.S. Made, Nation-Wide Service
❑ Self Cleaning
❑ Commercial Super Powered Motor
❑ Save Food, Time, Money—Now!
❑ 0 Listed — Commercial Quality
❑ 265 MPH Blade Tip Speed—Instant
head-on impact in safe, heavy,
stainless steel concussion chamber
❑ Safest Stainless Steel Construction
❑ No Other Appliance Has Vita Mix®
Features
r
WRITE TODAY! — OR PHONE (216) 235.4840 — outside Ohio call TOLL FREE 800-321-2790
We will RUSH TO YOU A GIANT FOLDER giving you the complete, nom-before, mclusive details ... plus WHERE
TO BUY information ... and SPECIAL PRICE.
SPEED IS IMPORTANT - Supplies are limited. We will do everything possible to prevent slowdowns due to lack of
materials. WE WILL FILL ORDERS AS THEY ARE RECEIVED — on a strict and fair first-come basis .
SEND THIS COUPON TODAY to:
VITA
MIX®
Corporation: "3600" Division, Dept. LH 178
8615 Usher Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44138
YOUR NAME
ADDRESS
CITY
STATE
ZIP CODE
LIFE&HEALTH
HEALTH
SERVICES
DIRECTORY
In order to maintain a state of high-level
wellness, it is necessary to take a preventive
approach to healthful living. Seventh -day Adventist health service centers throughout the
country are staffed with qualified personnel
happy to advise you in preventive health
maintenance. Charges, if any, are modest. In
calling any of the numbers listed, ask for the
Health Service Director and indicate your interest
in any of the following:
Personal Exercise Programs • How to Save Money on Food
Simple Treatments for the Home • Dental Hygiene • Stress and Tension Control
Heart Disease Prevention • Physical Fitness Evaluation • Weight Control • Stop Smoking Clinic
Cancer Prevention • Coronary Risk Screening • High Blood Pressure • Backache
Nutrition for Health • Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Low Cholesterol Meals • Health Appraisal
Alabama
(205) 272-7493
Alaska
(907) 279-2455
Arizona
(602) 244-9851
Arkansas
(318) 865-1483
California
(408) 297-1584
Central
(415) 687-1300
Northern
(714) 689-1350
Southeast
(213) 240-6250
Southern
Colorado
(303) 733-3771
Connecticut
(617) 365-4551
Delaware
(302) 461-9100
Florida
(305) 898-7521
Georgia
(404) 629-7951
Hawaii
(808) 524-3160
Idaho
(208) 375-7524
Illinois
(312) 485-1200
Indiana
(317) 844-6201
Iowa
(515) 223-1197
Kansas
(913) 478-4726
Kentucky
(615) 859-1391
Louisiana
(318) 865-1483
34
LIFE AND HEALTH-JANUARY 1978
Maine
(207) 797-3760
Maryland
General
(301) 461-9100
D.C. Area
(301) 439-8000
Massachusetts
(617) 365-4551
Michigan
(517) 485-2226
Minnesota
(612) 545-8894
Mississippi
(205) 272-7493
Missouri
(816) 353-7113
Montana
(406) 587-3101
Nebraska
(402) 488-2323
Nevada
(702) 322-6929
New Hampshire
(207) 797-3760
New Jersey
(609) 392-7131
New Mexico
(806) 353-7251
New York
(315) 469-6921
Northern
Southern
(516) 627-9350
N.Y. City
(212) 586-2336
North Carolina
(704) 535-6720
North Dakota
(701) 252-1431
Ohio
(614) 397-4665
Oklahoma
(405) 721-6110
Oregon
(503) 233-6371
Pennsylvania
(215) 374-8331
Rhode Island
(617) 365-4551
South Carolina
(704) 535-6720
South Dakota
(605) 224-8868
Tennessee
(615) 859-1391
Texas
Eastern
(817) 921-6181
Western
(806) 353-7251
Utah
(702) 322-6929
Vermont
(207) 797-3760
Virginia
(703) 886-0771
General
D.C. Area
(301) 439-8000
Washington
Eastern
(509) 326-1550
Western
(206) 632-5862
West Virginia
(304) 422-4581
Wisconsin
(715) 344-1800
Wyoming
(307) 237-2503
Canada
Alberta
(403) 276-4491
B.C.
(604) 853-5451
Man.-Sask.
(306) 244-9700
N.B.-N.S.
(506) 855-8622
Nfld.
(709) 576-4051
Ontario
(416) 725-6543
Quebec
(514) 651-4240
Breading¢
MEMOS
Meal
Wge-Bit$
Cedar Lage
NO MSG
NO ARTIFICIAL COLORINGS
MEATLESS
Quality Vegetable
Protein Foods
Free product recipe brochure
available at your market or from
our .lant u on re uest.
CEDAR LAKE FOODS
P.O.BOX 116
CEDAR LAKE, MI 48812
DAILY PORTIONS
Vegetable-fruit group
four or more servings
Citrus fruits,
tomatoes, cabbage,
peppers, melons,
berries, dark- green
or deep-yellow
vegetables, potatoes,
and others
Bread- cereal group
four or more servings
Breads, cereals, and
other grain products
made from whole
(preferred ), enriched,
or restored grains
GROUPS
Protein group
two or more servings
Dry beans, dry peas,
lentils, garbanzos,
nuts, peanuts,
peanut butter, eggs,
cottage cheese,
soy cheese,
vegetable proteins
Milk group
children- - 3 to 4 cups
adults- -2 or more cups
Whole, evaporated,
or skim milk,
reconstituted dry
milk, buttermilk,
or soybean milk
Eat additional food as
needed for more calories
Offer expires August 31 1978
Is your kitchen suffering from the
decorative "ho-hums"? Do you
want to brighten things up and at
the same time have a daily reminder
of your nutritional needs? Life &
Health is making available to you
this beautiful full-color poster on the
basic food groups for only $1.00.
Order your 17" x 28" poster today!
City
leview and Herald Publishinc