If a fire-ant stings you, swalow an antihistamine P. D. Q.
If you develop asthma or break out in hives after being stung, phone your doctor or head for the nearest emergency room. Otherwise you might die.
This was the advice given Thursday by Dr. Vincent J. Derbes, head of the dermatology department at Tulane university medical school. He was a featured speaker at the Professional Assembly Countdown on Positive Health which opened a two-day session at the Louisiana State university medical school.
Sessions are sponsored by the Tuberculosis Association of Greater New Orleans.
Dr. Derbes said although it's rare for a person to die as a result of the fire-ant sting it could happen. And because it does happen, he added, a shot of adrenalin is practically a "must" in cases of severe allergic reactions.
TELLS REACTION
The speaker said the fire-ant became very prevalent in this section in 1930; that it was probably brought here from Argentina aboard a freighter. He said two things happen when a fire-ant stings you:
"First a pustule or little bag of pus appears on the spot where you were stung. Second-
ly, many people develop a severe allergic reaction. Well, there's not rhuch you can do about the pustule. Anyway it's sterile and doesn't cause an infection. But there is something you can and should do about a severe allergic reaction."
Dr. Derbes was one of many participants in a symposium featuring specialized areas of medical research. Another symposium speaker, Dr. William R. Sorum, expressed the belief that ;here are more alcoholics among :uberculosis patients proportionately than among the general population.
This is probably due to their 'eeling of frustration regard-
ing their physical condition," added Dr. Sorum, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Tulane. "They're worried over their physical condition. I believe Alcoholics Anonymous would help them.''
INCREASE NOTED
Dr. Sorum said more women are drinking these days than ever; that more older people are drinking.
Dr. Marvin Miller, professor of psychiatry and neurology at LSU medical school, told how research is being carried on at the University of Wisconsin primate laboratory in an attempt to understand the basis for human affection.
"They remove infant monkeys from their mother right after birth," Dr. Miller explained, "Then give the baby monkeys an opportunity to make physical contact with a mother-symbol, such as a wire doll. When the doll is wrapped in terry cloth and is soft, the baby monkeys develop the usual pattern of affection. When the mother - symbol is left unwrapped and is hard they do not develop the pattern of affection."
LUNG AILMENT
Treatment of 140 cases of lung cancer at Charity and Veterans hospitals was described by Dr. Joseph V. Schlosser, assistant director of therapeutic radiology at Charity.
Dr. Schlosser said a series of lung cancer cases are being studied in which anti-cancer drugs and radiation therapy are used simultaneously. The radiologist said although it's still too early to tell, "the initial response to this form of treatment appears to be somewhat better than results achieved by radiation alone." He said drugs used so far include nitrogen mustard and thio-Tepa.
Dr. Edmund Hyman, member of the bio-physical department at Touro infirmary, discussed use of hydrogen as a tracer in diagnosing congenital heart lesions. Dr. Harry Greenberg, clinician for the bureau of tuberculosis control, city board of health, described the work of the department. The assembly is being sponsored by the ..uberculosis Association of Greater New Orleans, with the co-operation of LSU medical school. PHOTO: AT THURSDAY'S SESSION of the Professional Assembly Countdown on Positive Health sponsored by the Tuberculosis Association of-Greater New Orleans in co-operation with Louisiana State University School
of Medicine at the LSU center, speakers were (from left) Dr. Harry Greenburg, Dr. Vincent J. Derbes, Dr. William R. Sorum, Dr. Joseph Schlosser and Dr. Marvin Miller.
