OF THE TIMES -
THIS FAST-MOVING AGE Vol. 83, No. 4
UNITED PRESS 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Volume 83 1•"--"9" Jan. 24, Number 4 1956 ll'illillilliii111111111111',i1111111111i11111111111111111111111111111111il1i11ilill1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 ft> ( f < Lutheran Reader DEAR SIR: NA/ I am a Lutheran, but have had much good from the Signs of the Times. Enclosed is a little financial help—$10. H. K. of the TIMES Spring Valley, Minnesota.
Light iri the Dark DEAR SIR: The World's Prophetic Weekly I consider the Signs of the Times very im- portant to my spiritual growth. To be without Editor . . . . ARTHUR S. MAXWELL this magazine would be like turning out the light in a dark hallway. H. C. Assistant Editors Charles D. Utt, Donald A. Webster Lathrop, Missouri. Art Director . . Robert E. Kutsch Bundle of Blessing Circulation Manager H K Christman DEAR SIR: The Signs of the Times is the greatest little bundle of blessing on earth to me. Before I CONTENTS started reading it I threw most of my money away on beer, wine, and whisky; but thank EDITORIAL God the Signs has helped me to give up the The Shining Flood 3 liquor habit. Now I have a nice Pontiac auto- mobile and have been sober over a year. Thank ARTICLES God again and again for such a wonderful Why I Hope to Get Out Alive Leonard C. Lee 5 little magazine! Enclosed is my renewal. What's Getting Under W. E. H. Your Skin ? . . ... Clifford R. Anderson, M.D. 8 High Point, North Carolina. Certainty of Bible Prophecy Ernest Lloyd 14 Priceless Value This Fast-Moving Age ...... Donald W. McKay 16 DEAR SIR: Due to an automobile accident, I have just SERIAL STORY spent nearly a year in a hospital. While I was God Cares for You Betty Stirling 10 there a nurse entered my name for a year's READERS' QUESTIONS subscription for the Signs of the Times. It has Signs Counsel Corner William A. Fagal 7 been of priceless value to me in comfort and spiritual help, and I surely appreciate the gen- I Have a Question, Doctor "Your Radio Doctor" 9 erous thoughtfulness of the nurse. B. J. B. Your Bible Questions Answered Charles D. Utt 11 Brookline, Massachusetts. JUST FOR YOUTH Face to Face With Truth How Are You Building ? Donald A. Webster 12 DEAR SIR: BIBLE STUDY For sixty-one years I was a member of a "A God-Inspired Book" Robert H. Pierson 13 certain church. I began to realize that I was getting further and further away from God, POEM and that I could not believe many of the doc- Light in the Dark Helen Rogers Smith 5 trines which this church taught. I wanted to REGULAR FEATURES get back to God and wondered how to do it. Letters to the Editor, 2; Our World Today, 6. Then came the Signs of the Times, which a patient sent to me. God bless her! The paper brought me face to face with the real truth of the Bible. As the Signs kept coming, I searched the Scriptures, and now I am happier and better satisfied than I have ever been, thanks to the Lord and the Signs of the Times. I do not want to ever be without the paper. I pray A publication of the Seventh-day Adventists, the "Signs of the Times" is printed and that more people may read it and find the published weekly (four issues a month) by the Pacific Press Publishing Association of Moun- truth as I did. DR. T. T. C. tain View, California, U.S.A. Entered as second-class matter September 15, 1904, at the post office at Mountain View, California, under Act of March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mail- Okeechobee, Florida. ing at special rate of postage provided for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, and authorized September 18, 1918. RATES in U.S.A. and Canada: Single copy, one year $1 70 OUR COVER Clubs of five or more to one address, each 1.60 To all other countries taking extra postage: This "Flying Barrel," or "Colcopter," was Single copy, one year (U.S. currency) $2 35 described in a recent issue of Aero Digest. Clubs of five or more to one address, each (U.S. currency) 1.85 With its circular wing it is designed to take Please make all checks and money orders payable to "Signs of the Times," Mountain off vertically and outperform helicopters. Pas- View, California. sengers sit on swivel chairs working on piv- In requesting change of address, please give both old and new addresses. No papers ots, and remain vertical regardless of the ore sent except on paid subscriptions. position of the craft. Colcopters are already Member of Associated Church Press Copyright, 1956, by Pacific Press Publishing Assn. under construction in France. See "This Fast- Moving Age," by Donald W. McKay, on page 16 of this issue. Page Two T 0 It I A L
the flight o
THE SHINING FLOOD
OME waterfalls seem to be luminous, even on the dark- est night. Somehow the tumbling torrent takes on a fluorescent glow. Even so it is with the Signs of the Times. As it pours from its great rotary press week by week, Pilots of Thailand's Royal Air Force line up before their new T-33 jet trainer planes at Don Maung. The jets are the first given to it is like a shining flood of truth and love flowing out into Thailand by the United States. the world's dark night. Nor does this flood lose its gleam as it divides into even smaller and smaller channels. Even the one lone copy, still moving slowly from hand to hand in some far-off village in a foreign land, retains its mystic light, bringing hope and Cheer and gladness to darkened minds and hearts. More than twelve million copies of the Signs are printed every year. This torrent of truth, this shining flood of spirit- ual light, flows into more than sixty different countries around the globe, leading more people to Christ, saving more sinners from despair, bringing more lonely hearts good cheer than will ever be known till the day when all secrets are revealed. We are permitted but a few brief glimpses of the good accomplished by this glowing ministry; but when they come to us from time to time they are always the same—like little flashes of light in the dark that tell us this labor of love is not in vain in the Lord. From North India comes a letter telling of a man living in an out-of-the-way village who somehow, three years ago, Pleas for help sprout like flowers at the Friedland prisoner repatria- tion camp in Germany. The signs appeal to POW's returning from obtained a copy of the Signs and read it. As a result he ac- Russia for information concerning missing German soldiers. cepted Jesus as His Saviour and decided to follow the teach- ings of the Bible. Then he won his family and several friends for the Lord. Early in 1955 a missionary was sent to this village. Today, nine months later, there is a church of 1.4.0 members here. From the Bahamas a minister writes to say that most of the converts he baptizes find their way to Christ through reading the Signs. From West Africa a letter tells of a copy of the Signs being read aloud to the crew of a river boat during a long trip. "You should have heard the commendation of these men as I read to them 'A Cure for Selfishness,' in your issue of October 6, 1953," says this correspondent. At a baptism on the Gold Coast a new Christian recently gave this testimony: "I was a drunkard and did not care a fig for Christianity. One day someone offered me a copy of the Signs. I accepted it but threw it aside when I got home. Some days later I took it up and began to read. I was so impressed, with the message that I could not put it down PHOTOS: UNITED RRESS until I had read every word. I went back to the man who had given me the paper and asked for another copy. A little The U.S.S. X-1, the U.S. Navy's first midget submarine, cruised across Long Island Sound recently for a series of tests. The tiny while later I gave my heart to Jesus and decided I would X-1, which is fifty feet in length, will be manned by a crew of five. never drink again." This man is now an active lay preacher and has won many to the Lord. From Portuguese Goa a friend writes, "Though I am a for January 24, 1956 Page Three &Air 4111. 4.46 AS+A& • 11.4. 9.‘ %lb lb .11,11. Catholic I enjoy reading the Signs and always look forward 4V+911. 411. 4! 99.91. 9V 91. 69 .946 ea 99.111. to it. I am surprised to find that every one of its teachings is based on the Bible." The Hindu librarian of a medical college in India says, "I want to have this paper for my personal use. If you will Signs" Requests see that it is sent to my home address, I will be greatly obliged." Another Hindu writes, "The Signs of the Times is a won- for 1956 derful weekly. It is a source of great pleasure to me. I pre- serve whatever copies of the paper I can get in a binder for AFRICA 100 Nuzvid, Kistna, India future use." 50 Bo, Sierra Leone 100 Mussoorie, United Prov- Pastor A. E. Rawson, director of the Voice of Prophecy 200 East London, Cape inces, India for Southern Asia, says: "Literally thousands have written us 100 Kumasi, Ashanti, Gold 225 Bangalore, India letters of appreciation for the Signs. Quite often we receive Coast 1400 Poona, India letters complaining that the paper has not been received for 10 Johannesburg, Transvaal 12 Mathurai, South India some reason or other, and asking us to send it again. Others 25 Blantyre, Nyasaland 50 New Delhi, India seem quite perturbed if the Signs does not reach them on 65 Rawalpindi, West Pakistan 35 Monrovia, Liberia time. We have more requests for the paper than we have 150 Calabar, Nigeria copies to send out. Many send money to help pay the postage 200 Aba, Nigeria AUSTRALIA 300 Nairobi, Kenya 5 Perth, Western Australia —they are so anxious to continue receiving the paper. I 200 Bulawayo, Southern 30 Strathfield, New South should add that the work of the Voice of Prophecy and the Rhodesia Wales distribution of the Signs go hand in hand. We could not 50 Capetown, South Africa 6 Wanganui, New Zealand conceive of the one without the other." 1000 Ibadan, Nigeria Pastor A. C. Le Butt, director of the Voice of Prophecy 1000 Voice of Prophecy, South EUROPE in South Africa, says almost the same thing. He writes: "I Africa 15 Hastings, England don't know what we would do without the good help we 100 Heliopolis, Egypt 25 Lincoln, England get from the Signs. The journal is greatly appreciated by 3 London, England readers all over South Africa. We send thousands into East AMERICA 30 Liverpool, England 5 Great Yarmouth, England Africa also, where we have many students." 5 Colombia 7 Blackpool, England Pastor A. C. Hardin writes from Ceylon: "We want you 50 Georgetown, British 15 Cleethorpes, England to know how we appreciate all the copies of the Signs you Guiana 25 Nottingham, England send us. Every day post cards and letters come to our office 10 Lima, Peru 25 York, England 35 Montevideo, Uruguay asking for the paper. We would like to put all these people 10 Berlin-Zehlendorf, West 20 Georgetown, Grand Cay- on the mailing list, but we can't. We simply don't have Zone, Germany man, B.W.I. enough copies. All we can do is to send a few back numbers 10 Glasgow, Scotland 25 Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, when these are available. Everywhere we go we find that 3 Dalavegur, Faroe Isles B.W.I. the Signs is an entering wedge for the gospel. Everyone ex- 200 Mandeville, Jamaica, FAR EAST claims, 'What a wonderful paper! There is nothing else B.W.I. 10 North Celebes, Indonesia like it.' " 25 Princes Town, Trinidad, 25 Tokyo, japan Such are some of the gleams of light that flash back to B.W.I. 60 Singapore, Malaya us from the ends of the earth as the Signs continues its min- 5 Stoney Hill, Jamaica, 50 Kuala Lumpur, Malaya B.W.I. istry to "every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." 10 Cebu, Philippines 5 Ancon, Canal Zone Constantly we are amazed how the glowing rivulets from 10 Davao City, Philippines 50 Botwood, Newfoundland this shining flood are reaching darkened souls in the 25 Cagayan de Oro, Philip- 200 St. John's, Newfoundland remotest dwellings of man. From the Himalayas to Ceylon, pines from Cairo to the Cape, from Guam to Sydney, from the 150 Manila, Philippines ASIA 35 Iligan City, Philippines Yukon to the West Indies, the story is the same—the light 400 Rangoon, Burma 150 Taichung, Taiwan is shining in the darkness, leading the honest in heart to 200 Colombo, Ceylon 5 Ubol, Thailand the Lord. 42 Madras, South India 25 Bhuket, West Thailand What of the future? Look at the list of current .requests 30 Orissa, India 30 Bangkok, Thailand for the Signs as printed on this page. Note how they have 100 Bihar, India 20 Pago Pago, American come to us from all over the world. Some people ask for 30 Karur, India Samoa five copies a week, others for a hundred, some even for a 10 Bengal, India 15 Shuri, Okinawa thousand. Just think of someone being willing to distribute 25 Nagpur, Central Province, 100 Agana, Guam a thousand copies of the Signs every week! Surely we should India 10 Debedo, Guam 5 Travancore, India be willing to respond in the same spirit of zeal and devotion. 145 Bombay, India NEAR EAST Would you like to answer one of these requests ? If so, 20 Vizagapatam, India 35 Beirut, Lebanon choose the one that appeals to you most. Then multiply the 40 Tinnevelly, India 5 Isfahan, Iran number of Signs asked for by $1.85 (the special annual rate 10 Erode, South India 5 Tehran, Iran for, overseas copies), and mail your wishes with your check 25 Calcutta, India 70 Istanbul, Turkey to Signs World Extension Fund, Signs of the Times, Moun- 450 Shillong, Assam, India 75 Baghdad, Iraq tain View, California. Let us keep the shining flood rolling on its way till "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the 41.1.4111.0116+9 9.110+4.6411N6.10 91r .11.6 4.6 ri 4111. .111, 111•+.111. 911.9,11111.9, 9111.9,91P91.9", "I 'ph 911. 9V. 9! 41.41. Lord, as the waters cover the sea." A. S. M. Page Four SIGNS of the TIMES offAtut,';AITONPv'fi WHY I HOPE TO GET OUT
Alive LIGHT IN THE DARK •(Psalm 119:105) If This World Is Coming to an by HELEN ROGERS SMITH End, We Should Have Some A lamp clear shining is Thy word. E'en in the blaCkest night Plan for the Future I need not fear for I am safe, Led onward by its light. Within its steady radiance by LEONARD C. LEE I see one step ahead, Illumined 'mid the darkness round, Yet there I safely tread. And as I take that forward step CAN still remember the time when I heard a man I see another glOw, say, "This is a hard world, and very few people get And thus the lamp lights up the way out of it alive." The problems of philosophy, of life, That God would have me go. death, and eternity, had not troubled my youthful mind. But that set me thinking along new channels. I won- He leads me by His word each clay. Though but a step I see, dered if anyone ever did get out of the world alive. That All of the morrow I need know, was before the days of space-men dreamers and rocket- God daily shows to me. travel planners. I could not imagine how living beings could travel even to the nearest heavenly body, the moon. And what would they do if they got there? Then a young woman evangelist came to the little country church near us. We had a minister only at intervals, and everyone tried to go when something special was on. On the last night of the meetings the evangelist spoke about the "signs of the times." As she pictured the clos- •••••• ing events of earth's history that would lead up to the second coming of Jesus Christ to this world, one text burned itself into my consciousness. It haunted me like the refrain from a familiar song: "We which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." That helped to answer my question about leaving the •••••••••. world alive, but it left a lot more questions unanswered. I looked for the quotation in my Bible and found it in Thessalonians 4:15-17: "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and re- main unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall de- scend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." By the use of marginal references and diligent study I put together a great deal of information on the subject. The first man ever to leave this world alive was Enoch. He was of the seventh generation from Adam. He was born when Adam was 622 years old, and he 41-r1- lived contemporarily with Adam for 308 years. Fifty- seven years after the death of Adam, while all the other patriarchs were still living, Enoch disappeared. The Divine Record says of the event, "And Enoch lived sixty for January 24, 1956 Page Five and five years, and begat Methuselah: Christ, along with Moses. This was to and thrust it into My side: and be not and Enoch walked with God after he fulfill a promise made by Christ to His faithless, but believing." John 20:27. begat Methuselah three hundred years, disciples, "Verily I say unto you, There Luke's testimony is even clearer, "But and begat sons and daughters: . . . and be some standing here, which shall not they were terrified and affrighted, and Enoch walked with God: and he was taste of death, till they see the Son of supposed that they had seen a spirit. not; for God took him." Genesis 5:21-24. man coming in His kingdom." Mat- And He said unto them, Why are ye Then I found the record of another thew 16:28. This was a miniature rep- troubled? . . . Behold My hands and man who was taken to heaven without resentation of Christ's second coming My feet, that it is I Myself : handle Me, dying. He was the prophet Elijah who, in glory. Moses represented those who and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and after enduring persecution and trial, would be raised from the dead at bones, as ye see Me have." Luke 24: was taken to heaven in a whirlwind Christ's coming, and Elijah was a rep- 37-39. of fire. The record is in 2 Kings 2:1,11: resentative of those who will be living There was something so confident "And it came to pass, when the Lord and be translated to heaven without dy- and sincere about the way the Bible would take up Elijah into heaven by a ing when Jesus comes. writers told the story that I couldn't whirlwind, that Elijah went with Eli- When Jesus Himself was about to go help believing them. I thought of many sha from Gilgal." "And it came to back to His Father in heaven after His things we believe without understand- pass, as they still went on, and talked, resurrection, He gave His disciples visi- ing and wondered why I should doubt that, behold, there appeared a chariot ble proof that a man can leave this the power of the Creator to .transport of fire, and horses of fire, and parted world alive. He had proved that He us from one world to another without them both asunder; and Elijah went up was alive and human after being raised dying if He desired to do so. Light by a whirlwind into heaven." from the dead. He had said to Thomas, and heat pass through the blackness It is interesting to notice that Elijah "Reach hither thy finger, and behold and coldness of outer space to bring us appeared at the transfiguration of My hands; and reach hither thy hand, warmth and cheer from a million suns. 4— They even pass through oceans of at- mosphere and clouds of water vapor unhindered and little changed. We know it because we see it, but we do not understand it. In the first chapter of the book of Acts I found the record about Jesus Himself ascending to heaven. He went up with the human body that had been resurrected from the grave, the sat:tie body that the disciples had seen and touched, that bore the scars of the cruci- fixion. He had come down to earth Religion in Australia Council of Churches Going South from God and had become a member of the human race that He might rep- The Roman Catholic population in New The World Council of Churches' Execu- South Wales, Australia, increased by about tive Committee has accepted an invitation resent God to man. Now as a member 25 per cent during 1954, according to a re- to hold its first 1956 session near Sydney, of the human family He was going back cent census. Percentage increases for other Australia, February 6-to. It will mark the to heaven to represent the human fam- religious groups over the same period in first time any governing body of the World ily to God, that the family of heaven the state were: Presbyterian, 16; Baptist, Council has met in the Southern Hemi- and earth might be reunited. The rec- 15; Anglican, 13; and Methodist, It. The sphere. ord says: Catholic increase is due mainly to immi- "And when He had spoken these gration. Crime Versus Population Crime is outstripping population rate of things, while they beheld, He was taken Bootleggers growth in the U.S. four to one, according up; and a cloud received Him out of According to Licensed Beverages In- to The Watchman-Examiner. The popu- their sight. And while they looked dustries, Inc., as reported in the Christian lation increased 5 per cent in 1950-I953, steadfastly toward heaven as He went Herald, about 72,000,000 gallons of "ille- while crime jumped 20 per cent. Major up, behold, two men stood by them in gal" liquor was produced during 1954 crimes reached a new high of 2,159,080 in white apparel; which also said, Ye men against 178,000000 gallons of "legal" liq- 1953. of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into uor. In other words, more than one fourth Wife Market heaven ? this same Jesus, which is taken of all liquor produced in 1954 was illegiti- up from you into heaven, shall so come mate. This despite the fact that repeal Inflation has crept into the jungles of was supposed to do away with moonshin- black Africa, according to Newsweek. in like manner as ye have seen Him go ers. "Time was when tribesmen of British into heaven." Acts I:9-I I. Nigeria could buy a bride for $14 to $28. Those verses had a strange fascination Volunteer Workers Back in Biblical times it took only a week's for me. I thought of them so much More than 35,000,000 volunteers are now work or a few old goats. Now, bride- that I began to feel as though I had working for philanthropic and religious grooms have to fork out $280 in pounds been there. I could picture the scene as causes in the United States, according to sterling as dowries to their fathers-in-law. Jesus gave His parting benediction, His the Bulletin of the American Association And that's for uneducated wives. Certi- of Fund-Raising Counsel, Inc. More than fied teachers, midwives, and nurses bring hands outspread in blessing as a bird to,000,000 of these -are organized church as much as $840." Nigerian authorities would spread its wings for flight. How workers. One seventh of all volunteers are are pondering price controls as a counter the disciples must have stared in awe engaged in fund-raising activities. to inflation. D. A. W. (Continued on page 15) Page Six SIGNS of the TIMES Signs
if you ave 4aestion, address it to "S!gns" Counsel Corner, "Signs of the Times," Malin-, OUNSEL CORN tain View, CalifOrnia. Enciase a fhree-cent stamp and your C name and address. Anonymous questions Cannot be answered. Conducted by Pastor William A. Fagot Director, "Faith for Today" TV Program
DOOMED TO EVIL? UESTION: My husband and I are having some wait until you are .exposed later. As you attempt to correct major problems with our adopted son. He is this past mistake you will find strength to gain future vic- very unsociable with the other children, and he was recently tories. Lying is a habit which can be broken, as can any wrongly accused of stealing. Now the neighbors will not other habit—by help from God and by consciously substi- let their children play with him. He is so unhappy that I tuting the habit of truth. sometimes fear that he may become mentally ill. He is a hard child to understand. My friends tell me it is born in MOTHER SHIPTON'S PROPHECIES him to be bad. Does a child really have to suffer for the QUESTION: Recently I have been reading a book entitled wrongdoing of the people who brought him into the world? Mother Shipton's Prophecy. She wrote some' poems more than four hundred years ago describing many of our mod- ANSWER: Certainly your son is not doomed because of ern inventions which were unknown evil which has been "born in him." One of the primary at that time. Do you teachings of. Christianity is that God can change lives and have faith in such things? help men to overcome the attraction of evil. He has been ANSWER: Mother Shipton's Prophecy, with some of the doing it for centuries, and each one of us has needed the things which it foretold, is quite remarkable. However, help which He can give. It is unfortunate that your boy her prophecy concludes with the words: has been wrongly accused of stealing and ostracized in the "The end of all things shall be neighborhood as the result. However, this is an indication In nineteen hundred fifty-three." that your son is maladjusted and is not getting along with the rest of the world. I believe you should seek competent A study of the Bible could have prevented this error, for help, either medical or spiritual, or both. It is important Jesus is quoted as stating that the exact time of the end that this help be secured now in the formative years before of the world cannot be foretold: "Of that day and hour this child's outlook is permanently marred. knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only." Remarkable as these poems may ,be, they "IN A REAL MESS" still do not have the unfailing accuracy of the Biblical prophecies, many of which have already been fulfilled. QUESTION: Have you in your experience ever run across a liar? Well, that's what I am—plainly and horribly a liar. Only God can accurately foretell the future. It is awful to live in the fear of being found out. I am right in the middle of a real mess. If I am found out, I LUCKY OR UNLUCKY? will surely have trouble with my fellow employees. I am QUESTION: For a number of months now I have had twenty years old, and I want to be able to sleep with a business reverses, and one unfortunate thing after another clear conscience. has happened to me. Do you believe that some people are lucky and others unlucky? My wife is inclined to think ANSWER: Unfortunately liars are not unusual, but it is this way in our experience, and, of course, it depresses me. unusual to find anyone willing to admit it. There is much hope for you. The first step in overcoming any character ANSWER: The belief that one is lucky or unlucky bor- weakness is to recognize it for what it is. The second step ders on superstition. A Christian rejects this attitude and is to be sincerely repentant for past failures and to long not believes in an all-wise Providence. When we put our trust to do them again. The third step is to ask God to forgive in God, even the unfortunate experiences of life can result us for the past and to give us strength to live as we should in good if they force us to stop and look where we are live in the future. We must pray for this strength every going. You and your wife need to follow the excellent in- day. While it certainly will not be easy, the honorable thing struction given in James 1:5, which says, "If any of you for you to do is to rectify the particular situation in which lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men you find yourself, as quickly as possible. It is next to im- liberally; . . . and it shall be given him." While a Christian possible to cover a lie permanently. Better by far that you is not immune from trouble, yet God assures him, "All should admit the situation now to those involved than to things work together for good to them that love God." for January 24, 1956 Page Seven What's getting under your skin?
OE BROWN was a strong, capable go in this world we will never find per- man, with big muscles and a broad fect homes or ideal families. In spite smile. He employed many men, all of of all the pretty stories written by bril- whom admired him greatly. He thor- liant novelists, there are no couples that oughly enjoyed his work, and he had were "made for each other," except many friends. But he was troubled with Adam and Eve. You will remember a rash that came and went year after that even they got into plenty of trouble. year. The skin on his face, arms, neck, True success in married life does not and back was covered with red, blotchy depend upon our being perfect our- patches that itched constantly. This was selves, or on having a perfect mate. It particularly true whenever the weather depends almost entirely upon .our abil- was warm and humid. Joe had tried ity to make the necessary adjustments all kinds of ointments and medicines. of personality, so that all in the home Some of these helped for a while, but will be truly happy. This is never a by in the end the rash always seemed to one-sided affair. All the family have to CLIFFORD R. ANDERSON, return. His life was miserable. Some- share in each other's joys and sorrows. thing was definitely "getting under his They must learn to bear each other's M.D. skin." burdens. What was the cause of Joe's rash? There is an art in being able to live that wealth would somehow bring him Was it an allergy ? Yes, in a way it was. happily together, an art that all too few the happiness that he craved. He was But Joe's troubles went much deeper manage to attain. Too often we show a good provider, but he failed to show than the surface of his skin. To meet the best side of our natures to the out- his family any real love, and even his Joe you would think that he never had side world, reserving the worst side for youngest child was well aware of this a care in the world. He could always those who are closest to us and who fact. So often we forget that little chil- put up a fine front and make you be- have a right to expect the best from us. dren are merely the mirrors that reflect lieve that all was well. But in spite of Too often we are merely thoughtless, the weaknesses of our own disjointed his jocular talk and ready smile, there and we forget to be kind in our words personalities. Youngsters who are just was no real happiness underneath. He and actions. By nature we are all basic- learning to talk will sometimes come was merely trying to make the best of ally selfish, and it may take a serious out with alarming statements, often to a bad situation which for years he had illness to show us our weaknesses. Far the utter dismay of their parents. The stubbornly refused to recognize. too many of us are looking for some unmatured mind of a child can all too Joe was a desperately unhappy man kind of miracle to straighten out the often show up the weaknesses and frus- at home. At work he was all that a miserable side of our natures. Many of trations of the adult world around. good boss could be. At home he never us would find it far easier to submit to So it was in Joe's family life. As a seemed to be able to please his wife or an extensive surgical operation that to businessman, Joe was a real success. In his children. face up to reality and straighten out fact, he was keeping two families, for It was nobody's fault in particular the wrinkles in our own personalities. this was not his first marriage. At busi- that Joe's home was not a truly happy So it was with Joe. He worked hard ness, Joe was a good fellow. But at place. As usual, there were plenty of and long to provide his growing family home, the second Mrs. Brown was no faults on all sides. No matter where we with money and security. He was sure happier than the first Mrs. Brown had Page Eight SIGNS of the TIMES been. This meant that it wasn't entirely and the patient may be forced to scratch nervous impulses, most of which arc the fault of the ladies, although both of himself even in his sleep. When he cuts beyond our voluntary control. That is them also had their limitations. Under- the surface of the skin with his finger- why nervous patients are so often af- neath, Joe had a very bad temper. He nails, the germs find their way down flicted with certain types of skin dis- didn't have much to say at home, but into the deeper layers. This may cause eases. Many different medications are that little was often sarcastic, especially many small abscesses or pustules, which prescribed for these conditions, and when he was tired. On petty things become inflamed and very tender. Such some of these are of real benefit to the that really didn't matter at all, Joe conditions are usually worse in the patient. But there are times when all could be as stubborn as a mule. When warmer months of the year. these medicines fail, unless the patient he didn't get his way he was inwardly The skin reacts quickly to all of our is willing to face up to his problems and very angry, but still he said little. He emotions. When we are ashamed, or make a definite attempt to solve them. kept his injured feelings to himself when we are paid some compliment, Let me assure you, it is fully as im- and sulked in the corner. Unfortunately most of us blush freely. The same thing portant for the rest of the family to the children always seemed to know happens when we feel too hot. When recognize the underlying cause of the how to bring out the worst in their this occurs, the small blood vessels in trouble. Only then can a proper adj ust- father. the skin become suddenly dilated and ment be made. Family friction may not Under all this stress something was carry more blood than usual. The re- always be the cause of serious skin con- bound to happen. Joe tried to swallow verse happens when we are gripped by ditions, but it will often greatly prolong his feelings, but finally they came out some sudden fear. Then the skin be- the disability and make life miserable, on his skin in the form of this chronic comes pale and blanched from fright. both for the patient and for the rest of irritating rash. Now, to make matters It will be noted that these different the household. It is always important worse, his mother-in-law, who never skin reactions are all due to strong (Continued on page 15) had a good word for him, came for a prolonged stay. Joe was desperate, and his rash itched worse than ever before. Finally in his search for help he found a doctor who was willing to sit down and talk things out with him. At first I HAVE A QUESTION, DOCTOR-- it wasn't easy for Joe, but the doctor
insisted that he begin at the very begin- Your Health Questions Answered ning. He was to discuss freely every phase of his life in which he had been by "Your Radio Doctor" under some particular emotional strain. The more Joe talked about his past, the GALLSTONES more clearly he began to see how all Q. What diet would you recommend your case in his hands. If none is avail- this constant nervous strain and mis- for a person who is suffering from gall- able in your area, go to some large uni- understanding was contributing to his stones? I am fifty-eight years old, and versity medical center. In such places discomfort. have been troubled with gas and pains there are always highly trained specialists In spite of an outward smile, Joe knew in the abdomen for the past year. A available with whom you can consult. that inside he was a very unhappy per- recent X ray showed gallstones. Can There is very little risk in having a major son. He had never been able to adjust these be removed by diet? surgical operation today, far less risk to you than in keeping your gallstones. If to family life, and that was the reason A. No, there is no diet that will either a small stone should find its way into the for much of his bad temper. He was cure or remove gallstones. Modern medi- common bile duct, it might cause severe a successful businessman, but for all his cal science knows of no foods or drugs jaundice, and your liver may be severely success he was far from being a happy that will do this. Anyone who claims that damaged as well. Then there is always and contented person at home. gallstones can be removed by diet or drugs the possibility that chronic irritation from Frustrated feelings are a frequent should be regarded with suspicion. The the gallstones might one day lead to can- cause of skin trouble in a great many cystic duct from the gall bladder and the cer of the gall bladder. It is far wiser to people. This is because most types of common bile duct are too small for any have your gallstones and the diseased gall stress within the body are usually trans- large stones to pass through. Even small bladder completely removed by surgery. mitted to the skin. Healthy skin has stones may become lodged in the common As for diet, you should avoid all rich the power to resist many serious .types bile duct when they slip down from the foods, especially those that contain large liver or gall bladder. This is a common quantities of fat and sugar. Do not use of infection, even the most virulent cause of severe jaundice. germs. This is particularly true if the fried foods in any form. Be sure to take Yes, I know that some people claim to plenty of fresh foods and vegetables. skin is moderately dry and flexible. But have passed "stones" after swallowing These will help to provide bulk and will if the skin is constantly damp, it loses large quantities of olive oil and other sub- keep your digestive system functioning its power to destroy germs. stances. But these "stones" are not gall- smoothly. But, remember, the wisest The sweat glands of the skin are stones. They are probably some soapy pre- thing to do is to have that diseased gall under the control of the sympathetic cipitate which has been formed by the bladder removed as soon as possible. chemical action of the digestive juices on nervous system. That is why we tend • • • to perspire a lot more when we are the oil. A true gallstone is made up of entirely different material. If you have a medical question, address tense and nervous. This damp skin Surgery is always the best treatment for it to "Your Radio Doctor," "Signs of the provides a perfect environment in which Times," Mountain View, California. En- gallstones and gall-bladder disease. I would close a three-cent stamp, together with fungus infections can thrive. This often advise you to place yourself under the your name and address. Anonymous ques- causes an intense itching of the skin, care of a well-qualified surgeon and leave tions cannot be answered. for January 24, 1956 Page Nine Story GOD CARES FOR YOU
Chapter 4: A New Friend