Dear Dr. Schoenfeld:
Recently my 14 month old daughter got ahold of some LSD tabs. The trip was apparently too much for her because she kept crying out in what seemed to be terror.
My husband sat with her for the most part because I fell apart seeing her like that. In the end, the acid did wear off and she slept that night and a good part of the next day.
Since then she seems to be back to the way she was before. She didn’t flip out for good and yet she is not the youngest “enlightened one” on earth. She is just a little girl baby.
The reason I am writing: I expect this same thing has happened and, will happen to others. I think it would be valuable for any parent to know how to handle a stoned child. I would suggest also that the mother take a good strong tranquilizer so as to make matters as calm as possible.
ANSWER: Accidents and poisonings are, by far, the greatest killers of children in the United States. About 400 children between 1 and 4 years of age die each year in this country because parents leave drugs or chemicals within their reach.
LSD tabs or caps have been shown to contain highly toxic substances such as strychnine or belladonna. A “stoned” child should receive immediate medical care.
At present, free clinics know best how to handle this kind of accident. Some people with drug problems won’t go to a general hospital for fear they’ll be turned in to the police. If people avoid medical care for this reason, the hospital is acting against the public interest.
Be sure to tell your pediatrician or family physician about this accident. But don’t become overly protective towards your little girl. She’ll most likely be completely normal—if you keep dangerous substances where she can’t get at them.
Dear Dr. Schoenfeld:
Every time my boyfriend and I make love (at least 3 or 4 times a week) his face breaks out.
We have been going together for 5 months and this problem still persists. His condition gets extremely bad after we have done it more than once in the same night.
Do you have any cure or solution?
ANSWER: Many people share the false belief that acne is caused by lack of sex. Perhaps your letter will make them feel better—at least about their skin problems.
Your boyfriend may be allergic to face or body cosmetics. But the most likely cause is not physical
Though acne is common and troublesome, it does respond to proper care. Have your boyfriend see his family physician or a dermatologist.
Dear Dr. Schoenfeld:
My lubrication system doesn’t seem to work very well. On one occasion we happened to have some peanut oil handy and used it. It worked.
What do you recommend?
ANSWER: Planter’s. More conventional lubricants are available through your friendly neighborhood pharmacist.
Dear Dr. Shoenfeld:
Three months ago I went to the hospital with a terrific pain in my side and a discharge. I thought I might have the clap but the doctor said that I only had a bacterial disease in my sex organs and prescribed a suppository.
I still have the bothersome discharge and I experience great pain when I have sexual contact. What is wrong?
P.S. Don’t tell me to give up sex.
ANSWER: A pelvic examination for the symptoms you describe should include microscopic and bacterial culture examinations. Gonorrhea often involves a woman’s uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, causing lower abdominal pain and/or pain during intercourse. Inflammation and scarring of these organs may cause permanent sterility if the disease is not treated with penicillin or alternate antibiotics.
Don’t delay in seeing a gynecologist or the Venereal Disease Clinic of your local health department.
Dear Dr. Schoenfeld:
After making love, my girlfriend and myself often leave “hickies” on each other. This sometimes proves embarassing when we are around certain people, i.e., her parents. Is there any way we can get rid of these telltale marks quickly when they appear? Or must we continue to wear turtlenecks?
ANSWER: “Hickies” or “monkeybites” are caused by blood oozing from broken capillaries beneath the skin surface. If you’re tired of turtlenecks you can use body makeup or lower the pressure.
Dr. Schoenfeld welcomes your letters. Write to him at 1611 San Pablo, Berkeley, CA., 94702.