Medicine: A Little Learning

About half of U.S. college students believe that whisky will “kill” a fever, and one-third think that an expectant mother can cultivate musical talent in her unborn child by listening to symphonies. One student in three believes that chiropractors are just as competent as physicians, and a smaller group thinks that fish is a “brain food.” So says New York University’s Dr. H. Frederick Kilander, author of the standard Kilander Health Knowledge Tests, who has been charting the progress of general health education in the U.S. since 1936.

Last week, Dr. Kilander told the American Public Health Association that today’s collegian still tends to cling to an assortment of medical superstitions and misconceptions, and that the public at large is even worse informed. Samples:

¶I “About a third of the public thinks water contains calories and is fattening.”

¶I “About one in five believes that a newborn child’s disfiguration may be caused by the mother’s fright during pregnancy.”

¶”Nearly half those tested believe that communicable diseases can be biologically inherited.”

¶I “About half the public still thinks that raw meat such as beefsteak will reduce a swelling or ‘black eye’ due to a bruise.”