Exploding myths

Doctor’s desk is a useful column. There should also be space for queries on popular myths, ones that have a bearing on our daily lives. Sometimes these myths, propagated by people with a superstitious or conventionalist bent of mind, become hard to ignore, especially by youngsters. But one cannot always refute what is being imposed upon oneself because of lack of awareness of the actual facts. For example, one is often told that one shouldn’t eat curd or bananas if one has a running nose or has a fever. But actually, these things have nothing to do with the ailment; it is only that the banana or the curd, or anything for that matter, shouldn’t be eaten chilled or if it has turned sour. Perhaps KnowHow can help many of its readers to distinguish between facts and myths.

Rai Chakrabarty Calcutta — 64

Talk of immunity

Thanks for the wonderful article, Does good hygiene beget bad health? (October 30). It was a fitting lesson for cleanliness freaks who spend precious hours trying to sterilise the environment they live in. One must realise that the human body is an intricate machine and that it can, to a certain extent, take care of itself. If the creator has made the immune system a part of the whole mechanism, surely it must also have a function. Such discussions help to spread knowledge.

Swapna Kar Via email

More on tech

KnowHow should feature more technology stories. There is so much happening around us in the tech world, and readers would greatly appreciate it if they were informed about it all. After all, even the common householder must be tech-savvy to keep pace with the changing times. Surit Doss’ column on mobile phones (Bits & Bytes,October 30) catered to this very need. Hopefully, we will have more such pieces in future editions. Srijit Dasgupta Via email

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