On Tue, 2 Jul 1996 11:43:57 -0500, katherine a. dettwyler wrote:
>In the "for what it's worth" department, I read once that the man who
>invented Vaseline used to eat a big spoonful of it every day, for his
>health!!  In local day cares, they put it on every scrape or cut or burn
>that children get -- have never figured out why.  Seems to me like it would
>lock in the germs!

Hi, Kathy,

I think people use vaseline as a protectant because it prevents friction from
causing more damage, as well as locking in moisture, thus keeping the skin
soft.  In the FWIW dep't., my boss (now 78 and still running the place very
well) tells me that in western PA oil country when he was growing up, they
used raw petroleum as a cure-all, including internal use of a Tbsp as a
laxative.  Today we can identify several components as carcinogens.  I don't
think I'd recommend this to anyone, even though the one person I know who
did it is still functioning well at what I consider a ripe old age.  I also
wouldn't
put vaseline on damaged skin, since I believe skin needs to breathe.  I
wouldn't use it on sore nipples because there isn't any I know of certified for
human consumption, even if I thought it worked.  I would recommend Lansinoh
or Pure Lan, precisely because they are produced for that purpose.  I don't
know if the FDA controls them, but I feel much more comfortable using
something intended for the purpose.  (just my .02)

Jonathan

************************************************
*           L. Jonathan Kramer, P.E.           *
*      Graduate Breastfeeding Counselor       *
*         Student Lactation Consultant         *
* Only G-d knows the formula for mother's milk *
************************************************