Static electricity quite harmless
Dear Dr. Gott: I enjoy your column and have learned quite a bit. Thank you. I have never seen my problem addressed, so here goes.
Whenever I shop at stores where I push a grocery cart, I accumulate an enormous amount of static electricity, which delivers me painful shocks when I reach for an item. I have tried to use my palm to tap the shelf, and I get a shock, but if I am holding onto the metal cart with my other hand, the static electricity goes through my body and shocks my other hand, too. I have acrylic nails and have asked my technician if she has heard of anything like this, to no avail. I have worn different shoes/clothing. I just don’t understand. I have had shocks that snapped so loud (and hurt) that people nearby jumped out of the way! Please tell me what you know!
Dear Reader: Static electricity is harmless but annoying. It ordinarily builds up a charge when people walk across carpeting in extremely dry weather. I have never heard of static electricity stemming from plastic floor coverings such as those present in supermarkets. Short of suggesting that you wear rubber gloves when shopping, I have no advice about how to prevent the experience.
Dear Dr. Gott: We have greatly enjoyed and benefited from reading your column for a number of years.
Recently, someone wrote about dishes with a radioactive glaze. Perhaps she does not need to be concerned about it.
We, before retiring and downsizing, had collected some pieces of Vaseline glass, which has uranium in it. In the display cabinet we kept a small ultraviolet lamp, which we could turn on, to show visitors how the glass would glow due to the uranium. We also saw a collection of Vaseline glass in New York’s Corning museum. In their case they had a Geiger counter, which “chirped” every few seconds, responding to the uranium.
Dear Reader: As I stated in my columns about radioactive glaze, the risk is not from storing it, but, rather, from eating or drinking from it. You appear to be handling a potentially dangerous situation reasonably well, but I would be wary of persistent, close contact with your uranium glass.
Dear Dr. Gott: I read your column every day. I have bone cancer and have recently noticed a fluid-filled sac on my left side just above my leg. I questioned both my primary and oncology doctors. Both told me it was nothing to worry about. One said the fluid probably came from my bowels because it occasionally has an awful smell. I would like to have it removed. Your opinion, please.
Dear Reader: It could be a fatty tumor (lipoma), a hernia or a subcutaneous cyst. I advise you to seek a surgical opinion. Ask your doctor to refer you.