It is understandable that one would like to get rid of varicose veins as quickly as possible. This is sometimes done by injecting a strong hypertonic saline or sugar solution into the affected vein, sclerosing it, so that it ceases to function. Each calf possesses two deep and two superficial veins, and each thigh has one of each, with smaller communicating veins. If one of these veins is put out of action, the other will have more work to do. It is obvious that this one may, in time, also become defective, for how can one vein manage to do the work of two, especially when the work was evidently too much when shared by two veins? Eventually, the second vein will also have to be sclerosed and the circulation will depend on the subsidiary veins. True, these can indeed expand a little and become stronger, but not enough to save the circulation from being impeded. Insufficient circulation will lead to further problems. Circulatory disorders, especially among the elderly, are common and often cause grave ailments, such as can be seen in senile gangrene. In many instances such afflictions can be traced back to an earlier interference with the venous system when the patient was young. Indeed, even young people can be affected. The danger of embolism and thrombosis is accentuated by meddling with the blood vessels, as many patients can confirm.
*242/28/1*
