Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-09-24
The Deadly Nightshade.

"AN Old Physician" writes as follows
to the New York Tribune:
My age and experience as physician
enable me with propriety and confidence
to call the attention of the public to
custom now widely principally
among the middle and lower classes, of
sitting on their stoOps after sunset. L
concede that this position after hot day
is one of comfort, but it certainly is not
one of safety. This opinion is supported
by years of experience and careful obser
walton. But in further support of it
give the following reasons, founded on
common sense and the well-known laws
of health
The vapor which under the effects of
the sun rises during the day becomes
condensed and remains near the earth at
night.
Under the effect Of heat and fatigue
the system at night is least able to resist
the depressing influence of dampness
and vaporous air, and, therefore, the
body, if exposed to it, should be protected
by additional clothing or by exercise.
The fact that no chill is felt furnishes
no evidence that we are not unduly eX-
posing ourselves. On the contrary, the
seeds of many chronic and fatal diseases
are laid while the system is in that state
of lassitude and repose produced by hot
day, and while we are engaged in that
seductive employment of trying to keep
cool"
At the very time that clothing is a
burden we should either protect our
selves by it or withdraw our skin and
lungs from immediate contact with damp,
sunless and vapOrOus air, which in just
the proportion that it is grateful TO our
sense is destructive to our health. A
notion widely prevails that the only
danger from chills and fever is incurred
in the country. This is erroneous. Sta
tistics and logic prove it to be So 1t is
true that paved streets, perfect sewerage
and clean surroundings protect from
chills and fever. But there are blocks
of elegant houses in eligible locations in
this city where chills and fever, diphthe-
ria and hundred diseases prevail, may
say, to an alarming extent.
The reasons assigned land perhaps cor
rectly) are defective sewerage and re-
cently-upturned earth. But these causes
operate unfavOrably chiefly in the alb
sence of the sun. Those who labor dur
ing the day in these sewers and eXcaya-
tons are not exceptional sufferers from
chilIs and fever, etc. The victims are
among those who after sunset remain
near them and expose themselves with
out exercise or sufficient clothing to the
exhalations therefrom. And the same
effects, though in a less degree, happen
to those who expose themselves any
where, whether in city or country, after
sunset, by remaining stationary on cold
stoops, imperfectly clothed and with sys-
TENS reduced by heat and fatigue The
weakest NAV in the daytime and by
active exercise meet with Impunlty the
chilly, damp air; butnOt if tbs permitted
to steal upon him in an hour when his
senses and functions are locked in state
Of fatigue and inactiOn; for while 1t seems
to cool and refresh it is really closing the
pores and introducing into the currents
of the system arrangement and poison.
And the fact that i'll effects do not short
ly follow the practice OF the habit is no
evidence of the unsoundness of my
views. individuals differ in their re-
Cooperative or resistive power, and the
same individual may to-day with impu-
nifty be exposed to a disease to which if
similarly exposed tomorrow he would
succumb. But effects will sooner or later
follow causes. And strength of COnsti-
tuition or good condition will not always
resist the effects of violation Of the
laws of health. Believing my views to
be sound, and that their adoption will
lengthen life and prevent disease, send
them to you.