The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-11-27
GheGnteIhgsufer;
,,l.ooxc. Of our own Causing.

t'o",, Rand, In Popular scIsuse MonthIy'I
'C oo an average, one.half Of the mum.
-, Of out.patients treated by hospital
, .s' =, p .UIIer from diseases due rimar-
' 'Iy ~ \ wan, of knowledge Of the laws
! health and cleanliness. !. The igno-
:, ,,neo Of lygienic laws, which affects so
ii.,.lrously the health oil the rich as
",il =, tho poor, exists chiefly in regard
y, VS., dress, ublution, and ventilation. This
.,,,Sment may, at first, appear startling,
,", An enumeration OF the diseases that
' W, he constantly traced TO the above
, ,,".s, will show upon how sound a basis
,S T." statement rests. The following are
s,,mples Yaricose ulcers from dress;
Yin diseases from want OF cleanliness;
he'd diseases and fevers from defective
ysSuls,ion. The vast number Of I'll.
rrsteI legs treated in the out.patient
J.",r,nenI Of hospitals, in workhouse
istrm.ries, and in private practice,
wf,e from variCOse veins. Now, a
r r,rico.e ulcer is caused by distended
eonditiOn Of the veins Of the leg,
which have to sustain the pressure Of the
b,ool caused by gravitation. In varicose
veins, the valves which help to support
ne column OF blood are to u great extent
j..,,oyed, through the veins having been
li.tended by mechanical obstruction TO
he fee return Of the blood from the ex'
,,snitle., thereby distending tho lower
vein, and separating the edges OF the
y,lyes. Thus the weight OF all uninler-
tup,ed column has to be borne by the
veins. This, Of course, causes inrther
Iistention, giving rise to congestion OF
the capilIaries OF the skin, and causing
swelling, eczema, and ultimately ulcera-
lion, f'his is the yaricose ulcer 80 COM
mon to tho labor classes. 1t is always
difficult to heal, and often impossible,
except by prolonged rest in bed. Hence 1t
i,,he dread Of the surgeon, and the cause
d misery to thousands. NaricOse ulcers
,rs seldom admitted into general hospit-
al. so that hundreds Of poor falnlliesare
lriyen to tho workhOuse, and such cases
!,,n a majority Of the wOrkhousc in
truary. The most frequent and tlagrant
g,u.e Of obstruction ia the ordinary
sll,!ic garter. Children should new
,isslr them at all, rs the stockings can
t4priectly we'll kept up by attachment
Il tluIic straps to the waistband. If
srten are worn, it Is importantto know
iaV TO apply them with the least risk Of
Auu; at the bend OF the knee the super
.ti,l veins of the leg unite, and go deep
J. into the under part OF the thigh be-
tsItA the ham.string tendons. Thus n
sl,a,e below the knee obstructs all the
superficial veins, but il the construction
s lbOye, the ham.string tendons keep
tie pressure of the veins which return
The blood from the legs; unfortunately,
aai people, in ignorance Of the above
iia', apply the garter below the knee.
Again, in nine out Of ten laboring men,
e find a piece OF cord or a buckled strap
lightly applied below the knee, for what
,sl.oa could never learn. Elastic band
vt most injurious. They follow the
movement Of the muscles, and never re-
IN their pressure on the veins. Non.
elastic bands during muscular exertion
tSone considerably relaxed at intervals,
mi allow lreer circulation Of the blood.