Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-12-15
Olseases of our own CausIne.

On an average. one-half of the number
of our out-patients treated by hospital
surgeon, suffer from, diseases due primarily
to a want of knowledge of the laws Of
health and cleanliness. 1. The ignorance
of hygienic laws, which affects so disas-
trously the health of the rich as well as the
poor, exists chiefly in regard to dress, alb
luton and ventilation. This statement
NAV, at first, appear startling, but an emu
meration of the diseases that can be con-
stantlY traced to the above causes will lshOW
upon how sound basis the statement rests.
The following are examples: Varieose ul-
GERS from dress; skin diseases from want Of
cleanliness; chest diseases and feYers from
defective ventilation. The vast number Of
liberated legs treated in the out-patient
department of hospitals, in workhouse in
fmaries and in private practice, arise from
varicose veins. Now, a Yarieose ulcer IS
caused by a distended condition of the
MS of the leg; which have to sustain the
vel re of the blood caused by grayitation-
lessU: sc veins, the valves which help to
IN IN FaFleo; column Of blood are to great
suPPore lhe ID, though the veins have
SAoeil5 g4os @ @uesCroyS 81 mechanical obstruction
~ H. f.o 80 y the blood from the av
tranoitias +Lo-oL,, - ending the lower
;,s a1,S '0e of the valves
T VEINS a1o separating tne eoe ~orrnnteJ ~
Thus, the weight Of an unint> 1PGed I19. col
umn has to be borne by the veins. ms, Of
course, causes further distention. GIVING
rise to congestion of. the eapillaries Of the
SKIN, and causing swelling, eczema, ants
finally liberation. This is the vaucOse ul-
Ger so cannon in the labOring classes. It
is always diffieult-te heal, and often inn -oI
possible, except by prolonged rest in bed.
Hence, tbs the dread of the surgeon, and
cause of misery to thousands. VarieOse
ulcers are seldom admitted into general
hospitals. so that hundreds of poor families
are driven to the wOrkhoHse, and such
cases form majority in the workhOuse in
Urinary. The most frequent and fragrant
cause of obstruction is the ordinary elastic
garter. Children. should never wear them
at all, as the stockings can be perfectly
we'll Kept up by attachment of elastic straps
to the waistbaHd. If garters are worn, it &
is important to know how TO apply them
with the least risk Of harm at the bend of
the knee the superficial veins of the leg
unite, and go deeply into the under part Of
the thigh beneath, the ham-String tendOnS.
Thus Ggature below the knee obstruets
all the superficial veins, but if the constrie-
tion is above, the ham-string tendOns keep
the pressure. off the veins which return the
blood from the legs; unfortunately, most
people, in Ignorance of the above facts, ap-
ply the garter below the knee. Again, In
nine out of teut llaboring men. we find a
piece of cord or abuokled strap tightly ap-
piled below the knee, for what reason /
could never learn. Elastic bands are the
most injurious. d. They follow the move
ments of the muscles, r and never relax
their pressure on the veins. Non-elastic
bands during muscular exertion become
considerably relaxed at intervals, and al
low freer circulation Of the blood.
P5Dular Science Monthly.