Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-02
Diseases ofOur Own Causing.

On an average one-nalf of the mum be1
of out-patients treated by a hospital sur
geop suffer from diseases due. primarily
to want Of knowledge Of the laws Of
health and cleanliness. First, the igno-
rance ofthe hygienic lawsWhich affects so
disastrously the health Of the rich as well
as the poor, exists chiefly in regard to
dress, ablution and ventilation. This
statement may, at first, appear startling
but an enumeration Of the diseases that
can be traced to the above causes will
show upon how sound basis this state
ment rests. The following are examples !:
Varicose ulcers from dress; skin diseases
from want of cleanliness; chest diseases
and fevers from defective ventilation.
The vast number of liberated legs treat
ed in the out-patieHt department Of hos
pitfalls, in work-house infrma aries. and in
private practice, arise from varicose veins.
Now, a varicose ulcer is caused by dis
tended condition of the veins of the legs,
which have to sustain the pressure of the
blood caused by graYitation. In varicose
veins, the valves which help to support q
column Of blood are to great extent de-
stroyed, through the veins having been
distended by mechanical obstruction to
the free return of the blood from the ex
tremities, thereby distending the lower
veins and separating the edges of the
valves. Thus The weight of an uninter
rupted column has to be borne by the
veins. This, of course, causes
further distension, giving rise to
congestion Of the capillaries Of
the skin and causing swelling, eczema,
and ultimately liberation. This is the
varicose ulcer SO common in the laboring
classes. It is difficult to heal, and often
impossible to heal, except by prolonged
rest in bed. Hence it is the dread of
surgeons, and the cause of misery to
thousands. Varicose ulcers are seldom
admitted into general hospitals, so that
hundreds of poor families are driven to
the workhouse, and such cases form a
majority in the workhouse infrmary.
The most frequent and fragrant causes of
obstruction is the ordinary elastic
garter. Children should never wear them
at all, as the stockings can be perfectly
well kept up by the attachement of elias
tic straps to the waistband. If garters are
worn, it is important to know how to ap-
ply 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 ligature below the
knee obstructs the superficial veins: if the
contraction is above, the hamstring tend
ems keep the pressure off the veins which
return the blood from the legs. Unfortu-
nateIy, most people, in ignorance of the
above facts, apply the garter below the
knee. Again, IN nine out Of ten labor
ing men, we find piece of cord or a
buckled strap tightly applied below the
knee, for what reason could never learn.
Elastic bands are the NEST injurious,
They follow the movement of the mus
Giles, and never relax their pressure on the
veins. None lastic bands during muscu-
lar exertion become considerably relaxed
ct intervals, and allow afreer circulation
of the blood ~ Popular Science Monthly.