Daily Republican., 1882-01-10
INUREASEOF sICKNASS.
The Effect Of the Holidays On she
People In GeneFal-The Doctors
KAnt Ruav

The Effect Of the Holidays On she
People In GeneFal-The Doctors
Kept Busy.
Perhaps no one has given it q
thought, or even imagines, the large in
crease of sickness during, and imme.
diately after, the holidays. Thinking
that little information on this subject
would interest, aud perhaps benefit
many of the readers of the REPUBLI.
CAN, a representative of that paper
called upon prominent physician of
this city, and after the usual saluta.
tions had been extended in regard to
the weather, ETC., the question was
asked by the reporter if the holidays
caused an increase In sickness. The
doctor quickly answered, 81 should
say it did" He then, without further
questioning, briefly said "You would
be- Surprised to know to what extent
sickness has increased during the holt
days" He said 1t was certainly sur.
prisiug. When asked the direct cause
and nature of such sickness, he replied
that it WAS only temporary and brought
about in u good many ways. The
children are effected by eating 80 many
sweet. beats, nuts, cakes, and losing
their usual amount of sleep, which, in
a large number Of cases brought on a
temporary spell of sickness which
sometimes develops into a serious if
not fatal spell. In regards to young
people and those further advanced Ia
years, the former suffer from loss of
sleep and indigestion they not taking
the usual exercises, but are wont to sit
in the parlor, chatting with friends
who have called after eating hearty
meal Of turkey, chicken salad and
other delicacies prepared on these tes-
tive occasions. The male portion of
the older PEG. lie, at least many of them,
indulge too freely in egg nogg and
other fancy drinks on holiday and
consequently many Of them are unable
to work for week and the services of a
Physician has to be called in. Those
who do not indulge in the flow
ing bowl, are too apt to cat hearty
dinner and then stay III the house,
when they should Away, take walk
in order that the food they have eaten
may properly digest.
Thus it is that the prevailing extent
of the sickness during the holidays is
brought about simply from carlessness
on tine part Of the parents, who should
take the proper exercise themselves,
and see to 1t that their children do not
eat and stuff, until they can Sat no III ore
aud much nneasiness would be pre-
v ented.
The ph ysician also stated that Thanks
giving Day most invariably adds largely
10 the list of patients of each Doctor
n the city, and people would be sur
)ri1ed il they knew the exact nu mber
If patients that were made i'll from the
effects of the holiday season.
In regard to the amount Of sickness
low prevailing in the city, and the
number of deaths that weekly occur, it
y fully shown by the weekly reports Of
he Health Registrar, that consump-
ion is the prevalent disease and always
eads in the Registrars report Of deaths. !
deaths occurred last week,
light of which resulted flom consImp-
ion.
The number of deaths of children is
n tie decrease, which fac5 is very en-
ouraging, and sickness does not at the
resent tirLe, prevail to such an alarm
ng extent among children.
The physician also stated this un-
leasant weather, was detrimental to
ne health OF the citizens. The air is
amp and the streets arein Il wre'Ched
which is very ulfavoraDle
nd causes many diseases incident TO
such as diptheria, pneumonia
Uphold fever, and other diseases, and is
cry bad for those who are suffering
With consumption.
The city is almost if not quite rid of
mall pox, and il the streets were
cleaned, the health of the {
itizens OF Wilmington would be great
, benefited thereby and the death rate t
the city would rapidly decrease. Let S
10 streets be cleaned and every thing q
ore TO cut down this rapidly increas-
ig death rate.