The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-05-03
A Doctor on Pneumonia.
From the New York Times,

FROM the rev 1OfK Times.
1t is not we'll to get up panic about
pneumonia without pointing out some Of
its causes and remedies. Among its
most common causes are cold and wet.
aided by thin underclothing, either by
night or day, or both, thin shoes and
stockings, etc. It'll surprising to end
how many men and women wear thin
underclothine by day and only one thin
garment at night, and that often oflinen,
while co d linen sheets are not unco M
mon, even in miawlnter. Many severe
colds and pneumonia arc prevented by
attention to these simple matters, and
many are cured by merely putting on an
extra garment at night, even flannel
sack, and sleeping between thick, warm
muslin or thin flannel sheets. These
are also the first precautions which
should be taken when attacked by pneu-
monia, and many valuable life is lost
by inattention to them. 1t is we'll known
that in the young and healthy acute
pneumonia is less fatal than in those
who are otherwise not healthy or
strong. and those more advanced in life.
This would suggest that the deteriora-
ton, not only Of the lungs, but Of the
other great vital organs, withdraws such
aid as they could otherwise afford when
they are fresh and vigorous.
In fact. In by far the majority of cases
where pneumonia is found, We generally
discover som, pre-existing and more
chronic disea q in some other organ Of
the body; it may be the heart, liver, kid
neys, bowels, etc. In fatal cases it is
not enough that we should find pne".
monia and say the patient died of it. but
we should also learn why that particular
person sucsumbed to it, an inquiry too
often forgotten and slurred oyer. Some
times the intensity Of the pneumonia il
very great and sufficient to account for
nor severity of the attack sudices to
make clear the cause of the fatal result.
Then we may have to look for some OBJ
scure disease of the he'd, or chronic
disease of the stomach. bowels, liver or
kidneys which has not received the at
tention which it deserved. These dis
orders also often interfere with the ac-
ton of the remedies especially adapted
to relieve pneumonia.
Then there are the great 40 called foul
ar ,pneumonias, caused by overheated,
badly ventilated houses. with or with
out subsequent exposure to very cold
outdoor air. Bad plumbing foul
street. gutter, sewer and dock air, es.
pecially the bad air in the tenement.
house districts. make many colds and
pneumonias malignant. The sudden
occurrence of a warm spell Of weather
when the streets and yards are loaded
with filth will almost create an epidemic,
and the converse of this is true-viz:
when slight or severe or malignant colds
are contracted from the inhalation OF
foul air during thaWlng weather, ana the
patient, being not vet quite sick enough
to stay in the bouse, is exposed
to one of those severe
cold snaps or billiards. which have pre-.
vailed this winter perhaps more frsqu-
emily and suddenly than is common.
Many other diseases, like measles, rheu-
matism, typhoid fever, etc., are often
followed by pneumonia, especially when
the bed and body clothing are not warm
enough. All those with consumptive
tendency should be especially careful
and it is we'll kno wn that many surgical
cases are followed by pyahic pneumo-
MIA. In fact, if we find pneumonia in
the form Of small, isolated patches, we
must remember that it is always second
airy to some other disease. In short,
pneumonia is the attendant by natural
termination of many other diseases, and
is apt to be considered as the principal
disorder, whereas it was secondly but
most DANGEROUS cOmpIlcatiOn. -