New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-03-22
WHY PNEUMONIA IS PREVALENE

Pneumonia, as everybody kho"o' 10 oN'ioi".''
prevalent, and many guesses are maoe at tne
cause of this, some thinking that unusually
ranid and extensive changes in the temperature
are responsible, while others blame the roller
skating Kinks. But there ought not to be much
doubt as TO the cause of pneumonia among New
Yorkers OF course the climate is primarily &C
countable. but general reckless disregard OF the
commonest of common sense In the way OF pre-
canton is the direct Indictment. Nobody who
takes the trouble to use his eyes in walking the
streets can hesitate as to the explanation OF the
prevalence of pneumonia and all kinds OF
pulmonary disease. The people seem to take
pleasure in defying the weather. They go about
with thin spring overcOats on when the
mercury is many degrees below the freezing
point. They wear warm clothing all through
the day, and when night comes. and with 1t
fall of temperature, they put on evening dress !;
that is, they change winter for summer gar
ments in effect, and then they expose them
selves to all kinds of draughts. No doubt roller
skating has something to do with the prevalence
of pneumonia, but the general habits OF New
Workers have great deal more to do with it.
People who dress sensbly and with due re-
gard to the state of the weather rarely take
pneumonia. They can 90 out In the coolest
weather without danger, because they take care
of their lungs and do not expose themselves 70
cbills. There is no climate which requires
more careful dressing THAI this, and there Is no
city having so uncertain climate In which the
people do not take better care OF themselves.
Il Is quite common here to see women walking
on cold DAYS without any wraps on. They may
4 III iarSn sometimes when
the mercury h nearly at zero. And the young
men are lust as foolish. They seem to think
that il is unmanly to wear sufficient clothing
and so 90 about looking blue with cold, and
running the risk of congestion OF the lungs ana
along train Of serious or fatal complaints. Nor
is 1t the unfortunates who cannot Afford warm
clothes who thus expose themselves, but we'll
TODD people, i'm many cases business men who
pretend to themselves that they are too busy to
attend to little matters Of that kind. No man
who has not sense enough to guard his health
unon which his entire usefulness either TO HIM
self or others depends, can call himself a
practical or wise man, and IT. Is not To the
credit of the NewYork people that they fan to
nav due attention to considerations OF so
vitality important a nature.
We all know that our climate is changeablc,
and therefore we ought to be prepared for its
changes. To be safe from pneumonia during
the winter, warm clothing must be worn con-
tinually III the dictates OF fashion require
no,nle To risk their lives by putting on
utterly unreasonable dress, those who think 1t
necessary to encounter such danger GER
tainly mt q very low estimate on their own
lives, and cannot complain if others take them
,,o1, Rut aaugihla and
women will take proper care OF themselves
and among them pneumonia is not now, nor is
it likely to be, prevalent.