The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-04-18

PNEUMONIA.

Generally the Result OF the Reckless Dis
regard of the Commonest Of Common
Sense.
Pneumonia, as everybody knows. 10
extremely prevalent and many guesses
are made at the cause of this. some
thinking that unusually rapid and ex-
tensive changes in the temperature are
responsible, while others blame the
roller-skating Kinks. But there ought
not to be much do lbt as to the cause of
pneumonia among the careless. OF
course the climate is primarily account
able, but general reckless disregard of
the commonest of common sense in the
way of precaution is the direct incite-
ment. Nobody who takes the trouble
to use his eyes in walking the streets
can hesitate as to the explanation of the
prevalence of pneumonia ard all kinds
of pulmonary disease. The people seem
to take pleasure in oefying the weather
They go about with thin spring over
coats on when the mercury is many do
grees below the freezing point They
wear warm clothing all through tho
day. and when night comes, and with it
ing dress; that is, they change winter
for summer garments in effect,
and then they expose themselves
to all kinds of draughts. No doubt
roller-skating has something to do with
the prevalence of pneumonia, but the
general habits of some people have
great deal more to do with it.
People who dress sensbly and with
due regard to the, state of the weather
rarely take pneumonia. They can go
out in the coolest weather without
danger, because they take care of their
lungs and do not expose themselves to
chills. There is nc, climate which re-
quires more careful dressing than this,
and there is no city having so uncer-
tain a climate in which the people do
not take better care of themselves. 1t
is quite common here to see women
walking on cold days without any
wraps on. They may be seen with
mere jerseys on sometimes when the
mercury is nearly at zero. And the
young men are just as foolish. They
seem to think that it is unmanly to
wear sufficient clothing. and SO go
about looking blue with cold, and run
HuR bHc TEN "a cJuScStlUu vi tuc
lungs and long train of serious or
fatal complaints. Nor is it the
unfortunates who can not afford
warm clothes who thus expose
themselves. but well-to-do people,
in 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, upon
which his entire usefulness either to
himself or others depends, can call
himself a practical or wise man, and it
is not to the credit of the New York
people that they fail to pay due atten-
ton to considerations of SO vitality inn
portant nature.
We all know that our climate is
changeable, and therefore we ought to
be prepared for its changes. To be
safe from pneumonia during the win
ter, warm clothing must be worn con-
tinually. If the dictates of fashion re-
quires people to risk their lives by put
ting on utterly unreasonable dress,
those who think it necessary to en-
counter such danger certainly put
very low estimate on their lives, and
can not complain if others take them
at their own valuation. But sensible
men and women will take proper care
of themselves, and among them pneu-
monia is not now. nor is it likely to be,
prevalent IN Y. Tribune.