The National tribune., 1892-01-07
HEALTH HINTS
For Old and Young.
BY FELIX L. OSWALD. N. D.
CHAPTER CXXVIII.
yuNa FprDrwrCs


The revival Of the influenza panic has indi-
rectly benefited the cause of health by expos
ing the fallacy Of dee l9tcd delusions regard
ing the cause Of lung disorders and the best
means for their prevention,
Once more the grippe has spread like n forest
fire all over Poland, eastern Germany. SWitZeT-
land. Great Britain, and Scandinavia, and
sparks Of the conflagration have reached the
west shore Of the Atlantic, rekiudliug half
smothored flames in half a hundred different
cities from Boston 10 Richmond and inland as
far as western Ohio. Again the appearance Of
the epidemic comedies in America with the end
of the year, but its progress can be traced from
town 10 town, and during its outbreak in eastern
Russia the weather was unusually mild for
that time Of the year-the end Of October and
the first week of November-when the health
bureau Of Moscow reported some so eases Of in
fluenza Of a specially malignant type.
About 10 years ago the writings Of New
England fasting-cuTe doctor revived tho faith
in the possibility of preventing diseases by star
vation-the leaders Of the movement going 10
the length of ascribing the ailments of infants
TO tho natural dGpravity of their gluttOuOus
appetites.
IL was the doctrine OF modification in one OF
its many disguises, and the now prophet OF
self-dcnial assured his disciples that dyspepsia,
consumption, bronchitis, and catarrh could be
kept at arms-length by suppressing the appeals
Of our unregenerate physical instincts and scru-
pulously avoiding square meals Of pal3table
food.
Now IL so happened that the last four months
furnished a rare opportunity for testing that
theory by practical experiment. In eastern
Russia failure of crops enforced n severe and
protracted fasting cure. City-dwellers and
peasants were involved in a famine that far ex-
ceeded the severity Of the distress during the
Irish potato blight, and the total number of in
voluntary fasters has been yariOusy estimated
at ~, 900 600 to 27000000. The description of
the scenes during the Cars recent visit to the
southeast Provinces Of the Empire almost re-
call the horrors Of the Middle Ages: " Hundreds
aud by-and-b by thousands crowded about the
imperial train, pressing toward the rear car with
reckless disregard of the depot guards. Men
and women were struck brutally in the face,
they were cufied and kicked like dogs, but they
continued TO press forward in the desperate hope
OF handing the autOcrat petition, or of some-
how calling his attention TO the extremity Of
their need. If he could not help all he might
be inclined 10 help some, and they fercely
clung 10 the hope of enjoying tho luck Of tho
favored few. When the train pulled out of the
station the ravenOus wrctches rushed forward
amain, and could hardly bo prevented from
hinging themselves in front Of the locomotive.
Only near the approaches of the bridge they
renOunced the hopeless chase, while their
frantic yells aud shouts gradually subsided into
u mourntul howl"
That scence could hardly have been enacted
by fraudulent officials, seeking to enrich
themselves by soliciting contributions" and
there seems no doubt that at least one third Of
the population between the Ural and the VOlga
Is undergoing a severe aud long-continued
fasting cure.
And that very region has now been visited
by epidemics OF nearly all the diseases which
the starvation prophets propose TO prevent by
the modification Of our natural appctite5.
Smallpox and diphtheria followed on the heels
OF hunger typhus and tho grippe has reap
pcared in type both more malignant and more
contagious than that Of l559.
The truth would seem % be that hunger
cures can prevent only dyspepsia, and even
that only If tho small modieum Of permitted
food Is well selected. In fever and cholera
seasons physicians visiting the homes Of their
patients run a greatly decreased risk OF infec-
ton after a substantial lunch. The same in
diphtheria and contagious catarrh; the pow
ers Of digestion seems 10 divert the virus from
the lungs, or, TO use a technical phrase, to es-
tablish diathesis not favorable 20 the deyel-
Opment Of disease germs
In short the chance of cOntagiOn is lessened
by anything tending 10 keep the organism in
a state Of vigorous activity, and increased by
all debilitating conditions. Microscopic paTi-
sites are always ready TO fasten upon any par
ticle Of wounded tissue; during state of ex-
haustiOn from heat and fatigue, grief fear, or
hunger, persons otherwise blest with abundant
health are apt TO draw a fatal number in the
lottery Of contagious diseases.
Hence the fact that the rural districts Of the
Russian Empire are hot-bed Of manifold epi-
denies. Both cattle and men are habitualy Y
overworkcd and underfed under the semi-feudal
sway of the MOscovite tschuOrHik. The food Of
the army is in quantity only twO-thirds that Of
the United States Regular Army, and in quality
infinitely worse than that OF the WOTst-managed
frontier post of the far Southwest Dried beef,
sour ryebread tblack as sun-baked turf, and
nearly as tough, little oil, vinegar, and quaSs,
or fermented cabbage water. Two years ago
this gUdSs, by order Of the Medical Inspector,
was mixed with quinine Ia pleasant beverage
on a raw Russian Winter mOTning) 70 stop the
progress of the grippe; but it was found that
contagion could be prevented only in garrison
towns where the epidemic had not yet es-
tablished firm hold. In badly infected bar
racks the prOphylactic failed altogether, and
was. besides, so unpopular that its use was
gradually discontinued.
A much better plan was tried in KrOnstadt,
where the garrison was temporarily removed TO
the upper story OF an old arsenal, with rOOmy
halls aud abundant means for ventilation.
Combined with better aud more liberal rations
that pfecautoh would probably nave prevented
the epidemic altogether; as il was, il rendered
it much less malignant.
Aseetics who in such cases would like to
practices the virtue of self-denial may curtail
their rations Of animal food, and confne them
selves to diet Of bread, milk, baked apples,
and such vegetables as peas and beans. sur
felt Of meat is certainly not propitious to the
cure Of respiratory affections, while saccharine
food-sweet milk or siTup, sweetened fruit
j Ill
Here, elsewhere. IL is a safe rule to regulate
the quality Of our food, and let the quantity
take care Of itself.
Bronchitis and chronic cough are frequent
aiter-eflects Of tho grippe (which, indeed, is
nothing but more than usually contagious ca
taTrh), and like other lung diseases should be
cOunteracted by liberal rations Of saccharine
food and plenty Of outdoor exercise.
(TO be c0itinued.l