The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-05
Fear "a Bad "a Disease

AooN 90 L111A a. 0AoC6CGs
Editor Morning Nelcs: At this season Of
the year, the turning point In a change OF
climate, there Is more or less Of anxiety OF
mind relative to health. People Of the
nervous kind are ever on the anxious seat OF
fear il they hear of mild case Of fever or
some child complaint. Imagination and
mind worry have q great deal to do with
our physical health. The stomach aud the
mind are in such close sympathy, so depend
emit on each other, that fear and anxiety
affect the stomach. A good strong stomach
laughs st disease, and a mind at rest is a
proclamation Of health.
Superstitious people are forever uneasy
IN mind; most anything upsets them. Their
imagination makes them unwell, fear acts
upon them as an emetic or something worse.
They annoy others, and are source Of
annoyance TO themselves. Cannot sit down
to table with thirteen people. Cannot see
salt split; cannot see the new moon but one
way; cannot go into church unless they put
the right foot on the threshold. Cannot see
physician but what they think Of sickness
and all such foolish nonsense. And when
they hear OF disease feel sure they are
bound to have il; and will have 1t nine
times out OF ten IL it be really
about. Their mind affects the
body. Men and women have died
simply from Imagination. Men in battle
have imagined that their legs we're shot Off
when they only fell into hole made by a
cannon shot, and lay in that position for
hours afraid to move, fearing they would
bleed to death. Fear is conta yious OF in-
fictitious, just as you please, but IL does
great deal OF damage in a city or COM
muuity.
To treat such characters and temper
aments, the first thing to do is to put their
minds at ease aud ress. Make them feel Sc
cure. Satisfy them there is no danger
about aud all is pleasant enough with them.
Destroy superstition in a PERSONS mind
then reason and common sense enters ia and
all is serene. So Of fear about anything.
The cholera scare seems to make SOME men
lose their heads. and they want to act with
out common sense reason. Good air and
good food are the great autidotes for
cholera. do not take much stock in all
this talk about germs, bacilIi microbes,
etc. But DO attach great deal OF i'm
portance TO pure air. good food, and pure
water. Science and scientific men like all
other mortals, mount a HOBBY, and God
only knows where they will ride it to-
Darwin and his followers say we were
evolved from a monkey. Ministers tell us
we are full Of original sin, Inherited from
old father Adam, and that it's the devil and
not the monkey in our nature which makes
us cut up such fantastic tricks. | don't be-
leve either one. Man is simply fearfully
and wonderfully made, aud must look out
for himself as best he can.
Our business IS with the food we eat, the
water We drink, and the condition u tho
air, and that can be made pure and im-
pure as we live in o city. Cities nourish
aud develop diseases OF ali kinds, and where
there is a dense population the air Is more
or less impure from the breath OF men and
animals and deoaying matter Of all kinds.
l propose 70 state few faois known to
soma bu5 not to all of your readers. Facts
it would be well to think about and to act
upon.
In city like Savannah, situated as it is
IN low country, rich vegetation aud q long
summer, it is all important that the com
mon laws Of health be known TO ALL The
simpler the remedy for disease the better.
The virtues of charcoal are great, and to
have it about is conducive to health. AS q
dIsintectant 1t has 10 equal; as purifier il
is first-clasS. Charcoal is a powerful disin-
fectant. Whyf Because the carbon, and char
coal ia all carbon, readily abs )rbs aud COM
biues with various gases, neutraliZiug their
offensive odors aud destroying their I'm
healthy properties. Thus it is well TO have
charcoal about yard, under houses, and II
the house is old.and rotten putt as near the
decsylng wood as possible. II water is i'm
pure drop charcoal III 1t and it will soon be
sweet and pure. Ii meat Is tainted it ao-
serbs all putrescens efiidvia, whether in
animal or vegetable matter.
1t is cheap and can be easily applied.
Lime is also good, but does not hold It's
virtues as long as charcoal. IL is to destroy
| the carbouic acid gas That lime and charcoal
is used, and in cities during the fall months
1t is well to be on the lookout for places
where carbonic acid gas is generated, as IN
sinks and sewers. Keep such places as free
as possible, and no one need bother about
the spread of disease. It lie 60 prevent
disease that should be the great aim. SO il
all yards are kept clean, charcoal or lime
put where it is needed, the preventive is
sure.
But after all our stomach has more to do
with our general health than anything else,
and If that is Kept in proper condition II
will hold it's own against the air, or any
thing else. Be sure the water is pure, the
food wholesome and The atmosphere in the
city kept pure as possible, aud there Is but
little to fear. But let fear predominant 10
the public mind, and every body is ready to
say They feel they have got it,