The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1893-11-22
Health Protection.

Health Protection.
In all these contagious diseases
the danger to life is in inverse ratio
to the age of the child. The young
er it is the more likely is 1t to sue
cumb. AS for instance, in whoop.
ing cough, 40 per cent. of the NOR
tally is In children under one year
of age, 30 per cent. during the Sc
cond year of life, Is per cent. in
the third, 6 per cent. in the fourth,
and only 9 per cent. in all the sub
sequent years together. In mea sles
the same rule holds good, and after
the fifth year the proportion of
deaths to cases is enormously di-
unfinished.
In shielding a child against the
infection of scarlet fever two things
are positively gained. Every year
of escape renders him less and less
susceptible to the disease. To be
sure even adults do take the dis
ease. But the probability of an
adult taking this or any other of
these infectious diseases is almost
infnitesimal. Secondly, even if
the child does take the disease ulti.
mately, every year that the attack
is deferredreduces the danger " Inch
it brings. In other words, attacks
of scarlet fever become both less
frequent and less severe with every
year of age after the fifth. The
same is true with almost equal force
of every other infectious diseases of
childhood.
Coming now to the practical point
as to how the child may be shielded
from infection, it is evident that
the most important consideration is
the isolation of those already i'll,
and who, therefore, are capable of
conveying infection to the healthy.
When child shows signs of fever
he should be separated from the
other children of the family until
such time as it can be determined
that the disease is no; a contagious
one. This is the more important if
it IS known that one of the conta-
gious diseases is prevalent in the
neighborhood. But it is a safe rule
to follow at all times during the
preliminary period when languor,
feverishness, and mental perturba-
ton give evidence of trouble at
hand.
There is, however, another very
important means of shielding the
child from infectious disease. There
are in the blood innumerable mi
croscopic corpuscles (that is very
minute living beings) whose func.
tions it is to wage war upon the
germs of contagious diseases that
fnd entrance into the body. The
activity and potency of these little
corpuecles depend upon the general
vitality of the body. When the
corpuscles are in a high state of ac-
tivity they resist the inroads of dis
ease germs, and protect the body
from cOntagion. The ways and
means necessary to keep these de-
Tenders of the system in the best
possible condition to do battle with
the greatest chance of success are
those calculated to improve the gem
eral health; plenty of sunshine,
fresh air and outdoor exercise.
warm and suitable clothing, a pro-
per quantity of wholesome food,
and general attention to the func-
tions of the skin and excre tory or
gans. This method of preserving
children from scarlet fever, measles,
and kindred ills, which derives so
much support from scientific OBJ
servatiOn and suggestion, has the
furthermeuto of being common sense
and rational, and should be especial
ly and seduously practiced at such
times as contagion abounds. Not
forgetting, however, the old maxim,
In times of peace prepare for war"