The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1895-01-09
BEWARE OF PNEUMONIA.
Health Commissioner E,i-on of New York
Ialis How to Ward 1t on.


IaIis how to Ward 1t on.
although more or less prevalent
throughout the year, pneumonia is pc
culiarly dangerous during the opening
months of winter. With the first frosts
very marked increase takes place In
the number of cases, and during this
cold. damp weather extra precautions
should be taken. Pneumonia is proba-
bly, produced by m earth microbe, and
when frost prevails the soil beneath
tho house is the only ground which is
OF frozen. The germ gradually works
toward the warm, moist earth, and the
house really acts as sort of flue which
forms q ready mode of egress for them.
The proper ventilation of rooms is there
fore an important factor in guarding
yainst pneumonia, one, however, which
|, often overlooked.
Lack of personal hygiene is the chief
predisposing cause of the disease. r.
regular hours, insufficient nourishment,
dyspepsia, excessive fatigue or some
disease which has lowered the general
tone of the system all weaken the pow
er of resisting the pneumonia germ.
When the system is run down, sudden
exposure to cold may prove fatal, while
in normal condition Of body IL would
be thrown off.
There are three periods during which
the susceptibility to pneumonia is great
est. They are early childhood-that is,
up to years of age, between the ages
Of 90 and 40 and after 60. The power
of resistance against pnenmonia grows
much feebler after. go years Of age, and
nine. tenths Of the cases prove fatal.
Cold. damp weather is favorable to
the contraction Of colds and the sub.
sequent development Of pneumonia, and
it still exists to some extent in modi-
fed form. This is the disease with which
pneumonia most readily combines, but
1t is found in combination with diph-.
iberia. typhoid fever, measles, scarlet
fever and many others.
When severe or sudden chill has
been contracted. the main thing Is to
act quickly, and many serious illness
can be averted and valuable life saved
by little intelligence coupled with
promptitude. If possible, send for o
doctor Immediately and take ten grains
Of quinine and five drops Of spirits Of
camphor in a little water or on limp
Of sugar. These doses are for an adult.
Then soak the feet in hot water and
jump into bed. Simple as these remedies
are, they have nipped in the bud many
prospective cases Of pneumonia.
While soaking the feet the body
should be warmly wrapped in blau-
ket. which should be kept on until some
time after, the person has entered the
bed in order that free perspiration be
continued and not checked
A good thing to prevent "colds" is to
wear wool next the skin. When this is
not possible on account Of the irritation
sometimes caused, mixture of wool
and silk will generally be found salts
factory. would not recommend cotton
in any form for underwear, as it is fire.
quently the cause Of dangerous cold
by becoming wet and keeping the tenn
perature of the skin below the normal
Care should be taken that the feet do
not get wet, or IL so that prompt meas
ures are taken to dry them and change
Of hose made
The care taken of the outside of the
body must be supplemented by the same
care Of the inside. A moderate diet,
wholesome food. plenty Of rest, regular
hours. will keep the whole system in
good order and enable it to throw off
the germs of disease. which can only
obtain footing when debilitation af-
fords an entrance for the disease and
fruitful soil for its development. --Cy-
rus Edison in st. Louis Post Dispatch. q.