The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-25
MEDICAL NOTES.
prepared for the Sunday Journal by
an Old Probationary


Sanitation in public conveyances is of
even more Importance than house santa
ton, for in travelling a person is exposed
TO far greater risks. At the recent meet
ing of the American Health Association
much attention was given to this subject
and many ideas for reform suggested
Professor Woodbridge. reporting for the
committee, pleaded for a special sickroom
on through trains, in which persons known
to be suffering from contagious diseases
should be placed while travelling. The in
terror of all cars should be plain and the
furnishings nonabsorbent. A current of
warm air of at least 1000 cubic feet for
each seat should continuously circulate
through the car but without making any
draught Floors and sanitary fixtures
should be frequently disinfected by wash
ing. All bed and toilet linen should be
disnfected while being Numbered. Sewage
tanks and earth closets should be provided,
the present method of depositing filth along
the roadbed being extremely dangerous to
health. Water and ice should he obtained
from pure sources, and ice should always
be handled with tongs. The water tank
should be frequently washed out and the
public should be educated TO use individual
drinking cups. DR.. Hurry, referring to the
blankets used in sleeping cars, suggested
that white blankets would be far better as
coiored ones. while they did not keep clean
any longer. did not show the dirt when
soied Suggestions were offered that all the
State Boards OF Health cooperate in the
matter of sanitary cars, and no doubt the
various railroad companies will be, ere
long, legally obliged to take more scrupu-
lous care of their in daily use. AS
1t is to-day there is undisputed evidence
that diseases are not only transmitted
from one individual to another, but that
epidemics may be brought from one place
to another by cars passing through that
region and occupied by persons from that
infected locality.
As the cold strengthens those weakened
with consumption think Of removing to
| more congenial climes. but often make a
fatal mistake in the selection. Dr. Swan.
referring to Colorado, calls attention to
the fact that 1t is not the proper climate
for all cases. He warns patients I'm adj
vanced stages of consumption against Col
orado unless they can make the change
without fatigue and can live there in the
manner that they should for a long time
Persons coming to Colorado from a lower
! altitude are much more easily fatiguei
| until they become accustomed TO the
| change. The bracing air also acts as a
nervous stimulant, and under its effects
excessive exercise leads 20 reactionary
| fatigue far beyond the limits of the phys
| ical powers to endure, and the resisting
power against disease Is lessened Early
| cases of consumption should not go 10
Colorado unless they have the means To
live properly for some time until they can
obtain employment, for which there are
many openings. but far more applicants
| From personal observation he states that
many patients going to Colorado for re-
| lief find their condition worse, and would
be much happier and better off IL they
| lad remained at home among their friends
and associates. The same is true of many
| other so-called health resorts, and the sick
person who is advised to or thinks of max.
ing change should consider well all points
before making the experiment
| Speaking OF opiates DR.. Kane. referring
especially to their use in appendicitis. GEN.
sures their too common use for druggine
patients into iasensibility. The fools para
disc into which an opiate throws these pa
| tients hides from the physician the full
gravity Of the case and obscures the dag
l nosis. The patient and his friends. on the