The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-08
A DANGEROUS MALADY
PHYSICIAN TELLS WHY PNEUMONIA
Is GROWING MORE FATAL.
Grip Epidemics One Cause and the
CareIessness Of Patients Civ
en- Another.

Sheldon Leavitt, NJ. D.. IN Chicago Post.
The fatality OF pneumonia is becoming
alarming. There is a prevalent opinion that
the disease is far more frequent than for
merry. IT may be; but am not prepared to
oOncede the point Modern health boards
are far more energetic than they were a
generation ago and produce more elaborate
statistics OF prevailing disease than their
predecessors; but since pneumonia IS not
one Of the reported diseases they are
obliged 20 draw their information concern
ing II chiefly from inquiry. From the state
ments Of colleagues and from my own OBJ
servation am led to believe that the rela-
tive number Of cases is not increasing. At
the same time there can be no question
that the relative fatality OF pneumonia has
been greatly augmented. One has but to
compare the recent mortality reports with
the older ones TO become convinced or this
Physicians themselves have noted the fact
with establishment note Of alarm was
recently sounded by the clever editor of
one OF our most popular and influential
journals. What does 1t all mean?
In answering this question II Is but fair
20 point out the deleterfous influence of the
recent grip epideInics. 1t is now twelve
years since this disease fell upon US. and
while subsequent epidemics have been light
er than the first, the pernicious influence
OF the disease. In the direction OF lowered
general vitality and the development of a
tendency TO throat and lung ailments has
been pronounced. While this is true it
must be remembered that there has been
set in motion a countervailing influence in
the direction of better understood and more
generally applied hygienic laws and i'm
proved sanitary conditions. In this way
compensation has kept the total morbidity
at about the usual level.
CHRONIC AILMENTS DUE TO GRIP.
So far as la grippe itself is concerned, 1
have seen few sensibly managed cases of
the disease go on TO the production OF seri-
Gus impairment Of health. The trouble
commonly is that people are too disposed
either TO ignore the symptoms or to adopt
unwise self-treatment. cit is only the
grip" they say; which to them means an
ailment of passing moment Subsequently
they date many of their chronic ailments
70 the attack thus lightly characterized.
On the other hand. many submit their
cases wholly to an energetic physician.
who gives remedies, first, to modify caloric
manifestation, and, subsequently, TO whip
UP cardiac energy.
In this connection 1 cannot refrain from
mentioning class of modern remedies,
known as synthetics, of which antikamnia
and acetanilid may be taken as types, anti
pyretic cheat reducing and anOdyne (pain
reductng) in the effect now far too COM
monty used in all febrile and painful dis
eases The laity have fallen into a custom
OF using these remedies In various anec-
tons, on their own authority. By virtue
of their pain-annuling qualities they have
become popular cures for various painful
disturbances So baleful are the effects of
an of qrdi a n
energy and general vitality, except when
used under wise direction, that their indis-
criminate sale ought to be prohibited. In
truth, though well aware of the high es-
TEEN in which they are held by many ply
sicians OF all schools. verify believe that
the world of humanity should have been
better had they never been brought into
use. have made prominent mention of la
grippe. inasmuch it often precedes
FATAL CASE OF PNEUMONIA.
Let me give brief account of a fatal case
of the latter disease Cppeumonia) and then
hasten 10 a conclusion:
Mr.. - suffers an attack OF la grippe, not
so severe attack a he has had two or
three times before. but severe enough to
an energetic, Woodworking man, up-tO-date
IN all his ideas. and accordingly aims to get
through his attack with utmost dispatch
1t is not improbable that he has been a
high-pressure smoker, IL not drinker; most
business men are. He sends for his physi-
clan and assures him that he (the patient)
must be in New York or San Francisco OF
st. Paul at a certain near date. He con-
ducts his own business transactions la
carte and sees reason why the physi-
clan should not do the same. Parenthetical-
~ l must say that we wish we could; but
our well-flled cemeteries remind us all toe
forcibly that medicine is neither an exact
science nor a reliable art. Now. the truth Is
that medicine has been trying more anC
more TO keep up with the rapid pace OF the
ht,f I hat Nrhi In f6vu In.
stances the records have been lowered, the
average result OF drug treatment has shown
little Improvement, owing to the counter
balancing disasters which haste has devel
oped.
But the physician tries his best. usins
ouick-acting. and often delusive, remedie:
only TO find at last that haste makes
waste" as Poor Richard" says. First h
may give remedies 10 relieve suffering, ther
iast-ah. here's the rub-remedies to sus
tain a rapidly failing heart. There are some
who anticipate the last emergency by be
ginning their strong doses with view t
cardiac stimulation before weakness devel
ops and ultimately carry the action so IA
as TO get the hopeless effect of combined
pathologic and toxic adynamia-
At this juncture comes the consultation
of overTated value, resulting usually in as
surances TO the family of the wise treat
ment thus far pursued, and suggestions Il
the attendant OF a few expedientS and still
greater energy. This cOnvinces the friends
that everything has been done that scienc,
could have dictated; delusiOn, a delusion
i verify believe, generated and fostered b,
pernicious activity. The truth often is tha
the poor patient has not had half a chanc,
for his life. This. l grant. is plain talk hu
the facts are sufficiently grave 10 justify IL
And then. when the chOked air cells and tn
weakening circulation produce the tOrtur
ing symptoms of air famine the accommo
dating doctor brings in his tanks of oxygel
as a tempOriZing expedient. And then-th
act closes and the curtain drops.
Those who guilty of the sort of pra
tice alluded TO will consider these structure
Incorporate. Perhaps they are. My utter
ances are not oraCular. L have long fel
inpelled TO utter them, and they may nov
20 unheeded. but certain recent deaths
with the details OF some or which 1 an
familiar, have moved me 10 this action
That its fruition may be salutary is m,
hope and this Will constitute my adeQuat
reward.