The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-22

the world at the beginning of the TWEEN
tieth century. What can be done to pre-
vent its occurrence
The attempted answers to that question
all assume that pneumonia is 10 be lin
tied extent at least a contagious disease.
This may seem surprising. but then
twenty-five years ago it would have
seemed almost ridiculous not only 10
non-medieal people, but even to most
physicians. to say that consumption was
contagious. Now we are sure it is, and
we take our precautions accordingly.
Good authorities insist that similar pre-
cautions must be taken with regard TO
pneumonia.
The first thing is the care of the sput-
um OF pneumonia patients. This must
be burned or sterilized. 1t must never be
allowed TO become dr- SO as to be blown
about at dusk. IT seems TO be a very
prevalent opinion that dust is an i'm
portant cause Of pneumonia By this
is meant not the coarse dust of the
streets, but the fine. impalable dust that
occurs in houses. This contains organic
material on which the germs OF pneu-
nonia may live for a long time. They
are so common in the atmosphere that
most people have them IN their mouths
all the time, even when they are in good
health.
The germs lie IN wait for the time
when the individuals health may run
down for some cause or when he is
played out for lack of food or rest. and
then they produce their well-known ef-
fects.
The dust that is most dangerous is that
which occurs in theatres or churches
or halls, where many people are crowded
together.
II has often been noted that pneumonia
occurs especially in few days after the
patient has been IN a crowded place for
some time Theatres especially are so
built that the sun never shines directly
into them.
Direct sunlight kills all germs very
soon. This is the reason that pneu-
monia is so much less frequent in Sum-
mer or in clear days of mid-Winter than
it is in the Spring or in the Fall
One of the questions discussed at Sar-
atoga was the regulation of theatres in
this respect. TIE board of health of large
cities Will sooner or later have 10 insist
on theatres being built that the sun will
shine in them during many hours Of the
DAYTIME. They will also have to see
that the floors OF such meeting places are
not covered with thick carpets. or the
seats with dust-gathering upholstery, but
that all is finished in polished wood that
Will facilitate the removal of dust.
Another sourse of danger for the spread
of pneumonia is the overcrowding Of
which cars keep all the organic material
breathed out of the crowds during the
constant movement. Many an
infectious disease besides pneumonia is
contracted in crowded cars: Passengers
are so close together that one can scarce
~ avoid any communicating material
there may be in another's breath or on
his person. Boards of health will have
to care for this, too, and see that cars
are thoroughly ventilated after each trip
aud cleaned frequently.
All this may seem an exaggeration Of
caution, but what Professor Osler, of
Baltimore called the appalling danger
from pneumonia in large cities makes
these precautions absolutely ecessary.
Twenty-Five years ago to have suggested
that the splitting nuisance must be stop
ped because it is dangerous to health
would have surely drawn down the rid
icule of most people. and many physi-
clans would have joined in the laugh.
Now all are agreed that splitting in pub
lie places must stop In another ten
years dust will be known TO be quite
as dangerous. The sooner the better, for
we must stop the ravages of the only
disease that up to this time has baffled
all medical skill.