Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-05-15
PyEUMoNIA.
Disease That Ranks rs the Chief Destroyer
of Life.

AZ ~ v w w -
Disease That Ranks Ms the chief Destroyer
of Life.
Medical Record.
The death rate from pneumonia in
the United States in 1890, throughout
the area of registration, was 1898, and
in 1900 it was 1919 per 100, 600 of the
population whereas, in 1880 there
were 245. and in 1000 there were $780,
deaths from consumption under the
same relative circumstances. There
fore, while the last-named disease is
unon the decline, pneumonia, as the
chief destroyer of life in this country
is coming into Hateful prominence.
According to the statistics of the
census year Of 1860, the three most
common causes of death were pnen-
monia, cons umpiipn and heart disease,
and in the order enumerated.
The eradication of pneumonia, the
scourge of civilization, in view of the
present limitations of our knowledge,
seems we'll nigh impractieable. Still,
on the other hand, decided step has
been taken in the right direction. 1t
| is now settled beyond question that
| the micrococcus lanceolatus is uni
form, unfailing agent, in contradistinc-
! tion to diverse predisposing causes, OF
acute lobar pneumonia. This micro
! organism is somewhat elliptical,
lance shaped diplococcus that exists in
the blood, heart, liver spleen, kidneys
| and other tissues of the body, as we'll
as in the lungs. 1t is present, as a
rule, in the diseases which complicate
pneumonia, such as pleuritis, pericar
ditis, endocarditis, peritonitis and
meningitis. 1t is found almost invaria-
bly, in the pneumonia sputum and, not
infrequently, in the living blood. 1t
occurs in all its malignancy in the
mouth and bronchial secretions of
l'many healthy individuals. 1t also
dwells in a n-virulent condition in
the mouth and throat Of nearly every
body. The dust laden atmosphere of
the houses we inhabit and of the
public halls we frequent is more or
less permeated by these mephitic or
ganisms. And the floating, powdered
sweepings of our streets must neces-
sarily contain fair share of what is
practically everywhere.
Among the conditions that tend to
lower the resisting power of the body
for the germs of pneumonia are the
suboxidation from an habitual lack OF
proper deep breathing and the many
hours sent daily in a polluted at
nlDSDDGTt. rev uUuSeSs SGlbOlSY
factories, places of business of worship
or of amusement, when filed with
people, are adequately ventilated. The
air of many of our public conveyances.
such as the cars and ferries, when over,
crowded, as they almost invariably
are, is extremely poisonous. Going from
the overhcated or the underheated,
, nearly always fetid, air of these places
, into the damp, chilly outdoor air, in
view of the known whereabouts of the
, pneumococci, is not infrequently &
dangerous proceeding. The persona
measures for the prevention of pneu
: monia, aside from the distinction o
/, the pneumonia expectoratiun, are tht
!, avoidance Of undue exposure to in
l clement weather and of all crowded,
' ill-yentilated gatherings; reasonable
attention to questions of sanitation
temperance in eating in drinking il
: fact, in everything; daily bathing. il
i order to ensure healthy action of thu
y skin, and regular exercise in the opel
air, with special reference to complet
respiration. There is nothing bette
constituted to purify the blood AM
thus fortify the system against infec
ton, than systematic deep breathing
out of doors, while briskly walking o
engaged in horseback riding. Frequen
u changes of underclothing are exceed
o ingly desirable. Linen network under
wear is conducive to a marked freedor
n from acute nasopharyngeal and bron
chial catarrhs. Active and unimpede
ID Transportation through the skin, com
plimental to the internal excretor
organs, is physiological necessit
l. neither fully nor generally appreciated
4, Finally, viewed as a hotbed of micro
- organisms, the mouth should be rinse
two or three times day with solu
ye ton of formaldehyde in the strengt
of 20 drops of the 40 per cent solutio
to a pint of distilled water; for it
salutary, if not absolutely prophylaetit
lg These are some of the apparently sin
is pie, though actually important, g,
81 pedients for self preservation.
Of While pneumonia is TO great de
to gree, nnif not entirely, preventable di.
ne ease, the practical difficulties involve
ed in its prevention are evidently cor
y, siderable When the resisting powt
I'd has been weakened by incompetence
of by chronic disease, by neglect of h,
Mt genie and sanitary precautions, by Of
I'd age and by restitution, it is very pror
ne to succumb to an encounter with I'll
a specific pneumonia micro organisms
nc Destitution, with its attending wretci
'rt edness, is largely contributing factt
~ in the prevalence of contagious an
as infectious diseses, and among them
90 the high death rate from pneumonii
on especially in large centres of populj
ng ton, and any successful effort towal
ny the alienation of this condition is
oo much gained for the cause of preve
Ms tive medicine, as well as philanthropy