Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-30

ferent periods defying all known laws Of
accurate representation and putting to
naught all tenable theories regarding their
actual causation.
Whatever may be the initiatory influences
at work. 1t is usually the case that one set
OF infectious ailments follows the other in
regular succession until the list is more or
less complete. One malady thus prepares
the way for another by lowering the tone
OF vital resistance. During the sad expe-
riences Of the last few months this has evil
IDENTITY been the case, and the present in
niction OF our children Is a natural Sc
9uenoe. The infantile population particu-
larly are at present peculiarly susceptible
to any chance infection.
Not only this, but they show their want
OF resistance to even the ordinary affec-
tons by reason OF their confinement in
doors and their deprivation OF those attend
ant hygienic advantages Of fresh air. sun
shine and the like that would otherwise
give them adequate protection.
So much, then. for the general influences
at work in explaining the present increase
of sickness. Even the mothers of nursing
infants are to certain extent contributory
FACTORS to the same results from the fact
that In many instances they have not been
able to furnish the requisite nourishment
to their offspring Even the bottle-fed chill
dren may thus have the better chance under
the circumstances named. Usually how
ever. the mothers milk gives the best guar
antee of adequate sustenance for the In
FAINT but In the present epidemic the breast
cially escape. All this proves the necessity
of careful attention to diet and hygiene as
essential elements of treatment.
1t Is well to bear In mind in this connec-
ton that summer dysentery is distinctly an
infectious malady and depends for it's prop
agatfon on specific microbe which finds IL
way directly or indirectly from the all
mentary canal of one child to that of an
other The means of prevention rest. there
fore. In absolute cleanliness. not only of the
VICTIM but in the adoption of the greatest
hygienic precautions on the part of nurses.
In the great chidren's hospital of Berlin
1t Is the rule that all patients afflicted with
the malady In question shall not only be
isolated, but that a special nurse shall care
for the immediate wants OF the sick one
under all aseptic precautions. and that a
separate attendant shall handle the food.
In this way chances are taken of in
directly injecting the victim by any care
lessness on the part of either of the at
tendants While this system cannot be
adopted by mothers in general some ap-
proach to its requirements can at least be
attempted.
In discussing precautionary measures
against the spread of the present epidemic
1t would seem that one very sensible solu-
ton of what seems to the health depart
ment to be somewhat of a problem would
be to compel a similar isolation of all the
children now sick with bowel troubles, and
to insist that the proper hygienic measures
be taken to prevent the dissemination of
the poisonous mcrobe. All this could be
reasonably effected, among the very poor
at least, by the summer corps of physi-
clans who are daily brought In contact
ing complaint By such means not only
might the spread of the malady be quite
effectually checked, but all danger of rein
lection might be reduced to minimum.