Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-03-01
How to Prevent
Pneumonia.

tnOnla, especially at this season, is a
matter Of the deepest concern. With
d mortality that is frie htful as COM
pared with other infectious diseases,
the death rate keeps in the high fig
| ures in spite of the best direct efforts
Of scientific medicine. The alarm of
the situation is centered in the appar-
ent impossibility Of absolutely control
ing the causative elements of the dis
ease. The specific microbe, the elm
ate our habit OF living join hands in
the work of devastation. To counter
act the influence Of all these appears
as an almost impossible task
We are told that the pneumococcus,
which is the active source of infection,
is carried in the throats of most of
those who are the subjects Of ordinary
winter colds, 1t awaits it's opportun-
ity as does the thief outside the gate.
The severe and changeable climate of
our winter lowers the vital tone of re-
sistance, often in spite of studied pre-
cautions. and the waiting microbe
takes due advantage of the occasion.
Even if it were possible to annihilate
the specific germ we can not hope to
control the elements. We may guard
against the transmission of the poison
from one person to another, but can
neither Danish it from the air nor
tackle the lurking enemy in the air
passage of the prospective victim
The only thing left US is to meet
conditions as we find them, and do the
best we can to resist the disease on
general hygienic principles. Too
much care cannot be taken to keep the
body at this time in the highest point
of health. Even if nothing else is left
to the individual he can at least to
some extent control the situation from
a purely defensive side. No argument
is stronger for such a course than the
fact that during an epidemic of any
kind the weak ones are always the first
who are attacked. Itisfurther proved
that in pneumonia it is not the mere
ciogging of the lungs that kills, but
the direct toxic effect of the pneu-
mocOccus in the blood All of which
goes TO show that the victim must by
means Of his low tone Of vitality from
previous cold Or otherwise be specially
susceptible to the poison.
La robust health there is always
vigorous resisting power to all morbific
influences, and tOxiness Of every kind
are readily thwarted by natures ef-
forts to maintain a compensating vital
equilibrium. Under such circumstances
the army O. invasion is no match for
the legions Of protection. Man how
ever is striving to adapt himself to
adverse conditions of climate by the
modern habits of living is not always
sufficiently on his guard, and suffers in
consequence. He is apt 20 be careless
in his feeling of security. The initia-
tive cold or, the mild attack of grip is
net sufficiently considered. The stitch
in time is net taken. and he rapidly
goes to the bad. He overheats the
house. and thus directly heightens the
difference between the atmosphere in
doors and outside. The hot, dry air
of his room, with it's insufficiency of
moisture, gives him his first start.
CoddIing OF any kind, while neces-
sary fer the sick, is positively harmful
for the strong. No one dies of too
much pure air. A full inspiration of
oxygen is the best of all pulmonary
disinfectants. The one who can face
a cold blast and feel the invigoration
OF it's health giving influences is al
ways on the safer side. Nature has
her own heating apparatus within our
bodies, and the one who keeps it in
good trim by outdoor exercise, good
food, plenty of sunshine, pure air in
his living rooms, and the like, can
balk the best directed efforts Of the
invading microbe. even during the
most inclement1 seasons. May it not be
possible, then, to believe that we are
more scared over the microbe than
we are OF ourselves? The fundament-
al and practical lesson is not to give
it a chance of attacking US. So much
at least is within the reach of every one
who cares to te on his guard. New
York Herald.
Best RENE dy for Constipation.
''Ihe finest remedy for constipation
/ ever used is Chamberlain's Stomach