The Washington times., 1906-06-10

CongestiOns in the surface Of the bodies
OF human beings that has become s,ls-
ceptible TO such influences by the pro
lection OF the clothing with which II is
IN bltually covered
II is said that the slaves in the far
South who were employed in the fields
and very sCantily attired. through the
warm seasons. were practically Immune
from such fevers. and that since the
use OF clothing by that class has be
| come more constant. the susceptibility
Of that class 10 such fcvprs has COR
reSpOndiDglv increased
IT, then, il be true that an interr1lutiOn
or the functions Of the skin may be pro
ductve OF the conditions upon which TO
a great degree remittent and intermittent
diseases depend. the reason for the un-
usual prevalence OF such diseases in the
late summer and early autumn is
obvious.
After the middle Of August the night
ran Is usually accompanied with a sud
den drop In the temperature. especially
IN low areasi and among the foothills
and valleys OF any altitude. The heat
OF the day has stimulated 10 great SC
tivity the circulation in the skin. which
mas been covered by comparatively thin
clothing to CompOrt with the demands Ct
comfort or fashion When the temrcra-
ture falls at dusk many are not sLffi-
clently thoughtful 10 make a material
ADDITION TO their apparel and many
make none OF any consequence. although
the change I'm the Temperature Is rs1,aI-
" supplemented by mist. which further
hastens the extraction OF the heat Of
the skin. and adds TO the force OF the
shock.
If this sort Of treatment does rot at
once bring on an influenza, it's repe-i-
ton so debilitates some internal orgo n
or organs that the victim of the indls-
cretl9n returns to the city to die. or
spend weary siege of illness. while The
system is attempting to readjust itself.
and the scientific world Is struggling
TO determine whether the trouble Is due
n =
whether the germ is a cause or conse-
Quence of the disease
No Season Is Exempt.
While the seasons mentioned are most
conducive TO such fevers, for the rea-
sons given. for the same reason no sea
son is totally exempt. Occasionally in
the spring, when the weather is abnor-
mally warm for an extended period.
young people particularly Will sit out
after dark under a clOudless sky in pre-
maturely light apparel. while the radia-
ton Is at It's most rapid stage. and the
temperature falling with corresponding
rapidity- An Increase in the typhoid
fever rate results
An ancient authority on the conditions 9
coincldent with the prevalence of re-
mittent fevers says: In districts where
this poison tmiasma) exists, Il is found
that those who go out of their homes
fo2s have dispersed. and before the
evening mists appear. often escape the
bad effects"
The correspondence of the use of Doi-
futed drinking water with some typhoid
epidcmics leaves no room for reasonable
doubt that they are related as cause and
effect, and illustrates the necessity of
pure drinking water in the avoidance OF
that disease. but does not weaken the
argument that the poison to which the
disease Is due may be produced within
the system by the failure of the eliui-
mating organs to properly act
The object of this sketch is not TO OK
plolt theory for the sake of argument
hut 10 suggest a reason for some of iha
unexplained visitations of typhoid and
other remittent and intermittent fevers
which, If true, may enable people. esne-
cially the young. TO escape those dis
eases by protecting the surface from
comparatively sudden falls in tempera-
ture at times when the skin circuiation
has been rendered abnormally active nv
the heat OF t,ie Gay.
The sea breezes and air of the valleys
and low situations in this climate after
sundOWn. especially in the waning sum
mer and early fall should be avoided
unless such precautions ARE taken. 1t is
also dangerous to sleep near open win
dows in a draft at such times, unless
the body Is well protected.