Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-24
PREVENTION OF PNEUMONIA.
Importance of Cultivating Vital Re,
sistance to Disease.

From the New York Herald.
The importance of cultivating vital
sistance against any disease, so strongly
urged by medical experts, cannot fail to
appeal to all who desire to protect them
selves against lurking Infection of all kinds.
At this varying season. especially during
the cold snaps. these precautions apply to
possible attacks of pneumonia and its
dreaded complications
While it may be true that the malady IS
as yet In no sense epidemic, We are re-
minded that it is appearing in various
quarters in virulent FORM and that nu-
merous prominent individuals being
stricken. This may be a mere cotnct-
dence, but it's occurrence helps to draw Sc
rious attention to the matter. AT least, 1t
emphasizes the necessity of timely precau-
tons against such attacks. as no one can
tell who may be the next victim. OF course.
regarding the actual cause of the ailment
we hear much of the pneumo-coccus
the active injecting agent 1t is the new
theory in accord with the present bacte-
biological idea of. disease propagation. SO
far We are bound to accept 1t in lieu of
something better. On the general principle
that we must give nothing the benefit of
doubt when health and life are concerned,
We all desire to be on the safe side by using
every protection vouchsafed to US. Ger
tainly, whatever may be said to the con-
trary. there is no harm in keeping the in
evitable microbe constantly in sight and
in guarding against its insidious and
treacherous invasion.
Most persons may not be able to under
stand why this dreadful organism has
special prediction in attacking some and
not others, especially as we are told that
the microbe is lodged more or less con-
Stantly in a goodly number of the Threats
of apparently healthy persons and does
no harm until it selects its own time to
act destructively. This circumstance shows
at least that any one may be attacked al
most at any time and without ordinary
warning. Certainly this is not very COM
forting prospect, especially when we are at
a loss to know whether we may be actually
: harboring the enemy or not, unless bac-
THEOLOGICAL examination be made.
There is one way out of the difficulty,
however, in assuming that the microbe is
inert unless the soil is prepared for the
seed; at least SO say the various medical
authorities. Practically, then, We must
make ourselves strong enough to resist
the invader. Here we arrive at pracu-
cal basis of protection which duly COM
mendS itself to our ordinary common sense.
1t is the mere question of the man against
the microbe. and the man must take his
due responsibilities in the premises.
How to work on this line is easy enough.
So long as we keep in good health no mi
crobe can touch us. This is natures nor
NAL resistance to ali diseases. The Herald
has often pointed out how such resistance,
particularly in the case of pneumonia, can
be consistently cultivated.
All medical authorities agree in main
tanning that pneumonia commences with
severe cold. 1t is the simple lowering of
vitality that makes such an attack possible.
Then follow the severe and prolonged chill,
the pain in the chest the difficult breathing.
the high temperature. the clogging of the
lung and all the ominous phenomena which
mark the actual attack of the dreaded
enemy.
1t is unnecessary to say that the great
object is the timely prevention of the In
itiative catarrhal seizure Most persons
are too thoughtless on this point Ordi-
nary colds are so common that little at
tention is paid to them. but no one knows
how an apparently trivial attack may end.
Cold cough. coffin often follow each other
with deadly certainty. The dangerous
draught turks everywhere. There is an
adage:
II wind blow at you through a hole
Make your will and sain your soul.
We become careless in inuring ourselves
against our changeable climate. By fool
ish exposure we lower the very vitality
that should protect us. Our houses are
overheated, stuffy and i'll ventilated; our
apartments are filled with infectious dust;
our streets are clogged with dirt; the mi
crobe is everywhere; fresh air Is at dis
count; we take pills instead of full breaths
in the open and invigorating air; the cold
morning plunge is neglected, while the cell
lar furnace is being raked for hotter fires;
it is the facilitating coddling process
against strength and toughness. Is it any
wonder then. that the average American
is always catching cold? If he alters his
ways he may escape. Is it not worth while
to try especially now when pneumonia is
awaiting its dreadful harvest?