The Washington times., 1906-06-10
Avoid Chilling Winds.

Avoid Chilling Winds.
While not attempting to shatter the
theories OF authorities and experts
whose medical research has been de-
voted TO a study of this particular germ
existence. nor rejecting the accepted
tent ethat many visitations Of typhoid
fever are due to defective ventilation,
bad sewerage. or the bite of a certain
species Of mosquito, yet Secretary Tin
dali advances the opinion that careful
avoidance of chilling winds at certain
periods of the day and the wearing OF
clothing adaptable to sudden climatic
changes will reduce to a minimum the
danger of the disease being introduced
through exterior causes and render the
system impervious TO a great degree be-
cause of increased powers of resistance.
In presenting his ncw-found thought
as TO the cause of the disease. DR.. Tin
dall says the following:
Without disputing the theory that
typhoid fever and other forms of con-
stitutional disturbance are to soma ex-
tent an effect of the introduction into
the system Of bacterial organisms
which have originated elsewhere, It is
worth while to consider whether those
disturbances should IN any instance de
ascribed to another cause which may be
positively understood and thus avoided
so far as each human being can control
his own action.
How far the doctrine that a specific
micrObe is the cause of typhoid fever
is from complete demonstration is shown
by the following extract from a report
of the most eminent bactcriologist in
the District OF Columbia, whose frank
ness is highly honorable to him:
PHOID FEVER.
''The majority OF physicians hold that
the disease IS caused by living germ,
belonging TO the lowest form OF vege-
table life and known as the bacillus OF
Eberth. This microbe has been con-
stantly found In the intestinal dis
charges. and most always in the blood
and urine of typhoid fever patients.
and IN the mesenteric glands. spleen.
and other organs Of persons dead from
the disease. 1t has been Isolated and
cultivated in suitable media outside Of
the body, but a pure culture thus OBJ
tanned. when introduced into the body
OF a healthy animal, has not produced
the disease in question. Absolute proof
is therefore wanting
In view of the problematic state Of
the germ idea respecting the origin of
lives are lost by a fatuOus reliance upon
methods of prevention based upon it,
which afford only partial protection like
a leaky roof?
Before the general adoption of this
tenet many visitations Of typhoid. fever
were attributed TO defective ventilation,
bad sewerage and emanations from
putescible matter. Voluminous statis-
tics have been compiled and published
by the most competent medical talent
at the time available. to demonstrates
the responsibility of some Of those agen-
-cies for the then unusual prevalence Of
the disease.
Now, however. the medical world. and
the public generally. are guided In their
efforts-to prevent and treat the disease
by the belief that the sole agent in It's
spread Is a pathogenlc germ taken into
the alimentary tract with food or drink
Nevertheless, cases Of the pest are
more numerous at certain seasons Of the
year than at other seasons, without any
apparent dependence upon the character
OF the food or water supply, which seems
TO indicate that there is to some extent,
at least, a relation OF cause and effort
between climatic variations and these
visitation. A test Of this inference af-
fords an array Of probabilities worthy
q.
tain extent climatic or quasI-mechanical
cause of this and other remittent forms
OF fever.
SensitiveneSs of Skin.
If climatic changes are in any way re-
sponsible for these cases, il is presum-
ably through their effect on the surface
OF the body. rs the respiratory surfaces
become Injured TO variations in tempera-
ture by constant exposure thereto. The
sensitiveness of the skin to such changes
IS manifested by the readiness with
which influenzas are incurred through
tts undue exposure to them.
When the functions OF the skin are
thus impaired. the eliminating organs
within are charged with added duty
which soon results in their own debility
and the retention in the system Of the
noxious products of the vital processes.
The basic idea of this assumption is
that one Of the causes of the disease, If
not the sole cause, is the presence in
the system of putesCent matter; that
such matter is offensive 70 the cellular
animal life. and that the symptoms are
the manifestation of the efforts Of the
cellular organisms to expel the obnox-
ious substances. It matters not whether
the irritant has been taken into the sys-
tenn from the outside with food or drink
or is the effete product Of the vital func-
tions within the system. which the elimi-
mating organs through some interference
with their faculties or their debility.
have been unable to expel in the normal
manner and with the normal expedition.
Animals Are Immune.
Horses and other animals which are
habitually exposed to the elements are
substantially, If not wholly. free f-om
this form Of disease, for the reason that
their skins thus become Injured TO al
VIBRATIONS Of temperature. which induce