The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-23

germs of such diseases as tuberculosis.
diphtheria and smallpox are very virulent
and II often happens that the white corpus
cles in a patients body are unable 10 cope
with them. Then that patient dies.
Thus 1t is apparent that the seriousness
OF a disease may be measured by the effort
the body must expend in getting rid Of it's
germs. a pimple on the face usually cures
itself within two or three days. That Is
because the staphylocoocus, which causes
pimples. is a germ which falls an easy prey
to the anti-germ substances In the blood.
But an attack OF rheumatic fever lasts a
couple of months, ever when the patient
is in good condition for fighting It, and that
Is because the germ which causes II is a
tough one and puts up a hard battle against
the blood.
Nevertheless the body always makes q
hot fight and always has a chance Of winning,
albeit this chance is sometimes a very small
one. All that modern medicine Processes
to do, in most cases, is TO help the body
In its good work and TO surround il with
the most favorable conditions.
A ~consumptive is ordered to sleep in the
open air and is fed on rich milk and eggs
In order that his blood may become clear
and healthy and 80 be able to wage a suc-
cessful war against the tubercle bacilli in
his lungs. No effort is ordinarily made t.
combat the bacilli directly.
The same thing occurs In the case OF pneu-
monia. typhoid fever, yellow fever and
other diseases, The patient is well nour-
ished and we'll nursed and whenever medi-
cine may lend a hand-by reducing q fever
or aiding in the removal Of waste products
this aid is given. But the main fght-the
actual war on the germs-must be CON-
Quoted by the body itself.
All bodily pains are more or less evan
escent. Ever a toothache will stop OF itself
II you have patience enough 10 wait. Neu-
ralgia always stops spontaneously sooner
or later. Even the terrible pains Of such
diseases as sciatica IN last forever,
and so when they stop you ascribe that
you happen 70 be using at the time.
The success OF a host OF homely remedies
for colds, bruises, eprains, DC, is based
upon this error. A cold is a simple in
full observation shows that in a man other
wise healthy il Is certain TO cure itself
within a short time. But the victim Of a
cod almost invariably demands that
something be done for it'-and the result
is a host OF teas. ~lemonades. broths. rub
binRs. liniments, pills, dc.
Camomile tea, for instance. is employed
as q remedy for colds by thousands Of
persons. Scientific investigation has
proved that the only thing in the tea that
sibly aid the body in It's fight against the
c5ld germs lie the hot water. In other
words, a drink Of plain hot water would
be just as good a medicine as a drink Of
camomlle tea.
Two other facts help 10 make the good
repute OF many a home remedy. One is the
fact that a good many Of the &C hes and
pains which afiict us from time 10 time are
more or less ina ginarY. and that 1t IL hus
possible TO cure them by making up ones
mind that they are gone.
average lnyman knows very little about
diseases and their outward indioa-
tions and 90 is prone 10 mistake q simple
and minor ailment for sofnethinK very
serious. Thus. when the average man feelb