Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-06-05
Pneumonia
and Germs
MEDICAL SCIENCE NOW RECON-
MENDS OPEN.AIR CURE
OF MALADY


nOunced tonight, is being solved by
the commission of eminent physi-
clans from all parts of the county,
appointed by the Board of Health in
an effort to combat the disease.
pneumOnia's death ratio In recent
years has become greater than that
of its fatal rival, the white plague
DR.. Herman NJ. Biggs, general
medical officer of the Board of
/ Health. who has led the fight against
the spread of tuberculosis In the city
and at whose suggestion the pneu-
monia commission was appointed,
told tonight of the progress made.
| To reporter DR.. Biggs said:
AT the outset of our inyostiga-
lions some of us believed great
many things about pneumonia, and
many of those beliefs have been
proven to be true by actual expert
ments in various cities, as well as in
different sections of the country. II
has been proven that pneumonia is
Infectious; that 1t is caused by n
germ. the pneumococcus, and that 1t
attacks the normally strong as we'll
as the weak with like fatality.
Germs Travel in Pairs
The pneumonia germ, which Is a
lancet-shaped creature, as germs co.
generally travel in pairs and Is taxi
en- into the system through the nose
and mouth. II remains. waiting it's
chance to descend into the lungs and
begin It's havoc. This chance comes
when the physical condition of the
victim is depressed from an insignifi-
cant attack Of influenza, measles, bad
cold. catarrh. tonsilitis, or the like.
Once in the lungs 1t propagates with
marvellous rapidity and the lungs
soon become congested. II the con-
gestion is not relieved death is sure.
I'm many respects there is great
similarity between consumption and
} pneumonia and the accepted treat
ment for the former In many in
stances proves beneficial to the lat
) ter. However, the tuberculosis germ
works slowly on the lungs of its vic
tim, while the pneumonia germ
works with amazing rapidity. Thi,
S may be cited as one of the chief diff
S ferences between the two diseases
= due only to. difference in the germs.
. Prevalent in Winter
= Pneumonia is more prevalent II
winter because then its allies an,
contributory causes, such as inhu
enza, more frequently occur. Whei
other affection of the breathing or
r gans and the pathway leading to tn
lungs exist, 1t makes the most of 1t
f opportunity and attacks you 'wneI
you are down
That pneumonia theoretically |
preyentible there Is no doubt, yet
Is extremely difficult, particularly |
y great city. Every person, though
- by observing few simple details
y may greatly lessen its probability.
4 Avoid colds and all that sort @
\ trouble which are likely to affect tn
breathing organs. BY all possibl
means preserve to the greatest dt
gree possible the general health.
pneumonia has no tcrrors to til
perfectly well man. but those VIII
think themselves in the best {
health sometimes are It's readie'
victims.
THE germ may be carried in III
= mouth OF. "A perfectly well person Il
six months waiting for him to cate
a cold or something of the kind. II
- stantly 1t makes the best of its OF
portunity.
f Treat With Fresh Air ...
AT least, but by no means leas
j get as much fresh air into your luni
as possible. The germ will die in =
hour If exposed to fresh air ami -
light. II 1t were possible to Get ST.
light into the lungs there won
never be another case of pneumoni
l. THE most advanced treatment
the disease Is by the fresh air met
. DDS, the same as In the cases of CO.
y sumption, and. 1t is accomplishir
80 wonders and completely shatteril
old theories.
- Formerly when a patient had pm,
monia the room was tightly clos,
and the temperature kept up. v
have been treating patients, and tn
have been treated in many hospita
in this city, in tents and In the op,
70 air, with the thermometer sometim
- at zero"
The commission, Of which |
Biggs Is an active member, consis
of DR.. Edward G. Janeway, !
Thomas Osler, of Baltimore; DR..
Mitchell Pruden and DR.. Thorn
Theobald Smith, of Boston; DR., w
liam ii. Welsh, OF Baltimore;
John II. Musser, of Philadelphia;