New-York tribune., 1909-07-21
DISEASES OF SUMMER.
DR.. Frederic ". Laurence Hot
Heather RuIes for Health.

AT this moment there are hundreds Of US who,
seemingly wen, will before the end OF August be
dead and buried. simply and solely because of our
ignorance and folly-ignorance which ordinary
thought should enlighten and folly which even
sorrowing friends should find it hard to pardon"
This is the somewhat startling statement made by
Frederic NJ. Lawrence NJ. D, in THE Red Flag
Of Summer which appears in the August number
OF "Hamptons Magazine The writer then pro
ceeds to tell how those who not inseparably
ioined TO their ignorance and folly may reasonably
hope 10 get through the summer alive and we'll
There are only two direct ills. he says, which
the blazing summer sun can work upon mankind
namely. sunstroke and what is popularity known
as 'rheat prostration To prevent these It is
important TO remember that perspiration is the
skins natural relief from heat, and that the cessa
ton OF its flow is a danger signal which should
never be ignored When this warning is given
one should ST once rest in the shade, drink plenty
OF water, and use q fan Those who cannot afford
10 avoid sunstroke and prostration by the simple
process OF keeping out OF the heat, should at least
take things as easy possible. and drink no
stimuiants all. This last instruction is enlpha-
sized by italics.
Chief among the ills from heat that are less
direct but more frequently fatal, diseases OF
the lower aIimentary canal and these are gener-
ally assignable one Of two causes. cold or
bacteria Hot weather colds are often due to
failure to dress according TO the changes OF tern
peratlre characteristic OF al unsettled climate oi
games involving strenuous physical exercise 50
open trolley cars or speeding automobiles but
they cannot be compared with bacteria as a source
Of evil. The greater part OF all the July and
August diseases OF the bowels are due 10 bacteTis
and have their origin I'm the eating of contain
mated fruit. Contaminated fruit does not neces-
sarily mean fruit IN an advanced state of decom-
position that IS quite evident 20 the senses, al
though such fruit is sometimes served IN eating
pIaces-not always cheap ones-as fruit salad or
in some skilfully prepared form A moro frequent
source Of distress fruit IN which decay IS
detected or that would be described as just ON
the turn Such a condition of fruit is due TO
the presence of bacteria. and its result IS often
the oId-fashoned cholera n'orbus, which, Gays D..
Lawrence, has been more deadly IN America than
AsIatfc cholera He gives general rule against
it-naIneIy, when in doubt. cook the fruit. Other
directions IN regard TO fruit are, avoid that sold
at the dust blown corner stand. and cat none that
has not been washed and peeled Immediately he
fore.
AS general articles Of food green vegetables.
lean meat and eggs recommended Clothing
should be light possible, and should not be
reproduced from that OF England or France, where
the maximum temperature Is much lover than
here. England may more wisely be initiated In
the matter OF tubing" although a tepid bath
in the afternoon can with advantage pe added TO
the cold plunge before breakfast Vacations
should be absolutely different from the daily lfe
and no work should be done IN July and August
that can be postponed until September