The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-06-30

cure OF his disease without following the
most rigid routine with regard to rest is
the conclusion OF four interesting articles
in the Journal Of the Outdoor Life for
June, by Professor Frederick S. Lee of
Columbia University, New York, Drs.
Lawrason Brown and F.. H. Heise Of the
Adirondack Cottage Sanatorium, Tru.
deau, N. ", Or. Joseph H. Pratt Of
Boston, and Will M. Ross of Stevens
Point Wis.
Professor Lee, writing on the subject
"The Physiology Of Exercise and Rest, .
shows by experiments on dissected frogs
the way in which exercise tires the
muscles and, in fact, all the organs of
the body He says:
There is no known antidote 10 fatigue,
unless ii be rest, with all that rest i'm
plies. Sleep allows the reparative pro-
cess of rest 10 be performed most quickly
and completely. A moderate degree of
fatigue, or even a considerable degree
when not too often incurred, is not
detrimental to healthy body and is even
to be advised. The healthy body is. pro-
vided with great recuperative powers and
does not rapidly succumb to even ex-
cessive demands on its energy. But it
should be allowed the proper condition
for recuperation, and that condition is
adequate rest. There is danger when
the fatigue of one days labor is not
eliminated before the next days work is
begun The effects may then be cumu-
lative. the tissues may be in continued
state of depression, and the end may be |
disastrous
Drs Brown and Heise in an article on
Properly Regulated Rest and Exercise
in Pulmonary tuberculosis, "hold that
the action of the poisonous germs of the
disease on the body is very similar to |
that of over-exercise. The poisonous
irritation caused by the germs gives the
organs and tissues of the body double |
load to carry. They emphasize the i'm.
portance of rest in the treatment of tuber-
culosis, but also insist that properly re-
gulated exercise is very necessary They
state their conclusions thus:
Exercise when properly regulated and
Systematically graded is an important
factor in the treatment of pulmonary
tuberculosis. Through it the patient is
in many cases returned to home and
family with lessened chances of future
relapse. AT the same time part of his
earning capacity is restored and he is
consequently financially less dependent
upon others. relieving him of much
worry, expense and hardship
DIR. Pratt, who was founder of the first
Church Tuberculosis Class in the United |
States in the Emmanuel Church in Bos-
ton, claims that in the treatment of tuber- |
.cu1osis absolute rest, often in bed, must
be extended over period of months, be- |
fore the consumptive should take exer-
else. He says, Prolonged rest in bed |
out of doors yields better results than any
other method of treating pulmonary
tuberculosis. Patients will have a better |
appetite and take more food without dis /
comfort and gain weight and strength |
faster than patients with active disease
who are allowed to exercise Complica.1
tons are much less frequent. When used
in the incipient stage recovery is more
rapid and surer.
Mr.. Ross. who is himself cured con-
sumptive, and writer of considerable
prominence, holds than unless resting
becomes business to the tuberculosis|
patient. he might as well give up his fight
for health. "The period of infection
with tuberculosis, he says, ''is not
vacation. 1t is a twenty four hour-a-day
job. True it is period of idleness, but
one of intelligent, directed idleness The
days work should consist of rest; rest
should be the only business on hand.
The light exercise, or hour of reading
should be considered as the reward of a
good days work, like the evening OIL
slippered ease to the tired business man
at the end of the day. This recreation,
however, should be considered only as
an incidental result of the patients work,
rot the main object"