Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-27
LOOK OUT FOR PNEUMONIA.
Records of 1000 Years Foreteii the
Deaths this Winter OF $4,000.

There will be 200,0 cases of pneu-
monia in the United States this win
ter DO you expect TO escape its raw
ages. For of these two hundred thou
sand, over fifty thousand will die sta
tistics carefully kept for nearly a thou
sand years prove this
The ancient Greeks, especially Hip
pocrates described pneumonia exactly
as we know il today. 1t is a malign-
ant Inflammation of the lungs due to
minute organisms. or germs. These
blockade the air passages. poison the
breathed air, and weaken the heart
There are several forms of pneu-
monia. but the common type is pro-
duced by the tiny shot-shaped germ.
the pneumococcus Under the mi
croscope this is a tiny, black speck,
surrounded by a transparent capsule.
1t belongs to the lowest order of liv-
ing, moving plants. Despite its active
mobility, it is not an animal. but veg
etahle parasite.
Pneumonia is commonly associated
with cold weather In point of fact il
is most prevalent in winter. but il is a
disease of all seasonsandall climates.
Wherever YOU find civilized beings.
there you will find pneumonia. II is
at its worst in January. and is least met
with in July and August. a sudden
chill, however, in summer. is just as
apt To end in pneumonia as a sudden
chill in Christmas.
At the start. the symptoms are much
like those of a severe cold" or influ-
cnza. a sharp chill is commonly fol-
lowed by high fever. Then appears
a darling pain in the chest, dry
cough with Il blood stained sputum
tvery infectiousl. and quick. catchy
breathing.
Pneumonia, when uncomplicated. is
a self-limited disease. The attack
cannot be shortened The patient
must be placed in d light, airy. we'll
ventilated room and plenty of water.
lemonade. and easily digested food
such as egg-albumen. milk, and meat
juice given 20 him. Modern physicians
employ icepacks to the head and chest
to reduce the fever and relieve the
pain. Minor devices are used to alievi-
ate the cough and support the strength
of the sufferer.
Against the pneumococcus itself, ma
ture must wage her war unaided. But
ii is often possible for the alert doctor
to lend n helping hand TO the overbur-
dened heart.
Once upon a time whiskey Was ex-
tcnsively used as a stimulant, but
progressive physicians now hold that
its employment is dangerous, and 9TH
er measures are now applied. Fresh
(but warmed) air, and plenty of it, is
the thing most needed. Tents and
hospital roofs are the best places 10
bring a pneumonia patient to health.
In the old days the person afflicted
with pneumonia was imprisoned in hot
close rooms and all sorts of powerful
drugs were taken. Today good nurs-
ing is known TO be superior TO drugs.
Experiments are now being made
The vast technical difficulties in the
way of producing a pneumonia anti
toxin has led to the injection OF pre-
ventive doses of killed pneumonia
germs, the pneumococci. There seems
to be some promise at last for con-
quest of one of our dread maladies.
The man who hardens himself by
cold baths and cold "rubdowns" in the
morning and by wearing rational
clothes, is far less apt to fall a victim
than the man who battles in hot water
and bundles himself up in absurdiy
heavy underclothes. Sailors and saw
ages seldom have pneumonia, clerks
and indoor workers generally fall be-
fore it often.
A man with a half pint OF whiskey
in his stomach feels snug and warm.
In reality his bodily temperature Is
considerably below normal. Ana the
germ killing corpuscles and fluids OF
his body are weak and stunned.
Fatigue and other excuses also
cause the natural powers of resistance
of the body TO disappear. Overwork,
loss Of sleep. worries an intemperance
of any kind, may make you a SHINING
mark for pneumonia -Wisconsin state
Journal.