Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-10-06
How to Avoid Diseases of the LUNGS

Ii we stop Tor a moment to consid-
er the fact that bronc hits is the COM
monest of all acute diseases; that
pneumonia is the most fatal of the
acute diseases; and that tuberculosis,
or consumption of the lungs, is the
most prevalent of the chronic diseas-
es, we shall realize that anything that
will help us to prevent diseases OF the
lungs deserves serious consideration.
A good many erroneous notions
prevail on this subject. For example,
lung diseases are popularity believed
to result from catching cold, and
this is usually associated with
draught of cold air or some other
trifiing exposure. We FORGET that
there is always some underlying con-
dition that reduces the VITALITY and
lessons the resistance to disease.
Among these vitality reducing fac
tors, fatigue stands first. Nothing
lowers the resistance to disease more
than this. Whether the fatigue comes
from too much work or too little rest,
the result is the same. The stress
of business and the pursuit of pleasure
are often responsible for insufficient
sleep. The beauty sleep OF our
standardization Q to Twill do
much towards keeping us well.
Next comes bad hygiene, and this
means not enough fresh air and sun
shine. When we keep the windows
and doors closed and the cracks filled
10 keep out drauohts, we are inviting
| the very diseases we are endeavoring
to avoid. 1t is better in poorly ven
tilated room to let the draught blow
and move out of its path, than to shut
it off, for the draught usually means
fresh air. The danger from night air,
especially to those with weak lungs"
is another fallacy which, fortunately,
Those who still believe this are apt
to sleep with closed windows. keep
ing out the fresh air they need so
much. The only real difference be
tween night and day air is the tenn
perature-the latter being cooler.
| Humidity (moisture) in the air is
not injurious if the air is pure. In
fact, very dry air is irritatin~ to the
mucous membrane lining the throat
and bronchial tubes. For this reason
furnace heat is not so healthful as
that from fireplace, or even a stove,
because the furnace is constantly
pouring into the room air from which
the moisture has been removed.
A most pernicious practice is that
of constructing the furnace with the
the house instead of from outside.
This results in the dry air becom-
ing dryer and more vitiated as 1t is
relocated and rebreathed.
The lost moisture may be replaced
by attaching to the registers vessels
of water for evaporation. In stove
heated rooms a vessel of water should
be kept at the top OF the stove. The
most healthful heat is that from Il
fireplace because of the continuous
circulation of air it insures within the
room.
For third place among the causes
OF lung diseases we will name improp-
er clothing, and this means oftener
too much than too little. a majority
OF people overdress in winter. Those
who spend the greater part of their
time indoors should not wear heavy
underwear 1T keeps the skin too
warm and sensitive, for most dwell
ngs and Offices are overheated. I'm
dergarmcnts of medium weight, con-
tanning at least fifty per cent wool,
will answer Tor the coolest weather.
The charge of overdress does not ap-
oily. however, to the feet, This por-
ton of the body is. usually UNDERGRAD.
Cotton hose and thin shoes are the
rule A wag once said the best place
| 10 wear NHtst pIOltNApI Is pll lit
feet Wooden hose and heavy calf
shoes, will prevent many colds.
Now let us not forget food and
drink as another OF the causes. As
with clothing, it is usually 4 case of
too much than too little. The pre-
disposition of drinkers" to pneumo-
mia is well known but the bad effect
of incorporate eating is not so gen
orally recognized A hard cold is
not infrequently the result OF an over
loaded stomach.
The cold bath on rising in the
morning-sponge. shower or plunge,
by keeping up the vaso-motor (nerve)
tone OF the skin, is especially benef-
cial to men and women OF sedcntary
habits.
Exercise in the open air is also OF
the greatest value, and business men
and women should walk to and from
their work when possible.
Nothing has been said about the
germs that cause diseases of the
lungs. What has been said is to the
end that we keep ourselves fortified
against these germs. Persons i'll OF
these diseases bronchitis, grip, pncu-
monia. consumption), should be kept
from intimate contact with the we'll
as much as possible, and the nasal.
throat and bronchial secretions, which
contain the germs. should always be
carefully collected and burned
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