The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-03-21
PneumonIa Prevention.

3
The end of the winter, far from
bringing a Termination to the danger
from penumo9ia, in reality marks
the beginning OF the season when
this disease becomes an extremely
serious cause of increase Of mortal
ity. This is true particularly in
large cities. In recent years this
increase has become more and more
marked and Is all the more striking
because of the decrease in deaths
and from other infectious diseases.
Pneumonia has been aptlS termed
the Captain OF the Men OF Death, :
displacing tuberculosis, which for 50
long occupied that ''bad eminence.'
The most important problem "a.
fore the medical profession at pres
eat is the reduction of the death
rate from pneumonia. Considering
the nature OF the disease and the tu-
tense strain which it imposes on the
heart. 1t is probable that the only
hopeful outlook for any considerable
reduction in pneumonia tnorsaaaty
Us through the prevention Of the dis
ease. The prospect Of cure for II,
in the popular sense of that term,
according to the Journal of the
American MEDICAL Association, has
grown less as We have learned more
about the disease.
While pneumonia is most frequent
during the colder portion Of the
year it is not dependent entirely on
low temperature The disease oc-
ours at all seasons and in all eli
mates. 1t does mot work its greatest
rayages in the colder climates, but
lis rather rare in the cold OF high al
titudes and is almost never known
TO occur within the Arctic circle. In
spite of all their suffering from cold,
Arctic explorers escape the danger.
Hence we must assume that cold
acts in conjunction with some other
factor In the production OF the dis
ease. Pneumonia is favored by lack
OF sunlight and it occurs among
those who are much exposed to dust
or who have to breathe the emanas
tons from the lungs ef other people.
Catarrhal processes affecting the air
passages prepare the soil for the i'm
plantation of the germ of pneu-
monia. 1t is particularly a disease
oftctty life and crowded living. with
our present knowledge the prospects
are hopeful for the control of pne,f-
'monia in the future through proven
ton. This is of special importance
to the Individual.
The avoidance of pneumonia is
largely a question of personal pre-
cautions that prevent the develop
inent of the disease by lessenihg the
predtsposition to 1t. Men in middle
life, particularly those above fifty,
must learn during unsettled weather
TO avoid crowds, especially when ia
tigued and when they have been for
a number of hours without eating.
Late at night, when for any reason
meal has been missed, crowds are
dangerous. If this lesson could be
generally learned there would he less
pneumonia among the well-to-do
classes. The principal danger comes
in crowded street cars, which II possl-
Bile should be avoided at rush
hours. 1t needs to be emphasized
that the danger from overcrowding
is greatly enhanced by fatigue and
going without food.
In a word. the prevention OF
is now much clearer than
it was. Like all the other infectious
diseases, instead of being a more or
less inevitable dispensation 1t has
come to be recognized as due to GER
tain definite factors which can BIO