Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1913-03-28
Danger of Pneumonia.


The end of the winter, far
from bringing a termination to
the danger from pneumonia, in
reality marks the beginning of
the season when this disease be-
comes an extremely serious cause
of increase of mortality. This
is true particularly in large
cities. In recent years this in
crease has become more and
more marked and is all the more
striking because of the decrease
in deaths from other infectious
diseases. Pneumonia has been
aptly termed the Captain of the
Men of DEATH" displacinp
tuberculosis which for so long
occupied that bad eminence. "
The most important problem be-
fore the medical profession at
present is the reduction of the
death-rate from pneumonia.
Considering the nature of the
disease and the intense strain
which it imposes on the heart,
it is probable that the only hope
full outlook for any considerable
reduction in pneumonia mortal
ity is through the prevention of
the disease. The prospect of a
cure for it, 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 de-
pendent entirely on low tenn
perature. The disease occurs at
all seasons and in all climates.
1t does not work its greatest
ravages in the colder climates,
but IS rather rare in the cold of
high attitudes and is almost
never known to occur within the
Arctic circle. In spite of all
their suffering from cold, Arctic
explorers escape this danger.
Hence we must assume that cold
acts in conjunction with some
other factor in the production of
the disease. Pneumonia is favor
ed by lack of sunlight and it oo-
ours among those who are much
exposed to dust or who have to
breathe the emanations from the
lungs Of other people. Catarrhal
processes affecting the air pas
sageS prepare the soil for the
implantation of the germ off
pneumonia. 1t is particularly a
disease of city life and crowded |
living. With our present know
ledge the prospects are hopeful
for the control of pneumonia in
the future through prevention.
This is of special Importance to
the Individual. The avoidance of
pneumonia is largely a question
of personal precautions thatl
prevent the development of the
disease by lessening the predis-
position to it. Men in middle
life, particularly those above so.
must learn during unsettled
weather to avoid crowds, espe-
clally when fatigued and whenl
they have been for a number of
hours without eating. Late at
night, when for any reason a
meal has been missed, crowds
are dangerous. If this lesson
could be generally learned there
would be less pneumonia AMONG
the well-to-do classes. The prin-
clpal danger comes in crowded
street-cars, which if possible
should be avoided at rush hours.
It needs to be emphasized that
the danger from over crowding
Is greatly enhanced by fatigue
and going without food. In
word, the prevention of pneu-
monia is now much clearer thar
it was: Like all the other infec.
tious diseases, instead of being
a more OF less inevitable dis
pensation it has come to be
recognized as due to certain
definite factors which can be
greatly lessened by public and
Individual hygienic regulations