The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-12-04
HEALTH
HYGIENE
COMMON SENSE ABOUT COMMON
DISEASES
Pneumonia

This is the season for pneumonia,
a disease which is especially danger
Gus to those who drink to excess. In
some states, pneumonia is the most
fatal OF all diseases and everywhere
it claims a fearful total Of human
life. Science can do little to combat
1t and must rely on the resistive
power of the patient to- overcome the
poison of the germs. This disease is
spread by intemperance, by exposure
and by carelessness. The man who
works in close, stuffy office, sleeps
In q close room and exposes himself,
unprotected, to sudden changes of
temperature is very liable to contract
pneumonia. The safeguards are: q
temperate normal life, fresh air, am.
pie clothing in cold weather, abund.
ant food, care in avoiding sudden
changes in the temperature, and com.
mon sense. Pneumonia is SO fatal,
SO battling and so treacherous that
one can not afford to take chances
Measles
Measles is primarily winter dis.
ease, due to an organism not yet dis.
covered. 1t is highly contagious and
appears in fourteen days from the
time the patient is exposed. The
child first shows symptoms of cold,
with fever, headache and running
eyes. The eruption first appears
around the lining Of the mouth, then
about temples, and spreads widely,
giving the patient mottled appear
ance. This eruption usually disap-
pears in five days. When it appears,
keep the child under the care of
physician and away from other chill
dren until all the symptoms have dis.
appeared. Remember that measles
cause more deaths than smallpox,
diphtheria and scarlet fever com.
bined.
Scarlet Fever
Scarlet fever is highly contagious
disease, generally affecting children
under 10 years of age and appearing
chiefly in the autumn. Its severity
varies much and the mild cases can
not always be identified. The chief
symptoms are, fever, sore throat,
vomiting and a rush Of peculiar red
type This rash appears first on the
neck and under the collar bones but
spreads over the whole body. The
disease is probably spread by the Sc
cretions from the nose and throat,
though possibly the scales of the dis
ease may carry it. The first symp-
toms appear from three to five days
from the exposure and the rash may
persist. for five days and even longer.
Keep the sufferer in strict quaran-
tine, under a .physician's care. and re.
member that scarlet fever may have
dangerous and distressing after effects
1t matters not how mild the disease
seems, strict precautions are neces-
sary. $50. j..
Whooping Cough
Whooping cough is a highly con.
tagious disease with inflammation Of
the breathing tubes and peculiar
"whooping' cough. The disease ap-
pears in epidemic form and is prob
ably due to a germ. The first symp.
tom is cold which persists for an
undue length of time and settles into
a cough which gives the disease it's
name The disease may last for
some weeks and Is very fatal, caus-
ing more deaths than scarlet fever.
To prevent 1t, keep your child from
those who have it. Halfway meas
ures will not suffice. Have a doctor
and see that the child receives reg
ular attention, as INTENDED whooping
cough often leads to pneumonia.