The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-03-24
PNEUMONIA PREVENTION.

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 becomes an extremely serious
CAUSE OF Increase of mortality. 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 from other infectious dis
eases. Pneumonia has been aptly
Termed the Captain OF the Men of
Death" displacing tuberculosis which
Tor 80 long occupied that bad emf
hence" The most important problem
before the medical profession at pres
ent is the reduction of the death-rate
from pneumonia Considering the ma
ture of the disease and the intense
/ strain which it imposes on the heart.
1t is probable that the only hopeful
outlook for any considerable reduc.
ton in pneumonia mortality Is
/ through the prevention OF the dis
ease. The prospect of cure for 1T,
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 1t is not deper,.
dent entirely on low temperature. The
disease occurs at all seasons and In
all climates II does not work its
greatest ravages In the colder eli
mates, 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 1t occurs
among hose who are much exposed
to dust or who have to breathe the
examinations from the lungs of 9th.
er people, Catarrhal processes affect.
ing the air passages prepare the son
FOR the implantation of the germ OF
, pneumonia. Il Is particularly a dis.
!, ease OF city life and crowded living.
With our present knowledge the pros.
/ poets are hopeful for the control of
' pneumonia in the future through pre-
r vention. This is OF special import.
/ ance to the individual. The avoidance
of pneumonia Is largely question oil
personal precautions that prevent the
. development Of the disease by lessen.
Ing the predisposition to it. Men in
4 middle life, particularly those above
e so, must learn during unsettled wealth.
g er to avoid crowds, especially when
e fatigued and when they have been for
r number OF hours wi. hout eating
S Late at night, when for any reason
r meal has been missed, crowds are
dangerous If this lesson could be
generally learned there would be less
/ pneumonia among the well-to-dc
g classes. The principal danger comes
e In crowded street cars, which If pos
a sible should be avoided at rush hours
V 1t needs to be emphasized that the
8 danger from overcrowding Is greatly
e enhanced by fatigue and going with.
y out food. In word, the prevention
OF pneumonia Is now much clearer
: than 1t was. Like all the other infee
/ tious diseases, instead of being q
r more or less inevitable dispensation
it has come to be recognized as due
: to certain definite factors which car
!. be greatly lessened by public and In
: dividual hygienic regulations