The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-11
Dr.. Brady's Health Talks
THE SEWER GAS DUGABoo.

Our ancestors and their medical ad-
visers dreaded bad doors. They associ-
ated malodorous conditions with GER
tain diseases. and. knowing nothing OF
bacteriolosy, they believed AN unpleas-
ant odor u sure Indication of unhy-
gienic surroundings
Anything unpleasant 10 the senses
Is popularity deemed nuisance and re-
ported to the board OF health. Per-
sonal and municipal cleanliness is to
be encouraged always for esthetic rea-
sons III not for reasons of public health.
Yet 1t Ia difficult to see why tho health
department should be more concerned
with street cleaning than any other
municipal department. 1t Is as reason
able to place tho health department In
charge OF dredging. park amuscments
and every other branch OF adminlstra-
ton: for everything mentioned has
some slight relation with the public
health.
Famous BuEaboo.
Perhaps the most famous bugaboo
In history was the malodorous vapor
that arose from the Thames Rivcr In
1853. when the river was grossly pol
luted with the sewage OF London. A
thorough investigation conducted by
DR.. Budd proved that this odor caused
none of the serious results the people
attributed to 1t or feared from It. Budd
wrote: In Wow OF these incxorable
figures the Illusions of half a century
vanished in a Notwithstanding the
illusions of the doctors. The people
still considered bad odors as dangerous
as ever.
Sewer gas" was formerly deemed
a deadly poison. 1t was supposed to
cause typhoid fever. scarlet fever. diph-
| liberia and tonsilitis. Nowadays every
body knows that these diseases are
communicable by contact, and not by
| the air or by sewer gas.
What In Sewer CAST
AS a matter of fact sewer gas is
air containing volatile gases derived
from decomposing organic matter
malodorous but utterly incapable of
causing disease. The air in sewers
has been found remarkably free from
germs. even when typhoid germs in
large numbers were present In the sew
age itself. Workmen employed In and
about sewers are no more frequently Ill
| than are street laborers. Sewer air is
cleaner to breathe than the air OF many
a city street.
his salary, but If he should discover
forty leaks day he would not prevent
as much disease as the health officer
does when he detects ono typhoid car
rier. dipht tn cria carrier or scarlet fever
carrier.
Questions and Answers.
>. S. writes: You have urged that we
'let the baby holler--it Will do him
good" Suppose he insists on keeping
II up all night and all next day. what
can we do?
Reply: Send for your doctor
NJ. b. l.. reports: After reading your
recent article upon bunions and shoes,
had pair OF shoes made according to
the suggestions in the article, and I
want to thank you for the great relief
ri mo 10
wealth. runs the saying. Wealth Is
money and money talks. That's why
your department of the paper is headed
Health Talks"
d. r. inquiries: Can you suggest any
thing to prevent head sweats I'm babies?
My baby, thirteen months old, sleeps
poorly. cries great deal. has head
stuffed up most OF the time and the
head sweats great deal He takes
nothing but matted milk.
Reply: The diet is sufficient to cause
head sweats, symptom In many cases
of ricketts,. Ricketts, is more than
suspiciously common In babies cheated
with matted milk and condensed milk
You should have your family doctors
opinion on this. and follow his advice.
Matted milk and condensed milk are
both rich in sugar and nothing much
else. They are too poor in fat and
protcin-bone and blood builders. They
'agrec" for a while, but they cheat the
baby of his due nourshment
DR.. Brady will answer all questions
pertaining to health. II your question
is OF general interest II Will be an
swered through these columns: II not
II Will be answered personally If
stamped, addressed envelope Is in
closed. DR.. Brady will not prescribe for
Individual cases or make diagnoses.
Address all letters to Dr. William
Brady. care Of The Times Dispatch.