Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-09
Dr. Brady's Health Talk
PLAIN SORE THROA,r.

Always caused by 81 germ which you
have picked up from some one else
with n sore throat, simple cold" in
catarrh. The germs OF the much too
common 'cold" are indifferent as to
which part Of the respiratory tract
they shall operate on. Nose, throat,
bronchial tubes or lungs-they're all
the same to the pneumococcus.
1t Is idle to go into edisposing
conditions. These are much the same
for all respiratory diseases, from head
cold" to diphtheria, from pneumonia
to consumption. Crowding, poor VEN
tilation. dust. absence of sunlight.
fatigue. alcoholism. neglected teeth.
coddling with excessive clothing.
The signs of simple sore throat, or
pharyngitis, az II is technically called,
are % dryness of the throat: t2)
slight pain or rawness on swallowing;
I'D frequent desire to clear the throat
by hacking; 90 sense OF tightness
and pain extending along the course
OF the Eustachian tubes. and t5 )slight
chilliness. feverishness and general
aches and pains. as in any acute bac-
teria1 Infection. The aches and pains
are not rheumatic"
The Sore Throat Habit.
In every sore throat the tonsils par
ticipate. Even when not appreciably
enlarged, the tonsils may become In
fected and remain infected permanent
ly. This accounts, In part, for the
fact that one In every FIVE adults har-
bors dangerous pneumonococci in his
mouth cavity habitually. Chronic
nasal catarrh or obstruction also con-
tributes it's share toward perpetuating
the epidemicity Of colds"
IL our saliva contained indigo our
fingers, books. newspapers. magazines.
doorknobs. street car straps. store
counters transfer slips and a thous.
and and one other things we touch
would be stained blue-to remind us
how we spread saliva around. OF
course, you can't spread saliva With.
out spreading germs. Hence sore
throat is an easy thing to catch.
Plain, hut Not Always Simple.
We call 1t plain sore throat to dis
tinguish 1t from diphtheria, tohsil1itis
and quinsy. But plain sore throat is
often followed by serious Involvement
of the heart valves or of the jointe.
Many or most attacks of multiple
arthritis taeute rheumatic fever or in
iiammatory rheumatism or articular
rheumatism). are due to infection
gaining entrance via the sore throat
route. Hence the treatment of
simple sore throat must be thorough,
even though the patient doesn't feel
very sick.
Briefly, the following measures
should be carried out: l. Stop soiling
your fingers with saliva-stop spread
Ing your disease AMONG your friends
and neighbors. 2. Have the throat
painted with strong disinfectant at
the very first signs OF trouble-by, or
under the directions of your doctor
g. Take a dose of salts. 4. Take In
ternally, every two hours for five doses
about ten, grains of Observation-Disclosures
mine-a long name, but good medi-
cine. which does tend to discourage the
germs. 6. Milk or light diet for TWEEN.
ty.four hours. 6. Rest. z. Plenty of
.dargle? Cold fresh air is the best
gargle.
Questions and Answers.
j. q. writes: Some time ago you
said that the colon should not be flushed
when one. is In good health. Will You
kindly tell me why not, and also an
you would consider person very
anaemic whose blood tests 20 per cent
hemoglobin?
Reply-The colon should not be
flushed for the same reason that the
ureters, the gallsac, the custodian
tubes and the stomach should not be
flushed in ordinary health-because
had God 50 intended, good, seryicea-
BILE apparatus would Undoubtedly be
furnished with each human being. In
secondary anaemia TO per cent Of
hemoglobin would not signify Serious