South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-01-18
by Woods Hutchinson. VI. ID.

Medical Subjects.
IL a "boil-bearer" happens 10 be
in a run down" or enfeebled con-
dition, from overwork. poor and
monotonous food, or too much con-
finement indoors. then the boils may
increase in numbers and size TO such
a degree as to produce a serious
and even fatal blood poisoning.
In some severe cases, particularly
in the aged or those who are the
! subjects Of diabetes. the colony OF
burrOwing bugs are no longer limit
ed to the tiny cavity Of a mere hair
follicle. but shoot out boldly in all
directions through the tissues under
the skin until they capture and set
on fire an area as large as the palm
| of the hand and extending right
down TO the surface of the muscles
and even to the bones themselves.
Carbuncles Dangerous.
Such miniature prairie-hres are
hot agonizingly painful and of a
ruby-red color, which last led some
sarcastic and unfeeling old father OF
surgery 10 bestow upon him the ex-
quisitely inappropriate name Of car
buncle, after the precious stone of
that color and glow.
The carbuncle does not turn to
matter" or pus, because pus, with
all its disagreeable features. is a
sign OF resistance on the part OF the
body tissues and the tissues here are
too feeble TO resist. They simply
die en- masse and come away in a
core. or slough. anywhere from
an inch to six inches in diameter,
leaving a yawning crater with rag
ged edges and the bones of the
backbone or hips not infrequently
! showing at the bottom OF il.
II is hardly necessary TO say that
the man who developes a carbuncle
has a terrific fight for his life.
This leads to the question so fire.
quently heard, whether states OF
the system have anything to do
with producing boils and the absurd
old superstition that boil is worth
ten dollars" TO anyone.
The InfantiIe Notion.
The infantile notion was that
poisons. which otherwise might have
caused serious illness, have
gathered" themselves together and
| broken out" in the form of a boil
thus purifying the system.
The only way in which states OF
/ the system or condition of the blood
have anything TO do with boils Is by
| lowering the general resisting power
OF the body and its tissues and thus
enabling the invading boil-bugs to
break through and get a foothold
more easily.
Boils are not in the slightest de-
gree curative or purifying. but are
simply an additional calamity piled
on top of a rundown" condition
the insult of pus-infection added tc
the injury of anaemia.
The majority of single boils ap-
pear upon people who are other
wise in excellent and vigorous
health. but crops and series of boils
are more likely to develop in those
who have been underfed or over
worked or over-conined indoors.
Likely i'm Late Winter.
Hence they are slightly distinctly
more likely to appear in the late
| winter or early spring when al
three of these delightful influence.
have been operating at once fol
months. Athletes who have trained
too long. especially in an earlier
day when absurd restrictions used
10 be placed upon their diet: soldiers
in winter quarters and farm hand.
and lumberj jacks in spring stale
from monotonous work and diet, not
infrequently show a tendency TO de-
velop crops of boils.
The only way in which food car
predispose to boils is by there beinl
not enough of il, or not sufficient
variety. Diabetes are peculiarly dis.
posed to develop boiIs on the slight
est prOvocation, because the exc+s:
OF sugar with which their blood and
urine are loaded acts both as an ir-
ritant 10 the body tissues and an
! exceedingly favorable soil or food foI
the bOil-bugs.
What can be done TO prevent boil.
VI ~ NhA NAAVA 1 NlAtAl NdA VI NlllUt
If they once succeed in "startinl
something" In the way Of proven
ton. first and not least important i:
to avoid wearing collars or neck
bands which are beginning 20 weaI
out and hence to become rough and
saw-like on the edges.
HOW TO PREVENT BOII4S.
personal affection for a favOrite gar.
ment. which is just beginning 10 fee
soft and comfortable, we keep or
wearing things" which our bettel
halves have condemned TO the rag
bag. they should be carefully trim
| med with scissors and the starch
washed out OF the neck band before
putting on.
Second 20 keep a sharp lOokou
and a watchful eye upon the wal
zone at the back OF the neck, dust
ing il freely with simple antisepti,
toilet powders. particularly thos'
containing boric acid and tale. Of
bathing il with alcohol witch
hazel. or other mild antiseptics a
the slightest suspicion OF chatting
roughening or discomfort.
This sounds rather simple an'
alphabetical. but by persistently an,