The Washington times., 1917-01-05
POPULAR MEDICINE
BY DR.. HIRSHBERG
Intelligent Observation of Rules
of Hygiene Will De-
crease Illness.
By DIR. LEONARD X. HIRsHBERG.


The secret of a healthful heart is to
know its limitations. Every locomo-
tive or battleship has its imperfec-
lions. It takes the engineer or the
crew often years to learn all the little
defects, caprices, peculiarities and
"pureIy personal traits" of this huge
creation of man. How much more
time, then, does it require for a man
to learn the irregularities, disorders
and disturbances of his own heart!
A man from the very instant of
his birth until he is forty-five ought
to devote many intervals to the under
standing and knowledge of his heart.
When he knows all its deformaties
and sicknesses, he should be able to
live to be 100 years old.
Prof. !. Strickland Goodall Of Eng
land asserts that one of the best
methods to estimate the muscular ef-
fiency of the heart-the heart is q
bag made of muscles to find out
by actual tests how II responds to-
gether with the blood pressure to
known amounts Of physical and men
tai work.
One of the simplest tests consists
in weighing the subject and giving
him various measured amounts OF
work over definite. periods OF time
by making him run up steps OF a
measured height.
Before and after such test the
pulse, breathing and blood pressure
are recorded and compared,
II the heart is in good condition all
three will rise with exercise and re-
turn to normal within three minutes
thereafter.
Determining Reserve Capacity.
A fair state of the heart shows the
same effects, but not so rapid return
to normal. II the heart is not in such
an efficient condition the speed of the
pulse. and respiration will increase,
but not the blood pressure. It will re-
main low as compared with the
others.
II the heart is not at all cup to
snuff" the "systolic" blood pressure
will show an actual fall in pressure.
II the person is not very vigorous
in his general health, "exercisers,"
graded weights to be lifted or a climb
I'D an inclined plane may take the
place of running up and down stairs.
The total reserve capacity of a
mans heart may be determined by
the repetition of the work in increased
amounts until q point Is found at
which the "systolic" blood pressure
ceases to rise. Once this total power
has been discovered the knowledge
can be nut to use in q successful treat
4 ment of the heart affection. II the
total power of the heart Is below
what Il should be the exercises used
| in the tests can be reduced to amounts
of work less than the limit sought In
the study of that particular heart.
Finding Suitable Occupations.
II these exercises are carried out
daily for periods Of one week with
one of these work tests at the end
Of the week ian appropriate increase
In exercise prescribed by your doctor
ON the basis OF the results found)
thefe IL no reason to fear i'll health or
worse.
These twentieth century discoveries
about heart disease are among the
most cheerful and happy contributions
of scientific medicine.
At a recent meeting OF the board
of governors on the Committee for
the Prevention and Relief of Heart
Disease-the great American malady
plans were developed for an active
campaign to arouse public interest In
the new and important problems OF
heart disease.
The work was placed in the hands
of various subcommittee to deal
with the different phases Of the mat
ter. A definite program, under the
executive secretary, Miss II. L.
woughter. $40 East Twenty-sixth
street, New York city. was outlined.
One of the main problems in relief
is advice as to suitable occupations
| with regard to each individuals
physical requirements and establish
nent on a self-supporting business.
II is estimated that in New York
city alone there are 10000 children
suffering from severe grades of car
diac disease. They will almost al
live their allotted time. With syste'
matte care. however. they will moi
merely Tive" but will gain success.
in business. in the professions and II
other affairs, not to mention the fact
that they also will be a source Of hap
piness to themselves and others.
(Conyr't 1916, by Newspaper Feature Service.
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