The Topeka state journal., 1918-08-06


Washington. D. c., July 30.-In-
lection Is the invasion of the body by
a pathogenic organism. By a patho-
genie organism we mean one which is
capable of multiplying inside the body.
and producing a bodily reaction.
fever, a headache, an Inflammation
or other undesirable condition.
All of US at all times are invaded
by bacteria. Some of them are patho-
genie. Most of them are non-patho-
genie, and are simply parasites living
on human beings.
A focal infection is an infection
confined somewhere within us. An
infection about the root of the TOOTH
causing toothache, is one example
Tonsilitis is another example. the tom
sill being in that case a focus of in
fection. Catarrh is usually due to
focal infection, while an ingrowing
toenail may produce a focal infection
under the nail.
The important thing to remember
about these focal infections is that
they are capable of poisoning the
blood stream and thereby doing great
harm. 1t is true that you may have
a toothache which results in the ache
and nothing more. or catarrh which
passes away without doing serious
not have gotten into the blood, or
they may not have entered it in suffi-
cient force to do harm, or the resistant
powers of your body may have been
great enough to neutraliZe the attack
that is, your natural immunity may
have saved you. But if a focal infec-
ton exists in your body, you are har-
boring traitor: for it is apt to do you
serious harm at a time when illness,
cold or fatigue has lowered your nat
Ezural immunity. 1t is, therefore. i'm
portant not to neglect local infections,
but to remove them as soon as posi-
Bile. and to keep your natural immu
nifty at she highest possible point by
attention to your general health.
This is one of the most important
lessons of modern medicine-that we
are nearly always exposed to infec
will protect us if we tend to our gen.
eral health. Babies and old people
are especially liable to infectious dis
eases because they are weak-their
natural immunity is low. For the
same reason adults are invaded by in
fections whel they do not get enough
exercise. when they sleep in poor air;
when they oveywork; when they go
without proper clothing or food, when
they worry, when they eat too much
or drink too much.
Rheumatism, heart disease. tuber-
by focal infections. which get hold
upon the diseased organ when the
natural immunity is low. That is one
reason why so many diseases originate
in a bad cold; the cold weakens the
defensive powers of the body.
The mouth is especially liable to To-
cal infections. The roots of the teeth
are subject to infection thru the gums.
It iss not necessary for the teeth to be
decaved for theSe organisms to gain
q n rn
kinds of bacteria in the cleanest
| mouth, and there is often infection
about the roots of the teeth which
does not manifest itself by any dis
comfort or any pain whatever. Yet
these infections are a constant menace
to the health, for they may invade the
| blood stream under certain conditions.
These infections in the mouth may
cause pneumonia, tuberculosis or
Bright's disease.
| This does not mean that you should
| Immediately rush to a doctor to see if
| you have any focal infection in your
| body; but it does mean that you should
not neglect any focal infection which
| you perceive, such as a toothache or
| tonsilitis. And choose a doctor for
the minor ailments just as carefully
as you would choose one If you had
pneumonia Do not be afraid to lose
a tooth if the dentist says the tooth
cannot be fixed. And remember that
|
to look at the roots of a tooth before
he fixes it, is not fulfilling his obli-
cations to his patient. Also remem-
Der that a doctor can afford to serve
you for a reasonable fee.
TonsilitiS, as stated above, is a
| typical focal infection. The tonsils
| should not be removed unless they are
| undoubtedly diseased, but in the latter
case they should come out.
Do not neglect catarrh of the nose
and throat. This does not mean
catarrh of the mucous membrane
Connected with the nose are cavities
of the bony skull, two under each
cheek, and two in the frontal region
behind the eyebrows. These may be-
ceme seats of bacterial infection, and
produce chronic catarrh. It cannot
be cured by douches. gargles and
syringes. and II you have a chronic
catarrh, do not let a doctor put you
off with these things. By an incisior
these cavities may be drained, ant
the focus of infection removed.
Do not neglect or minimize the i'm.
portance of any of these forms o.
focal infection, for any of them ma,
do you very serious harm. But, abov,
all. keep your natural immunity high
This natural immunity, your bodfl,
yigor, is your insurance against al
kinds of infection. See that you hav,
wholesome food, and that you ar,
properly clothed when you go out
Chilling the body is one of the mos
dangerous things that you can do, TO
1t lowers your natural immunity
. which is your guarantee of health.