Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-02-06

more OF l6SS NlIeNdlSuI III IliiS HSSNAO-
annually at this season. He says:
/ never heard a funeral sermon
preached from the text 1T Ran Into
Pneumonia, but many might well be,
and especially at this season of the
year. If such sermon were preach
ed, and the preaching done by man
who knew whereof he spoke he would
be obliged IN honesty to say; This
funeral service means that someone
was careless or ignorant, or both. Per-
hans il was the subject himself, per-
hans he steadily refused to give heed
to the warning cough, perhaps, he in
sisted on resuming his work too soon
after grippe or measles, perhaps
he swathed himself in warm clothing,
slept in close rooms, neglected bath
ing his skin, and then went forth Into
o biting cold atmosphere that easily
conquered him. I know not who did
it, | know not how it was done; but
somewhere someone was guilty of care
1essness."
Yes, pneumonia of the type known
as broncho-pneumonia is one serious
disease that slight ailments may run
into" if neglected. This type does not
come forth full fedged as a dangerous
disease, but begins as a cold, an at
tack Of bronchitis, grippe, measles, or
some similar catarrhal disturbance. If
properly cared for in the initial at
tack the pneuomnia does not develop,
SO we are obliged to say of almost ev-
erv attack of bronoho-pneumonla that
somewhere someone was careless.
There is another type. recognized by
doctors as specific, in which contag-
ion ia a marked causative factor. 1t is
catching"
Pneumonia catching? What absurd
idea is this? Do you mean to tell US
that this also is a germ disease?"
That is exatcly what the medical
profession means to tell you, and we
hope to tell it so emphatically that you
will avoid exposing yourself unneces-
sarily to its contagion; that you will
not come into close personal contact
with a patient will avoid the use of
the same dishes, towels or sheets, and
will insist that the sputum be receiv-
ed into sputum cup or old cloths that
can be burned eLt this one item of
information strike home and you will
not have read this article in vain.
It is not easy always for. a physic-
ian to diagnose pneumonia and Is
hard matter, indeed. for a layman.
Most significant is rapid and difficult
breathing, accompanied by fever. the
symptoms not intermitting but being
sustained steadily or increasing in in
tensity. If preceded by chill 1t is
all the more significant.
The rate of breathing should be
counted when the patient is lying
quietly in bed. and without his know
ledge Count the rise and fall of the
bedding over the chest, the up and
down movement counting one respira-
ton. In health the adult rate Is IA
to Is. II the rate is above rs, 1t
means real trouble. though 1t must
be borne in mind that young children
breathe more quickly, and may have
a respiration rate around 80 without
being very i'll. In case of doubt keep
the patient in bed, for pneumonia "
our most deadly disease, and the best
early treatment is rest.
There is less difficulty about dag
nosia of the contagious type, that
known as lober pneumonia, because 1t
usually begins suddenly. probably with
a hard chill, and is markedly danger
GUS from the beginning. 1t is in this
variety that there is so much pain and
the sputum as the case progresses, is
called rusty" because discolored with
blood streaks. Another feature is
the sudden crisis that often marks a
favorable ending, the temperature
dropping to normal in few hours.
In pneumonia the element of ply
steal resistance is great factor in
prevention. Our best defense lies in
ourselves, our blood corpuscles, and
the natural antitoxins we develop.
Against bronchitis and broneho-
pneumonia, the bugabeq of the per
son who takes cold easily" an fspe-
ciaiiy god line of resistance is de-
yeloped by educating the skin Try 1t
the next cold day that comes to make
you feel shivery Don't yield to the
shiver. Command your blood supply
to heat UP ttah shivering skin, Give
the command both mentally and by
vigorous muscular movements. Very
soon the blood will come and the skin
will be warm Good circulation is a