The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-07
Health and Happiness
DISCUSSIONS OF DISEASES THAT MUST BE MET
IN NEARLY EVERY HOUSEHOLD.
BY G BROWN,

BY DIR. EARLE G. BROWN,
Health Officer, City Of Topeka.

pneumonia is one of the
diseases that is prone to attack one
individual several times. Recurrence
is likely in Is to 33 per cent; ten or
even twenty-eight occurrences are
known.
Three Stages of the Disease.
Since Laennec's day, we distinguish
pneumonia. In the first stage. tstage
of inflammatory engorgemenO the
lung is dark red and the air contained
therein is very much lessened. but not
entirely absent. The lumen of the
small bronchial tubes is filled with
fluid.
In the second stage (stage Of red
hepatization) the coagulation of the
fluid is complete. and the affected
lung thruout has become solid.
In the third stage (stage of yellow
or gray hepatization) which gradually
deVelopes from the second stage, the
red surface changes to yellowish
gray color, while less blood
reaches the lung. The recovery begins
as the oxidation which has solicited,
becomes fluid and is partly absorbed
and. partly coughed up. It is not ne
thru all three stages. as in mild cases
the process may stop and recovery
begin.
The whole process is comparatively
brief. usually running it's course in Z to
10 days. The most frequent termina-
ton is complete recovery. Lobar pneu-
monia is usually limited to a single
lobe. 1t may be said that the right
lung is divided into 8 lobes and the
left into lobes. According to Stats
tics, the lower lobes are more fire.
quently attacked than the upper and
the right more often than the left
hung.
Symptoms of Pneumonia.
Pneumonia usually begins quite sud-
denly. In the majority of cases it
starts with a decided chill of half hour
to an hours duration. The initial chill
may attack the patient while in the
best of health. At the same time as
the chill, the patient always feels as
tho severe illness were beginning.
In rarer cases, the beginning is
more gradual. A preliminary stage of
few days preceding severe illness,
the patient complaining of cough,
pain in the chest, difficulty in breath
ing or similar symptoms.
The other symptoms begin shortly
after the onset of the disease, often
on the very first day The patient has
a stabbing pain in the side, when he
breathes and the respiratory rate is
increased. The cough is painful, short,
quite frequent and troublesome. From
the second day, the expectoration may
assume its thick, sticky and rusty ap-
1IlS T6Q COlOT OIL the Spo-
tum. as microscopic examination
shows, is due to numerous red blood
cells, many of them intact, mixed
with it. They are, however, in part
dissolved. and hence the uniform red
color of the sputum.
In well marked cases, severe con-
stitutional symptoms persist or grow
worse. There is general weakness
headache, loss of appetite, restlessness
stupor or delirium. Cold sores appear
on the. lips or nose; the bowels are
sluggish, or again they may be loose
Almost laways pneumonia is associeted
with high fever, and as the fever
rises, there is a corresponding increase
in the pulse rate.
Pneumonia in old people is always
dangerous. 1t may begin suddenly
but often. begins more slowly. Nervous
symptoms like delirium are not infre-
quent. Often, there is fatal weak
ness of the heart.