Pueblo chieftain., 1921-04-17
low being distributed by the associa

tlOn. .'l-s
"The infectious diseases most fire.
quently affecting the heart, are rheu-
matism and syphilis. In early life rheu-
matism is the chief cause, while the
cardiac damage due to syphilis is gen.
orally apparent only in later life:
tisrn are not definitely known. it is
quite cretain that 1t is germ disease
in which the infection probably enters
thru diseased tonsils, adenoids and de-
cayed teeth. The removal Of such
tonsils, ,adenoids and the proper care
effective preventive measures against
rheumatism. Also the value of outdoor
exercise and sufficient sleep in we'll
ventilated rooms ais preventive meas
ures cannot be overestimated.
Adults leading sedentary lives,
whose activities are chiefly mental.
who get but little outdoor exercise and
who eat more and sleep less than they
should, frequently suffer circulatory
changes" continues the data Of the as
heart Of poisons developed by this
mode of life as we'll as those derived
, from the habitual and Incorporate use
of alcohol, Tobacco. tea and coffee can
not be precisely stated but it is evil
dent that they play a definite role in
causing degenerative diseases of the
heart. Education must be the strongest
ally against these preventable causes
Of heart disease.
Education Needed
The association believes that a ma
tion-wide campaign against heart dis
ease is a crying need at the present
time. Tuberculosis. they point out, has
declined with encouraging abruptness
since the Anti-Tuberculosis Society be-
gan its well organized and well-fi-
nanced attack. but the control and pre-
vention Of heart disease has scarcely
been attempted.
Tho prevalence of heart disease
among children and young people. with
the ensuing years of incapacity. puts
burden upon society which can be
better met by prevention than by re-
lief measures alone" declared the sec
rotary of the association the other day.
These handicapped children lose
to become self-supporting: they are
excluded from all but a few occupa-
tions,, and they are usually dependent
upon their family or upon the public
thruout their lives
Under favorable conditions most per-
sons suffering from chronic disease OF
the heart maintain fair degree of
health for many years But when con-
dttions are unfavorable the course OF
the disease Is usually marked by per-
iods of serious illness, when the heart,
for the time. fails in it's effort to per-
form tho work required of Il.
Mere medical care for patients of this
type II not enough. They need intelli-
gent supervision In their homes, in tha
schools and In the workshops In the
case OF cardiac children, parents and
teachers should be instructed as to
their care. Adults with damaged hearts
should be provided with suitable occ1i-
pations. entaiiins n minimum OF strain.
One Of the most important relief
measures. from both a medical and an
economic standpoint. is the vocational
training of children in suitable trades.
and the adjustment of the adult heart
cripple to some form of labor which Is
within his physical capacity. The work
Of the Trade School for Cardiac Con-
valesccnts has demonstrated clearly
that patients with even the moro
severe grades of heart disease are able.
under proper supervision and control.
to earn their .livings in spite OF their
somewhat precarious state OF health.
But the point the association
wishes emphasized is that crippled
hearts can be prevented II they arc
discovered in time. The only way this
can be assured is thru periodical exam
nations by physicians. A heart which
is in good condition one year may be
running on only half power the next
and in no condition to survive sudden
ccstacy OF Joy or grief