Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-24
WHAT soRE THROAT MAY DO.

DIR, W, &, ophuls OF the University
OF California thinks that most Of the
Efights disease comes from ihfee'
tions, and particularly with strspte'
eaeens, a germ which gets into the
system through the threat
lie is not disposed 10 think that
constipation, biliousRess, huIo.lntoAl'
cation, or even oyereatlhg are IN.
paftant factors in causing u, lie
agrees with Alvarez that most OF the
symptoms OF constipation como from
pressure on nerves and not from
absorption Of poisons, lie does not
think that putrefaction OF any prod
ucts IN the large intestine Is q major
factor in causing nephrltls or throw
ing extra strain on the kidneys, That
being the case. he does not think
that eating meat, or any other high
protein diet. is principal cause In
bringing about Brights disease or IN
making IL worse,
The honor OF first place In causing
Rrlshts disease. II II can be called an
honor, goes 10 the streptoeoeeus
group OF bacteria,
In accordance with this theory. II
one would so through life with sound
kidneys. the first essential ls 10 avoid
infections with members OF this
group.
What arc the members OF the
group? what diseases do they cause
and where arc those diseases To-
Gated?
There arc several varieties OF chain
cocci or strep'ococcl-the long. the
short, the green. and the blood-dis-
solving. tho various pneumonia
cocci. and The rheumatism organisms,
These bacteria cause coryza tcalled
the common cold): In all probability
they cause many OF the cases OF sore
throat. including septic sore throat.
many Of the cases OF tonsilitis, much
Of the bronchitis. most OF the pncu-
monias and much OF the rheumatism.
The diseases caused are. as the
case may he. in the nose, throat. ton
sils. bronchial tubes, lungs, joints and
muscles.
According to this theory and its
results. from careful study OF a fairly
large amount Of material, TO avoid
Bright's disease. be careful of foci In
which streptococci abide. causing
some local trouble. as a rule, secret
Ing poisons which are absorbed by.
or breeding. bacteria which are pick
ed up by the blood and carried to
the kidneys, and then thrown off. but
in being thrown off injure the organ
of elimination.
The teaching is: Keep your nose
and throat in order; watch out for
your tonsils; avoid colds and sore
throat; keep up your resistance TO
pneumonia: do not let coughs run
on; do not tolerate rheumatism or
lumbago-if you would avoid Bright's
disease.
DIR. Ophuls' studies do not indicate
that tubercular infections have much
to do with Bright's disease.
There can be no denying the fact
that he makes out a case Of bacterial
infections as a cause Of Brights dis
ease.
l hope, however, that the other
causes of Bright's disease will not
be overlooked. l refer particularly
to those factors which come under
the head Of personal hygiene.
1t may be that they cause a Bright's
disease Of a different kind than that
Ophulus had in mind, or that they
contribute indirectly to Infections or
the effects thereof, but let us remem-
ber them, nevertheless.
One is irregular hours of sleep;
the excesses that go with night street
life and irregular hours Of sleep; too
little sleep: gorging; overeating; ex-
cessive eating; eating and drinking
harmful substances.
We cannot get away from this fact
the kidneys are the only organs OF
elimination Of proteid wastes; they
are the principal organs Of wastes Of
certain other wastes. Habits that
throw excess work on these elimi-
mating organs for long time must
be harmful.