Evening star., 1922-03-18
PNEUMONIA.

Pneumonia causes about One-tenth
of all deaths in this part of the world.
1t stands second on the list of diseases
arranged in order of the number of
by heart disease. which is a chronic
condition permitting some oppor-
tunity for curative or palliative meas
ures to be employed.
The term pneumonia" includes two
chief types Of Inflammation sof the
lungs. Broncho-pneumonia is more
prevalent at the extremes of life.
while persons in middle life are more
commonly affected with the lobar
form.
This disease takes a high toll
among children under five years old.
From the age Of five to adolescence it
Is relatively uncommon and mild, but
beginning with early adult life pneu-
monia exhibits a steadily increasing
severity until in the very old it be-
strikingly a disease of the cold
months. the summer prevalence being
very low.
Pneumonia Germ Disease.
Pneumonia is a germ disease. Sew
eral kinds of bacteria are capable Of
producing it. These same kinds of
bacteria may be found in the mouths,
In perfect health; indeed. some of
them are found SO commonly there as
to be regarded as normal inhabitants
Why Is 1t that these germs are
sometimes apparently harmless and
at other times deadly assailants? 1t
harmless germs taken from the
throats Of healthy persons are never
theless very deadly to species of
animals which have feeble powers of
resistance. Furthermore, in the ma
tority Of cases of penumonia there is
history a n
condition we'll calculated to lower the
resistance of the Individual. There is
also a theory that the germs may
play at DR.. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde. and
suddenly take on vicious tendencies.
but the evidence is not convincing.
At any rate we are bound to con-
clude that debilitating influences are
very important. factors in caus-
ing pneumonia These predisposing
causes must be examined more closely
II we are to devise a scheme for pre-
venting the disease.
Measles. whooping cough, influenza
and other acute infections very fire.
velopment. of pneumonia by lowering
the resistance of the patient to the
bacteria already present in his own
mucous membranes or those brought
to him unwittingly by others. Severe
chilling Of the body from sitting in a
draught or falling into cold water,
for example, may profoundly affect
the circulation Of blood through the
lungs and permit the bacteria to gain
a foothold there. Breathing in irri-
tating gases or dusts may accomplish
the same result-such substances, for
example. as the poisonous gases of
warfare, stone and metal dusts in in
dustry and anesthetics administered
for a long time.
Methods Of Prevention.
| The prevention of pneumonia must
be based on the foregoing observa-
tipns. Since the germs which cause
1t are OF many kinds and commonly
carried by healthy people, no direct
attack upon the bacteria is practi-
cable except. and this exception is
very important, that we should al
ways regard the pneumonia patient
as dangerous to other persons and
should disinfect the discharges from
his mouth and nose. and all articles
handled or used by him, at the bed
side. This is essential even in hos
pital wards where there may be pneu-
monia cases only. since the infection
in some cases may be of a more Sc
we're type than in the others.
The bulk Of preventive measures
must, therefore, be directed against
the predisposing causes. So far as the
individual is concerned this consists
Of observing certain hyggienic pre-
cautions. Do not consider yourself
cold draughts or dispense with an
punity. II such exposure has been