South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-15
YOUR HEALTH

Did YOU ever pinch your Anger
and have a blood clot form under
the nau2 Did YOU ever get hit in the
eye and have a black effusion under
the skin? These conditions are due
to ar injury capable OF breaking the
wall Of a bIood-vessel and thus per-
hitting the blood TO leak into the
adjacent soft tissues
But there may be such leakage OF
blood. not the result OF injury. but
the result OF disease. These spots
may occur anywhere in the body
When the effusion is just beneath
the skin Il makes a stain like that
you have seen in a "black-eye."
The doctor calls discoloration such
Jas this "rurpuric spots" The condi-
tion is known as "purpura"
Purpura Is not disease in the
sense that pneumonia is, or scarlet
fever, or malaria. Purpura IS a
symptom merely. It is a sign OF
some weakness Of the blood-vessels,
or OF some alteration In the blood.
II is not unusual for the skin to
look blue, but in ordinary blood
stagnatiOn, due TO sluggishness Of
the circulation. pressure Of the
thumb will cause the blueness TO
disappear IN purpura, however
there is q blue or purple SPOT which
remains no matter how much you
press IL. IL remains because there
actually Is q deposit Of blood under
the skin and outside the blood-ves-
sci walls.
There are a number OF causes for
purpura. II IS a common symptom
in what we call the malignant dis
eases" like typhus. II may be OBJ
served in measles and other rash
es"
In certain constitutional diseases,
like heart disease, Bright's disease,
scurvy and various blood diseases, it
may be a symptom.
Purpura is one Of the signs Of
poisoning with mercury. quinine
and snake bite. In severe snake
poison purpuric snots are a con-
spicuous symptom.
Perhaps the most interesting form
Of purpura is that associated with
nervous disturbances. 1t is found in
Inflammation of the spinal cord, in
locomotor ataxia and in various cir
culatory disturbances founded on
the nerves.
This last form is rather mysteri-
Gus. Its causes are not known. Per-
haps some yet undiscovered poison
floats through the blood and pro-
duces this symptom.
In children 1t sometimes occurs
under the name Of simple rur-
pura" There IS no fever and no dis
turbance. except the black spots.
They disappear within a couple OF
weeks.
A more serious variety Is called
"purpura hemorrhagica." Here we
have fever. systemic disturbance,
and occasionally unfortunately
death follows.
once in a while rheumatism OF
the joints may have purpuric spots
among its manifestations.
AS ! have said, purrura is not a
disease. II is merely a symptom, and
its presence is readily observed.
In the treatment, attention must
be given the underlying condition
Whatever it is that has upset the
general health must be removed.
When the tone Of the blood-ves-
sells has been restored to normal
there will be no occurrence Of the
symptoms. The spots themselves
will speedily disappear if there is no
further leakage Of blood.
Half asleep as I listened 10 the
soft melody of the gondolier, l
traversed the canals Of Venice. The
balconies overhanging the water. no
matter how pretentious or how tiny,
were filed with people.
Every hotel in the wonderful
place boasts its open-air terrace for
dining. Life in the open is the
rule.
Along the bay at Trieste the
houses have fiat roofs. Here the
natives can bask in the fresh air.
In at least four places in the
grounds about the home OF Prof.
Lorenz outside Vienna, are tables
and chairs for out-of-door refresh
ment and rest. A short promenade
on tho terrace in front Of the house,
: overlooking the Danube, Is the
place ne takes his evening walk. on
the roof OF the Children's hospital