New Britain herald., 1925-11-14
Your Health
 How to Keep It.
 Causes of Illness
(BY DIR. HUGH S. CuMMING) Surgeon General, United States
 Public Health Seryice

Surgeon General, United States Public Health Service
 Asthma is not definite condition resulting from certain, definite cause. Asthmatics, those who suffer rom asthma, arc in many eases sensitive 10 certain proteins. A fair ly large proportion Of asthmatic cases are without doubt due 10 oVer-senstivencss 10 certain pro- teins. Thus, individuals who have asthma when in contact with horses are sensitive 10 q protein discharg- ed from their bodies.
 Asthmatic individuals may be sen sltized also 10 proteins from various other sources-emanations which rise from cats and dogs-emana- tions from feathers, certain food proteins, when eaten, the more com- mon Of which are rye, corn, wheat, rice potatoes eggs milk, fish lobster, beef and chicken.
 It appears also that q few asth- matics are sensitive 10 fruits, Such as strawberries, apples and peaches. Others are sensitive 10 pollens par ticularly the pollen of timothy andF ragweed, and still others to bacterial proteins. Some cases of asthma are secondary manifestations of other di. seases. In such cases, the symptoms depend largely upon the organ at- tackled and the .discuse which is pre- sent.
 Asthma attacks may be manifest cd in different ways In some cases the attack begins with suddenness and without warning. In other cases, a patient experiences sensa- tions which he recognizes immed- ately as fore-warnings of an attack.
 A patient, as rule, will state that he knew an attack was coming on because Of an ithching of the nose, a cough CT feeling of illness ac- companied by restlessness and dis comfort. In other cases, patient experiences condition of great mental excitement. In still others, loss of appetite Is recognized as a symptom but, in the majority of cases the attack begins during the night, sometimes with abruptness-- more often, possibly, by slow degrees and the patient may not be aware that asthma is threatening.
 In some individuals. the attack of asthma, or the paroxysm as it is called, occurs usually. at a certain hour. In case the onset is sudden, the patient may be awakened from a sound sleep with a feeling of in- tense suffocation. In some cases, this sensation slowly increase and does not become acute for an hour or more.
 The duration Of all attack, If not relieved, shows wide variation from few minutes to several hours. An attack of asthma subsidies gradually and the, patient usually falls asleep. The attacks may be repeated daily for week or more. They may be followed by long comparatively free interval, but this may depend upon the presence or absence of the cause. Mild attacks of bronchial as- thma may be difficult to distinguish from acute bronchitis.
 Despite the severity of esthmatic attacks and the suffering which they entail, asthma is generally not in- cluded among those diseases which shorten life,
 It Is very difficult to give you helpful information regarding the treatment of asthma or to advise just what climate best suits one who is suffering from asthma. The causes are so varied that physicians have found it almost impossible be- forehand to tell what effect any par ticular climate may have upon the disease.
 As regards dust, 1t should be re- membered that it Is not the amount of dust in the atmosphere that is important, but the kind of dust; in other words, an attack of asthma may depend largely upon the source of the foreign protein to which the patient is sensitive.
 Only your physician can give your case the necessary attention. If he Is not able to discover the cause of this trouble, he will be in a position to refer you to some specialist who wil make your condition the sub feet Of further examination and study, and you may find if you fol- low this course that the clearing up of your asthma may require little more than the cutting Of weeds about your house or the removal of certain plants, the pollen of which may be responsible for your trouble possibly or the avoidance of feath- CT pillows.