New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-11-10
Your Health
How to Keep It
Causes of Illness
BY DIR. HUGH 6. CUMMING
Surgeon General, United States
Public Health Service


Strictly speaking. pleurlsy Is an
Inflammation OF the pleura or tho
membranes which envelop the
lungs. In many there is an UNDER
lying diseased condition present,
such as tuberculosis, rheumatism.
govt, chronic alcoholism. heart or
kidney disease.
Pleurisy may arise as an extern
sion of inflammation from the
lungs and their neighborlng Or
gans, being moro common with the
pneumonia experienced by adults
than with the bronchial pneumonia
SO commonly affecting children.
Pleurisy may also follow an in
jury to the chest wall.
The changes which the pleura
undergoes when Inflammation at
tacks it are three In number. At
first, there occurs congestion OF
the pleura. This congestion may
spread to the tissue Of the lungs
on the one hand and to the chest
wall on the other. This Is usually
followed by an increased flow Of
lymph or serum Oh the pleural sur
face and between the layers or
folds. Sometimes this fluid is thin
and other times it Is very thick.
This presence of lymph In large
amount causes a roughening of the
two pleural surfaces. These sur
ia, 81,
arated, but with the second stage
of pleurisy the two surfaces are
frequently brought into contact by
the bands of partially coagulated
lymph extending between them.
These bands may break up or they
may become organized by the de-
Irelopment of new blood vessels.
may adhere permanently and blot
out altogether greater or less
space. causing interference to some
extent with the free play OF the
lungs.
The third stage Of the develop
ment Of pleurisy consists Of a flow
Of fluid into the pleural cavity it.
self.
The symptoms of pleurisy are
not hard to recognize. The first
sign is a pain In the chest, often
called stitch In the side" This
pain Is more severe If the patient
breathes rapidly or moves about.
There is dry. distressing cough
which appears to increase the
pain. There is a constant tendency
on the part of the patient to avoid
coughing and the consequent dis
tress which Is caused by the act.
The usual signs OF fever, such
as increased pulse rate, a hot skin
and flushed face are present,
After a day or two, there may be,
as the condition progresses into
the third stage. an effusion or flow
Of fluid into the pleural sack.
When this occurs, the pain expert
enced will be less but the breath
ing will be much more difficult.
In cases where the outcome Of
an attack of pleurisy is favorable
and the patient RECEIVERS, this fluid
Is absorbed in a. few weeks. When
absorption does not take. place. 1t
frequently becomes necessary for q
physician to draw the fluid Off
through a hollow needle.
AS the pleurisy develops, a ply
steal examination may reveal that
there is more or less bullying on
the side affected. Sometimes one
shoulder is elevated. In some cases,
the liver Is pushed downward, the
heart becomes somewhat displaced
to the left or the right. There Is q
dullness In the chest. There are SO
many unmistakable signs that a
physician has little difficulty In
recognizing pleurisy almost I'm
mediately.
The condition itself may result
seriously, and In all cases should
receive prompt medical attention.
The pain experienced is usually so
intense that there Is little danger
of the patients not seeking medi-
cal aid early. The treatment Of
pleurisy is of such a character that
only a physician can administer 1t.
The best way to prevent pleurisy
is to keep the body as healthy as
possible. If the body Is kept
healthy, there Is less likelihood Of
its being affected by cold and wet.
Plenty of fresh air, plenty of sum
light, indoors, will help protect you
from disease. Outdoor exercise,
brisk walks In the open will render
the body less susceptible to disease.
During sleeping hours. the vim
dows Of your bedroom should be
open.
Those who suffer from govt or
rheumatism should be especially
careful not to expose themselves to
unfavorahle weather. Pleurisy 10
: one Of the most painful Of condi-
tons. If you have ever experienced
an attack, you are ever afterwards
Jealous to avoid those conditions
which may produce another.