New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-10-26
Your Health
How to Keep H.
Causes of Illness

BY DR.. HUGH s. CUMMING
Surgeon General. United States
Public Health Service
Whooplng cough Is contagious
disease characterized by tnnamma.
ton Of the nose, throat and bron-
chial tubes, associated with pe-
culiar spasmodic cough ending In q
long drawn inspiration accompan-
led by sound known as whoop.
From this whoop the disease gets
its name.
Whoopine cough is caused by a
germ present in the discharges
from the nose and mouth. This
germ is scattered through the air
during the spells Of coughing and
also passes from mouth to hand,
from hand 10 toys and other arti-
cles handled by the patient thus
being transferred to others. Most
cases OF ~hooping cough occur be-
fore the tenth year of life. The dis
ease Is particularly dangerous TO
young children. Ninety-four per
cent Of the deaths from whooping
cough occur In children under Eve
years Of age and more than fifty
per cent in children under one year
OF age.
Whooping cough occurs In epi.
denies and is more frequent and
severe In cold climates. Handker.
chiefs, drinking cups and roller
towels may act as aids in spread
ing whooping cough. Parents some-
times contract the disease from
their children. Apparently there In
little or no complete natural i'm
munity to whooping cough; practi-
cally all are susceptible. At one
time or another, the disease is con-
tracted by everyone and it Is still
very important cause of death in
the United States.
Symptoms Like Those OF Severe
Cold
In the beginning the symptoms
are like those OF a severe cold,
there Is redness Of the lining menu
brane Of the nose and throat, there
is discharge from this membrane
and hoarse, dry cough.
The face may be somewhat swol-
len, the eyes watery, the eyelids
pulled and pink In color. The couch
Is severe and out Of all proportion
to the other physical signs. There
Is usually fever. The temperature
does not as rule, however, remain
above normal after the first few
days.
After these symptoms have exist
ed for ten days or two weeks, the
cough changes in character. II &C.
ours IN paroxysms which consist Of
number Of short, quick coughs
followed by long inhalations OF air
accompanied by the noise known az
the whooop. The coughing spell
often ends with vomiting. Indam.
nation Of the kidneys may be pres.
ent In whooping cough. The patient
loses weight and presents a run
down" appearance.
o1StNNtNSL6 may IUllOW AQ Az
tack OF whooping cough. Great care
should be taken to prevent a child
suffering with whooping cough
from coming in contact with con-
sumptives.
You should know that because a
patient suffering from whooping
cough will continue to spread In.
tection six weeks after recovery.
the control Of the disease Is diff
| cult.
Every effort should be made to
keep children from associating with
those having 1t. II the patie>t is al
lowed to go out OF doors, Me should
avoid contact with other people.
should not 80 to school, the thea
ter or church. He should not rids
IN street cars or In any public YES
hicle where he may come In con.
tact with other children.
Take Child Out Doors
An outdoor life during the course
OF the disease should be encour-
aged.
Children In cities, because Of
dust and the presence Of harmful
gases IN the atmosphere, suffer
more than children in the country,
The child should gargle his throat
several times day with a solution
Of hydrogen peroxide mixed with
three parts Of water.
A broad bandage placed tightly
around the chest and stomach may
make the patient feel more COM
Portable.
You should remember:
I. That whooping cough in many
places causes more deaths than
scarlet fever.
2. That the gravity Of whoopine
cough is not appreciated either by
the average doctor or the public
and 1t Is much neglected on the
part of both In the matter Of pre-
! cautionary measures for the pre-
vention of infection.
5. Remember that inasmuch a.
you would not wish your neighbor
TO spread dangerous diseases among
your children, you owe It to that
! neighbor not TO allow your children
to spread dangerous diseases to his.