Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-11-10
Gives Radio Talk
On Diseases of the
Respiratory Tract

Portland, Me, Nov. 9.-"This is the
season which develops diseases of the
respiratory tract if people are care
less in their habits" asserted Dr. J.
J.. Pepper of South Portland, district
health officer, dn giving the weekly
health message on the subject "Pneu-
monia" from radio station WCSH in
the Congress Square Hotel this eve
ming.
"In these diseases are included the
so-called cold bronchitis, coryza Cor
catarrh), pharyngitis, tonsilitis, pull
monary tuberculosis and pneumonia.
THE cold bronchitis, influence or
grippe and pneumonia are especially
prevalent during the winter months
They are among the diseases which
are communicable and are spread from
one person to another by droplets or
sprays from the nose and throat
through coughing, sneezing or some
times by loud talking.
THE ordinary common cold may be
the forerunner of influenza or pneu-
monia. Pneumonia occurs throughout
the year, but there is a steady rise in
the number of cases from October to
March or April and a gradual de-
cline through the rest of the year.
Pneumonia kills more people than
any other preventable and commune
cable disease. In fact more than all
the other diseases of the respiratory
tract put together. This disease is
very fatal to infants and old people.
"As near as can be estimated the
mortality from this disease is about
one in four cases or 25 per cent The
* pf tbnca xyho ctiryiI-a from
this illness, which is usually severe,
recover completely, and in most cases
enjoy as good health as before the dis
ease. There are complications in some
cases, such as pleurisy, lung abscess,
nephritis and organic heart diseases,
and in some instances tuberculosis has
followed this disease.
pneumonia, unlike other Infectious
diseases such as measles, chickenpox
scarlet fever, humps, etc, does not
leave the patient immeune, that is
protected against other attacks. In
fact, some people are left much more
| susceptible to the disease than before
and consequently have repeated at
tac6s of the disease.
while few people who recover from
pneumonia suffer permanently impair
ed health therefrom, there is one tenn
porary result that must always be re-
membcred in considering preventive
measures. Convalescing patients as
well as those acusely sick can spread
pneumonia. They are called conva-
lescent carriers and are able to give
pneumonia to other people for about 25
days from date of onset and in some
cases even longer. This fact empha-
sizes the importance of isolating the
patient and the convalescent of en-
ploying rigid hygienic and sanitary
methods in caring for them during and
Immediately following illness.
There is hardly another disease
which figures as Il prominent factor in
keeping up the general death rate
which it is more important to try tc
control than pneumonia. Every case
Of this disease should be regarded as
a possible source of danger to other
! persons. The attending physician
should isolate every case OF pneumo-
MIA, should report the case to the To-
! cal health officer. and should advise
/ precautionary measures against the
/ further spread of the disease. Instruc-
| tons should be given carefully to care
| for and destroy all secretions from the
mouth and nose"