New Britain herald., 1929-12-12
PNEUMONIA LEADS
 AS FATAL DISEASE
More Destructive Than Any
 Other, Dr. Dunont Says

Pneumonia is more destructive 10 human life than any other commun- icable disease. Dr. Louis J. Dumont. superintendent of health, pointed out today ir q statement, warning against the sources of infection and giving advice on the care of pa tients.
 Dr. Dumont wrote:
 Among diseases transmitted from person to person, pneumonia is more destructive to human life than any other. Tuberculosis ranks next 10 pneumonia in it's mortality rate. While we have become pretty widc- ly awake to the danger from tuber- culosis and to our losses from that disease and have been cutting down the tuberculosis death rate marked ly, we have not clearly perceived the fact that pneumoni is an infectious disease, and that many lives might be saved if reasonable precautionary measures were generally observed.
 Causes of Pneumonia
 '"The disease is due 10 a germ known as the pneumococcus. It is a constant inhabitant of the throat Of healthy people and apparently does no harm until the resistance of the body is lowered by disease, lack Of food, exhaustion.
 Persons frequenting badly venti- lated stores, factories, theaters. street cars. or other places where there are crowds. are liable to con- tract pneumonia. Chilling of the body when overloaded may bring an attack.
 Some Symptoms
 "Chills, cough, pain in the side. The sputum is abundant. tenacious. and of a reddish brown color. breathing is embarrassed and rapid, pulse is rapid. There may be deliri- um.
 Every Day Rules
 Keep out of range of careless open-mouthed coughers. It has been observed that persons have promptly come down with pneumonia after as- sociating with some one who had a temporary cough, due to a common cold.
 "If you have a cold. stay at home so as not to expose others.
 "Cover each cough or snccze with q handkerchief that will catch the expelled droplets or mouth spray.
 DO not expose yourself 10 drafts.
 "Avoid drinking cups and eating utensils used by another until they have been poperly washed and stcr- iliznd.
 GO to bed at once when symp- toms appear, and call 9 doctor.
 "keep yourself in as fit condition as possible so that you may not have Il lowering Of your natural resistance which protects you from pneumonia. In the interest of the patient and for his own welfare as well as yours. visitors should not be permitted in the room of a person afflicted with pneumonia. The health officer has authority to check such unnecessary visitors.
 Rules for Attending Patients
 "l. If possible, select a large and well ventilated room for patient.
 "2, The danger to the attendants comes from the secretion discharged from the nose and mouth, particu- larly that which is coughed up. Care should be taken 10 receive in pieces of paper or cotton cloths. everything coughed up or discharged from mouth and nose, and should be burned.
 Attendants of the sick one should for their own safety avoid the inhal- ation of the infectious droplets eX- pclled by the patient in the act of forcible breathing or coughing.
 "The patient should have drinking cups, spoons and forks for his own separate use, and they should be scalded during ten or fifteen minutes after having been used.
 RepOrtable Disease
 Pneumonia is Teportable to tho health department by the doctor or househ older. and the same penalty applies for failure to report, as for diphtheria or other infectious disease"
 USE HERALD CLASSIFIED ADS