The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-01
5. PNEUMONIA IS A TROPICAL DISEASE

AA'@S+A'1N
 Hare's Practice of Medicine" published in 1905, says:
 Exposure to cold was thought for many years to be cause of croupous (that is
 lobar) pneumonia, but we now know that
 this only acts as a predisposinG cause
 which decreases the general systemic, or
 local, powers of resistance to infection: in
 other words, it is prone to affect all per-
 sons whose vital resistance is diminished"
 But this distinguished author and teacher failed to explain how we nov know" that cold decreases powers of resistance. What he meant and would have said if not given to such loose expression as the sentence shows. is that he and most good doctors of his day had changed their theories to jibe with the newer knowl- edg of the infectious or bacterial causaton of pneumonia. Being ponderous gentlemen ac- customed to "pronouncing things, they couldn't very well admit they had been wrong in thinking that exposure to cold caused pneu- monia. So they hedged, and got away with 1t.
 OsIer's Practice of Medicine" published in 1908, says:
 Cold has been for years regarded as an
 important etiological factor. The frequent
 occurrence of an initial chill has been one
 reason for this widespread belief.
 Cold is now regarded simply as q factor
 in lowering the resistance of the bronchial
 and pulmonary tlssueS.'
 Sir William likewise failed to divulge the cret of his knowledge. that cold lowers resist ance of the lungs or bronchial tubes. That was just one of his pet foibles fancies, and he chung to 1t right up to the very end of his life.
 In fact no medical scientific authority or author or teacher, 80 far as I can learn, and I've been searching for years. offers any light on this familiar conception of lowered resist ance." It Is not immunity, certainly. for known immunity has no apparent relation to cold. wet exposure or weather What IS It? Well, I suspect nobody knows. It's just a handy little way out of an embarrassing situation.
 All animal experiments. and the few expcri- ments tried with human subjects, have proved very disappointing to those who sought to show that exposure to cold renders an individual more likely to contract develop a disease with which he is inoculated or to which he is exposed.
 But what do the great medical authorities the big shot doctors of our own day care for scientific evidence? They've conceded the cold doesn't the dsease; try and make m concede 1t doesn't even perdispose to dis ease. Some of the old timers might even admit that this alternative theory is worng, too only they're afraid some of use lowlfe cynics might emit too loud guffaw at the surrender. Be- sides the quaint notion saves a lot of diagnostic effort Most gullible folk are willing to hope the indisposition Is "cod" till something alarming happens. By that time they're too i'll to think what q trick the doctor has played on them.
 Pneumonia at one time threatened to stop the building of the Panama canal so many of the laborers contracted 1t. The menace ceased when Dr Gorgas showed the authorities how to spread out the sleeping hunks so that the laborers did not sleep within spray range of one another. Pneumonia became serious han dicap among laborers on the Rand In South Africa, and they sent for Dr Gorgas, who in- troduced similar hygienic measure and put q stop 10 the epidemic.
 Pneumonia is more properly called trop- cal disease. It is indeed strikingly rare in very cold climates.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Eye Strain
 On account of my work my eyes consid- crably strained. I have been using (cyc wash nOstrum). Would you advise me tO continue with this? I do not sec much effect from 1t. (Mrss R. FD
 Answer--It is unwlse to use any drops or other medicament In the eyes, unless the medi- cine s prescribed for your particular disease by your oculist or physician. Drinking Salt Water Should a person drink n pint more of water containing a tcaspOOnfui of salt, first tIling every morning without consulting doc tor about the amount of salt the body can stand? (Mrs C. A. F.)
 Answer--It is n healthful habit to take q large drink of water first thing in the morning | or before breakfast, preferably cold water. but feeble or elderly persons may take lt hot. do not believe it is advisable tO take SO much salt. Too MucI, Movie MysOn, aged f7, in his third year of high school, is very fond of moving pcturea. He goes every night f possible and attends twa tM0thcr).
 Answer--No. once n week is often enough for normal boy to attend movie shows Circumcision
 Our son Is < weeks old. We arc anxious t0 have hlm clrcunclsed as early as C is safe. Our family dOctOr advised us Co walt tIIl he is z Of { ycHrs old However, We lcnrn that nlnny physicians adyise it before tl,e clslid ts weekt old. (M. C. P.l
 Answer-My adslec is net Co oireumolae ai | aAa.. .I