The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-12-19
BOIL, CARBUNCLE, LYMPHANG-
IT'S, CELLULITIS, SEPTICEMIA,
BLOOD POISONING, ERYSIPELAS
On M,IIA AT HAVE VOL


Anyway it is encouraging to note
that the peasants today do not fool
with acute septic infection under the
belief that they have just taken cold
in it,
One such sufferer developed alveo-
lar abscess tabscess about the root OF
a tooth. PeaSant-like, he needed
the advice of the ignorant folk
around him, called it liberated
tooth" and remained close to the fire
for several days, as a precaution
against taking more cold in it," and
much of the time kept meal poul-
tees on the jaw in the attempt to
| relieve the pain he endured and also
to keep cold out of it," The abscess
| finally broke through the cheek and
| left a hideous scar, almost as great
reproach as would be deliberate
mutilation with tattoo. Had this
simple soul gone to the dentist at
the very beginning of the toothache
and swelling, the dentist could have
given instant relief by either making
| an opening to release the puS or
drain the abscess or extracting the
tooth if it were damaged beyond re-
pair. This sensible course would
save hours or days of suffering, OBJ
viate the ever present danger of gen.
eral septicemia blood poisoning) and
prevent the possible external rupture
and scar formation.
1t is not necessary that the lay
man should be able to distinguish
hangnail, whitlow, felon, pimple, boil.
carbuncle, abscess, dermatitis, lynn
| phangitis, CellulitiS, erySipelaS and
septicemia, though an understanding
of the general principles involved Is
Of practical value to every one.
In the first place it is universally
acknowledged. except by a few fol-
lowers of queer cults, that all Of the
conditions mentioned are caused by
infection, that is, invasion of the It's
sues by bacteria. If the reader has
any doubt about the scientific sound
ness of this premise, the information
and advice in these discussions will
be of no particular use to him.
Most known varieties or types Of
bacteria, microbes, germs are harm
less to man. OF the comparatively
few types that cause disease in man
we recognize several as quite COM
mon and a few as seldom absent
where the infections now under con-
sideration are concerned. I refer to
the Staphylococci. which the ply
sicians or psychologists recognize
much as you and recognize wire
hair terriers and just dogs. But the
.StaphylOcocci aureus, citreuS and
albus, according to the golden, yellow
or white color of the pus produced
by the organism) are not 40 virulent
as another type that is fortunately
less common, called Streptococci. The
physician or bacteriologist or pathol-
ogist recognizes Streptococci when he
makes microscopic examination
just as the herpetologist or trained
naturalist recognizes rattlesnakes.
A good deal depends, then, on the
type of bacteria present in any such
infection. If it is purely or chiefly
Staphylococcus infection, chances
are there will be just an ordinary boil
or other localized fostering or pus
formation or maybe merely inflam-
nation, which will run a short and
easy course and be forgotten in a
few days. On the other hand, II It
happens to be chiefly Streptococcus
invasion, you're out Of luck and in
deed you're in grave danger. In
stead Of a simple boil or pimple or
whttlow or run.around you are likely
to develop a wicked carbuncle or an
atroctous spreading inflammation
under the skin (cellulitis) or any
acute blood poisoning with chills aud
fever.