The Washington times., 1933-07-08
By JOAN CLAYTON
Secrets OF
Health
BY LOUIS E. BISCH, NJ. D., Phi. D.
inflammation Is a Sign Of
Natures Repair Work

flammation OF any kind he is
not likely to welcome it. On
the other hand. inflammation
always means that Natures
means Of repair are being
brought into play; in other
words that the body is trying
to do a good Job by healing
itself.
All injuries as we'll as dis
eases are varieties Of inflamma-
ton Were there no such
forces operative to combat vio-
lence to the tissues, compare
lively few individuals would sur
vive for long.
In all inflammatory processes
there are to be recognized heat,
redneSS. swelling. pain, and
lastly. some impairment of func-
ton of the part involved.
Heat is always present when
any tissue is bruised or at
tackled by germs. This is true
whether the affected tissue is
on or near the surface Of the
body, where the heat can be
felt by the hand. or whether it
is internal. in consequence Of
which a thermometer must be
used to record the heat, then
more properly called fever.
The reason for increased heat
is that the system Immediately
causes an increased amount Of
blood to flow through the part
where either function or struct-
ure, or both. is disturbed. For
a greater blood flow brings in
creased oxygen and energy to
the seat of disorder. In fact,
and in order to accomplish it.
many other organs may become
involved.
The redneSs present in all
inflammatory processes is like
wise caused by the increased
amount of blood. At first the
redness is bright in color be-
cause the blood is Surcharged
with oxygen. Later it may be-
come a dull red because the
blood may remain in the part
for some time and thus lose
some of it's oxygen.
Swelling likewise is brought
about by the increase in blood
flow but more especially be-
cause the serum of the blood
is caught in the tissue spaces
and cannot escape. Inflan1-
matorV products produced by
the white corpuscles of the
body in their attempt to kill
off the germs and poisonS by
actual ingestion-also distend
the area around the injury.
Pain is brought about
through the mechanical irrita-
ton of the nerve ends, which
are part Of the structure that
is injured or diseased. Pres
sure on the nerve ends, due to
swelling of the part involved,
is factor in this connection.
The pain which accompanies
inflammation varies according
to the nature of the injury.
When bone is inflamed the
pain is characteriStically boring
Or aching in character. When
1t is muscle tissue it is apt to
be severe and knife-like. When
mucous membrane is involved,
such as one finds in the lining
Of the mouth, the PAIN is burn
ing or SCalding in nature.
Other kinds OF pain are de
Scribed AS throbbing. siCkening,
laceratlng, stabbing aching,
etc.
That an inflamed part can
not be used as we'll as before
in other words. that its func>
ton is impaired at least to q
degree-goeS witholt saying
If this were not so, the healing
processes would be delayed.
1t may be added also that
inflammation, as such, is
valuable warning. 1t is really
the only way we have knowing
that something is wrong with
our body. Without inflsmma-
ton, diseases and injuries would
gain much greater headway
than they do before we gave
them needed treatment.
DIR. BiSch'S Daily Diet Hint
Children should be made to
follow these rules of proper eat
ing: l. Meals on time. 2. No
food between meals. 3. Plenty
of time taken at table to chew
food thoroughly. 4. Not more
than half glass Of water dur
ing any meal. 5. A quart Of
milk each day and this taken
with meals. s. A quart Of water
drunk between successive meals.
Z, Green, fresh vegetables at
two of the meals. g. Candy
only at the end of a meal
Copy right 1898. King Features
Syndicate. Inc.