Milford chronicle., 1939-02-10
|iYOUR HEALTH!
Weekly Column Prepared By
The State Board Of Health

! Ht n hD AJA&AeS |S~@A - ~ FI
Nine cases of pneumonia were. re-
ported in Delaware during the week
ending January 2S. And those cases
OF pneumonia are not to be casually
shrugged away. They're really some
thing for you strapping, healthy peo-
pie to keep in mind during this
changing weather. Grippe, influenza
and pneumonia are leading causes OF
the increased number of deaths that
occur each January and. February.
And that's why you should prevent
undue exposure. avoid over-fatigue,
and rid yourself of even the slightest
cold as quickly as possible. The best
way to keep from getting cold is to
always be in a prime physical condi-
tion, in order to prevent this, or any
other disease. from getting a foot
hold. II has been estimated that at
least three-fourths of all cases OF
pneumonia result from neglected
colds, or from some other infection.
Measles and whooping cough are also
easily followed by severe broncho-
pneumonia.
Medical authorities consider pneu-
monia one of the most dreaded of
diseases, because of the suddenness
of it's attack. its severity and its slow
reaction to treatment. 1t is particu-
larly fatal among the very young and
the very old, due to their lower re-
sistance.
Considering the careful and ex-
pert treatment necessary, the SER
vices of a physician are essential IN
combating what may, at first, seem
only a severe cold, but which might
easily and rapidly develop into pneu-
monia. Since. in combating pneu-
monia, every particle of the patients
strength may be required to endure
, until the crisis has been passed. the
+attention of a physician is essential
| in conserving the strength and pre-
venting the occurrence of any COM
plications.
These damp, alternately warm and
cold days are ideal pneumonia and
grippe weather. The temptation to
go without coat, or the tendency to
allow that slight cold to grow un-
checked or the aptitude to lower
your resistance by overwork or over
play may prove fatal. ~.
O.
! Wednesday, February 1, saw the
nationwide observance of the Third
Social Hygiene Day. Delaware resi-
dents were asked to look at the
states syphilis control problem to-
day, as the State Board of Health
Joined the American Social Hygiene
Association in the observance of Ma
tional Social Hygiene Day.
In this connection. Delaware citi-
zens were reminded that an esti-'
mated 10000 persons. in Delaware
have syphilis, but that less than half
are under treatment. Consideration
OF the syphilis problem is imperative,
because each year doctors diagnose
FIVE times as many new cases of
syphilis as tuberculosis. and four
times as many as scarlet fever. Con-
sideratiOn of the syphilis problem is
imperative because five out of six
babies of untreated spphilitic moth
ers are born dead or diseased. and
because syphilis is an enemy. of
youth, with rs per cent of the new
cases occurring among those from 16
to 80 years of age.
O.
According to Milt d. Campbell of
Cincinnati. assistant national child
welfare director of the American Le-
gion, Delaware has done the finest
work" among the states in immuniz-
ing children against diphtheria. The
occasion of Mr.. Campbell's statement
was the two-day meeting of the Area
B Child Welfare Conference Of the
American Legion, last Friday and
Saturday in the Hotel DUPONT. The
immunization program in this state
was DESCRIBED by Edward A. Null
rooney, Delaware chairman of ar
Iangements for the conference, who
praised the State Board of Health
for this work. He explained that
inoculations have increased steadily,
resulting in decline from 80 deaths
in Delaware in 1925, the year before
the immunization program started, to
E in 1888. Mr.. Mulrooney is second
in command. nationally, having juris-
dictiOn of the eastern states activi-
ties of the 40 and s. subsidiary or
ganization of the American Legion.
o.
Each year the United States Public
Health Service conducts series of
tests among the laboratories Of var
ious state boards of health, to deter
mine the accuracy of their work in
testing blood samples for syphilis.
For three years the laboratory of
the Delaware State Board of Health
has attained high ratings in this
competition. and during 1888 they
ranked topmost among the forty-five
state laboratories entered in the test.
o.
For the last two years a survey
has been conducted of the Delaware
River Basin. by a commission made
up of representatives of Pennsylva-
mia. New Jersey and New York.
While vitality interested. Delaware
was not able to officially join this
group. since necessary. money had
not been appropriated Monday, as
the first step in an effort to arrange
Delaware participation in this move
ment to stop pollution Of the Della
ware River and the Delaware Bay,
Secretary of State Josiah Marvel, Jr.,
read before the General Assembly
message from the Interstate Commits
sion of the Delaware River Basin.
Speedy and forceful action had to
be taken. the report said, to prevent
further abuse of the watercourse as
drainage canal for raw domestic sew
age and industrial waste. II pointed
out that no one of the four states.
acting alone. can solve the prObiem