The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-12-26

ons against this age-old infection
and have robbed il Of much of its
dread. They are; specific serum,
sulfanilamide derivative drugs,
and the scientific use Of oxygen.
Serum
The use Of serum in pneumonia
was, for long years, dream but
the successful accomplishment met
with many technical obstacles.
Most Of these obstacles have been
overcome. The most important
advance was in the recognition
that there were many different
types Of the germ which causes
pneumonia. They are all closely
related-frst cousins, so 10 speak
but there are some thirty-odd
strains and one strain will not sue
cumb to the serum that might be
used for another strain. Methods
have been developed to determine
what strain any given patient has,
in short time, and different Sc
runs have been developed applica-
bic TO most of the strains and all
Of the common stratus.
Perhaps even more successful
than the use of serum, has been
the development. almost coinci-
dentally with the use Of serum. Of
the use Of the chemical dyes which
go under the general name of sui
Panhandle derivatives. These are
like the magic bullet of Enrich
they kill the germ without injur-
ing the tissues of the host.
Sulfanilamide, itself, is effec-
tive in pneumonia but apparently
not as effective as two closely re-
lated compounds. sulfapyridine
and sulfathiazole.
Oxygen is used when there is a
definite indication that the pa
tents lungs are so congested that
he cannot readily use oxygen from
the air. Oxygen should not be used
indiscriminately in all pneumonia
patients, and it sometimes makes
them very uncomfortable.
Just which one of these rem
edies, or all, 10 use in given case
requires the best judgment Of the
attending physician. From the
reports of those with wide expe-
rience it would seem that the sui
Panhandle derivatives are the
method Of choice. There is no rea-
son why they should not be used
in combination with serum. The
two remedies play different parts.
The sulfanilamide derivatives APP
parently attack the germ itself,
while the serum neutralizes the
toxins or by-products produced
by the germs.
Care Of Patient
The use Of the Big Three, how
ever, should not persuade people
to neglect the ordinary nursing
care Of the pneumonia patient. In
no disease is complete rest and
freedom from annoyance of such
Importance. Anything that irri-
tates the patient should be
stopped, even if it's giving him
medicine. He should have plenty
Of water and fresh air, and nc
noise or moving about. In fact,
old-fashioned nursing is still the
leading item for the pneumonis
patients treatment.
The mortality Of pneumonia
using modern methods, ha.
dropped from about 40 per cent
to about s per cent, according to
~last years reports. In the sever
est type TYPE III pneumococcus)
the drop has been from so per
cent to 10 per cent. So we are JUS
titled in saying, that the disease
need not be regarded with as much
dread this year.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Mrs. NJ. vi take two table,
spoonfuls Of flax seed in hot water
every day for a regulator. | am
told that flax seed thins the blood
and causes anemia. Is this true?"
Answer-No, it has no direct
action on the blood and it acts as
bulk cathartic.