The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-05-15

the lungs some of the outside air.
In crowded theaters you breath
some of the droplets that are
sneezed out or coughed up by other
people.
In the air there may be not only
germs, but dust and molds from
plants and other sources, pollen
grains and animal dander. Thus
the most frequent respiratory dis
eases are the common cold, in
fiuenza, pneumonia, tuberculosis,
asthma; and in fact this group con-
stitutes the most frequent group
of diseases to which human beings
are subject.
say "molds from plants and
other sources" for while a physi-
clan naturally thinks first of influ-
enza, pneumonia or tuberculosis
when he has an acute or chronic
case of respiratory infection, the
number Of mold infections that are
being discovered is increasing very
rapidly. These molds are micro
scopic vegetable organisms which
are much more complicated than
the bacteria of ordinary germs.
valley Fever" Spreading
One case in point Of a mold in
lection which is increasing In fire.
quency is that Of the so-called San
Joaquin Valley fever of California.
Up to about 1889 no case had ever
been detected outside of California.
In California it was called valley
fever" and desert fever" In the
soil of that region the mold grows
in great abundance and probably
nearly all the inhabitants acquire
an immunity from repeated small
infections. This would account for
the fact that the disease is almost
stationary in incidence in the San
Joaquin Valley. but has begun to
appear in Arizona, New Mexico
and other of the western states.
A number of cases have oc-
Cured in eastern states, but in all
instances, so far as l know, the
affected individual had returned
from a trip to California or Ari-
Iona. In Arizona, however, cases
have been reported in individuals
who have never gone outside the
state, so it must be due to locally
acquired infection.
Symptoms of Infection
The onset Of the condition may
take several forms; an acute form
suggesting cold or influenza with
cough and sputum is quite fire.
qusnt. A more chronic onset is
often labeled tuberculosis and the
patient put in a sanstorium with
that diagnosis. He may remain
there for some time before the
mold is found in the sputum and
the real nature Of the condition
revealed. Any case which has been
labeled tuberculosis and does not
run q characteristic course should
be suspected of some form Of mold
infection of the lungs.
San Joaquin Valley fever may
run a mild or a severe course, but
most cases are mild.
In treatment no special drug has
been found TO be Of any particular
value. The best results have come
from the use Of some of the sui
fonamide compounds or from vac
cines, but. the most important Of
all is prolonged rest in bed.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
j. I. D.: What is the disease
known as paroxysmal tachyeardia
and what cure is there for it?
Answer: Paroxysmal tachycar-
dla is an attack of very rapid
heart. The heart suddenly jumps
up from a normal rate Of 72 TO
over $50 and sometimes over 200.
The attack stops just as suddenly
as it began. Doctors do not know
very much about the causes. Some
times the attacks can be stopped
by pressure over the nerve ganglia
in the neck. Records show that in
spite Of the apparently alarming
nature Of the condition, patients
get over these attacks and live for
long time. have known one who
had his first attack over twenty
years ago and is still going strong.
They're moving out INTO trailers.
Now, trailer community isn't
calculated to be overly sanitary.
They have EN- in every war-pro-
ducing community, but Washing
tons the limit.
Think Of having to live out he
rAet ~ liza LIZ,