The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-01-03

do nowadays to avert danger ana
TO help out in the face of possible
infection with pneumonia.
One reason for the favorable re-
suits that we have been having in
pneumonia is undoubtedly the fact
that pneumonia is changing its
type somewhat. II is not as malig-
nant as it used to be.
The old classic lobar pneumonia
has diminished progressively, but
two observers found in expert
ments in army life that a certain
number of cases Of the old malig-
nant type developed under certain
circumstances. The patients we're
recently recruited soldiers who
were of the robust, healthy laborer
type who were exposed without
sufficient protection to cold nights.
There is certainly a definite les
son, although a very old and fa-
miliar one. Cold and exposure<to
rain, snow, etc, undoubtedly have
definite bearing on the chances
"a S@eNA4NS PA+SolAOi4Aa-
Importance of Rest
Along the same line is the per-
nicious doctrine which ser lain
rugged individualists insist\ on
spreading-that if you have Bad
cold or a deep cold, you can walk
it off. These are the fellows who
are almost continuously in good
health: the nothing can hurt me,
| know how TO take care Of my body
open air, exercise, snow in my
face" guys. You will hear one of
these hardy lumberjacks, when he
has little chilly feeling and tight
ness in the chest, say in a loud,
convincing voice that he can get
rid Of this by taking a long, out
doors walk. He comes back really
sick.
The doctrine of rest for any
kind Of a cold or respiratory infec-
ton can not be too strongly i'm
pressed. Rest in the first few days
Of these infections is the best me-
thod of preventing serious COM
plications. The only proved method
OF treating any form of a cold,
even up to and including pneu-
monia, is by resting.
These ideas of prevention apply
also 10 the treatment of pnep-
monia, once established. While wa
pay every Difference to the value
of the modern treatment with
serum, oxygen and the bactericidal
drugs, these must all be helped out
still by rest and good nursing
care. In fact, a series of cases re-
ported from a Massachusetts Hos
pital, in which patients were given
the very best Of nursing care and
rest while serum and sulfonamide
drugs were deliberately withheld,
showed that the, results comnared
very favorably to q series of cases
in which serum and the sulfona-
mide drugs were also used.
Nursing Care
It is especially important TO ap-
ply these old-fashioned methods Of
rest, fresh air and nursing care
to children or elderly people who
have pneumonia. In these two
groups, with all our modern
methods of pneumonia treatment,
our results have not been as good
as in young or middle-aged adults.
The pneumonia patient is rest
less, uncomfortable and often de-
lirious. He will throw the bed
clothes off and indulge in all sorts
of exertion. Watchful nursing
care which reduces movement,
promotes sleep, prevents exposure
to cold and draughts is still the
most important factor Of the
handling of pneumonia patients.
A sensible member Of the house
hold can be instructed to carry out
most Of the essentials of nursing
care if, for any reason, q regular
nurse is not available.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Mrs. J. B.:-"Are jellies and
apple butter harmful to the teeA
and health of little children?"
Answer: ! should say not.