The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-01-13

Childhood and youth.
While we know rheumatic fever
is due to a germ, this germ has not
been identified and we have no pre-
ventive serum. We must depend
upon attempts to control it through
such factors as protection against
climatic conditions and poor hous-
ing.
influence of Climate
The influence Of climate is we'll
shown by the study made by Drs.
Paul and Dixon of rheumatic fever
on different Indian reservations in
the United States and Canada.
Dividing these reservations into
three groups depending on their
geographic locations, We find that
in the northern group rheumatic
heart diseases occurred at the
rate of go. In the middle and more
temperate climate. it occurred at
the rate of about acc, and in mild
and southern climates it occurred
at the rate Of less than lee.
Other factors which enter into
the prevalence of rheumatic fever
are housing, clothing and pro-
lection against cold and damp
weather. Still another which was
found to be very important in
many parts of the country was the
presence Of protective foods in the
dietary. These protective. vitamin-
containing foods milk. eggs,
fresh vegetables and fruits, the
two latter particularly-are very
likely to be neglected in the house
hold which is on a limited budget.
Infected tonsils and to a certain
extent teeth, are also found to be
causative factors.
Importance of Rest
As to treatment, it is not pos
sible to place too much insistence
on the enjoinment of rest for long
period after the attack has sub
sided.
In the acute period the infection
attacks the joints, causing fever,
sweating and pain. When this is
over, the patient feels so good
that he usually wants to get up,
but wise care demands that these
patients should spend at least six
weeks in bed after the subsistence
of all joint symptoms.
This was once dramatically pre-
scented to me in my practice in the
case of two children whose fami-
lies lived next door to each other.
Both children were attacked al
most at the same time with rheu-
matte fever. Both had a mild
course and in both cases the fami-
lies were advised to keep the child
rem in bed for the minimal period
Of six weeks.
Two Cases
One family was impressed with
the necessity Of this and carried it
out faithfully; in fact the little
boy stayed in bed, in spite of his
protests, for about three months.
In the other family vigilance was
relaxed after a week, and within
two weeks the child was up and en-
gagged in his usual round Of activi-
ties, which as is usual in child
hood, were very vigorous.
was able to follow these child
rem for over ten years. The little
boy who was kept in bed for three
months never developed any heart
complications of rheumatic fever,
and when last heard of was
healthy and vigorous. In the case
of the child who got up too soon,
another attack came about three
years later and within six weeks
there were unmistakeable evil
dences Of impairment Of the valves
of the heart.
Of course, this might have hap
pened'even if precautions had been
taken during the entire GONZALES
cent period, but that is not the
general experience and as / say,
the two cases are a striking ex-
ample of this one factor in the
management Of acute rheumatic
fever.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
J. Sis it dangerous to have
tonsils removed by an electric
needle?"
Answer: Tonsils can be remov-
ed successfully in this way, but it
must be done by one who has had
considerable experience. There
are several other better ways Of
removing the toDsils.
out wonder II ne can co It al
the next congressional election OF
even the first election after that
The ensuing depression isn't like,
ly to have hit US that soon.