The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-09-27

and pneumonia in the winter. But
better methods of prevention-re-
frigeration-and better, and es-
pecially cleaner methods of pre-
paration of food have eliminated
the summer problem, and we have
only the winter problem of res
piratory infection.
Why should these respiratory
infections be more common in the
winter? The easy answer is TO
say, "Cold and damp" There is
some relationship between tire
chilling of the body surface and
susceptibility of infection of the
nose, throat, bronchial tubes and
lungs. Well, undoubtedly that is
partly true, but only partly.
Other and more important fac
tors are that we are indoors more
in the winter, we are in closer con-
tact with each other, in school
room, and in Office and factory the
windows are apt to be closed, there
are no electric fans going to
change the atmosphere, and so on.
Air Borne Infection
There has been a great deal of
intensive research in the last ten
years or more on the dynamics of
air-borne infection. 1t is now gen.
orally conceded that respiratory
disease is spread by droplet in
lection. The germs that cause the
respiratory diseases are light and
float for long periods in the air.
A person with a cold sneezes or
coughs and there is a spray into
the atmosphere that is astonish-
ing when photographed, as was
done by Turner and his fellow
workers at the Massachusetts In
stitute of Technology. Most of the
droplets are small and the mois-
ture quickly evaporstes, leaving
the germ in the center to hang in
the air for hours, alive and ready
to do business.
In all hospitals today cases Of
pneumonia, etc., are curtained off
so as to prevent droplet infection
from getting into the room. The
attendants and the patient, unless
ne is too sick, are required to wear
a gauze mask over the nose and
mouth. II we could persuade every
cougher and sneezer this winter to
put a handkerchief in front of his
mouth or nose whenever he feels
inclined to indulge, at least in
doors, we could do much to cut
down the high incidence of winter
disease.
Sterilizing Air
Mastery of the Air" is the mot
to of the respiratory hygienist, as
it is Of the aviation corps. The
best method of sterilizing the air
Of an Office or hospital ward is by
ultraviolet radiation. Chemical
methods by spray are not very eff
fective, and are likely to be iiri-
tating.
The Commonwealth Fund has
granted the University of Penn
sylvania a research endowment
for the study of air-borne iniec-
ton. The studies there indicate
that the spread of infection de-
ponds on deficiency Of air supplied.
So when the fresh air fiend opens
the window in the Office and some
one shouts, do you want to give
me my death of cold?" he may
we'll reply, "No, l want to give you
your life free from pneumonia"
The ultraviolet radiation Of
movie houses, Offices, school-rooms
and factory rooms at night may
come into use as a hygienic re-
quirement.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
M. V.:-How does a person tel
il he has high blood pressure be-
fore an instrumental test is made?
Answer: He doesn't. 1t is almost
symphonies. except perhaps fo
an occasional spell Of vertigo. 1t
might be better for most people
il they never found out what the
instrument says.