HEALTH NOTES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 16 June 1930, Page 2

HEALTH NOTES

PNEUMONIA NEGLECTED COMMON COLDS (Contributed by the Department of Health.) Pneumonia is a communicable disease characterised by a rapidly developing inflammation ot the lungs. The inflammatory process is incited by bacteria, most often by one called the pneumococcus. Early in the disease large numbers of air cells, through which in health the blood is supplied with oxygen, become filled with solid or semi-solid material, so that air can no longer enter. The inflammation may extend to the pleura, the membrane covering the lungs, the result being a complicating pleurisy. The prominent symptoms—fever, laboured breathing, and pain—are due to the absorption of poisons given off by the bacteria, to 'the filling of the air cells and to fric : tion between inflamed surfaces during the act of breathing. Therefore, when a person suddenly has a severe chill, followed by a high fever, flushed face, difficult breathing and pain in chest he may be suffering from pneumonia, and as this is a dangerous disease the services of the family doctor should be obtained at once.

(CONTRIBUTORY .CAUSES Pneumococci are present in 'large numbers in the material coughed up by a patient suffering from pneumonia, and if this infected material gains entrance through the mouth and nose, to' the lungs of another person, he, too, may develop pneumonia. Many persona, however, into whose mouths and noses pneumococci find their way, never contract the disease. A body in perfect health has the power of destroying the germs and resisting their poisons (toxins) unless they enter the body in.overwhelmingly large numbers. Ordinarily it is only after the body's resisting power is reduced by some cause that pneumonia develops. Exposure to cold, overwork, loss of sleep, or dissipation may temporarily lower vitality 1 , as also frequenting badly ventilated . places where crowds assemble. Very often, it is_ a neglected "common cold", which prepares the body for invasion. In fact the "cold" may be incited by the same germs which üblimately',become responsible for the attack of pneumonia. The inflamation, beginning in' the nose or throat, if neglected, extends along the air passages until the bronchial tubes, and finally the lungs themselves become involved. ' ,-""';>

PRECAUTIONS Although many have pneumonia and recover, the disease is sufficiently serious so that every reasonable effort should be made to aviod it and to protect others. Any one who neglects a severe cold is inviting an attack of pneumonia. While influenza was epidemic physicians everywhere observed that people suffering from severe colds or attacks of true influenza, who went to bed immediately and remained there until fully recovered, rarely developed pneumonia, state a New York medical bulletin. A person suffering from a cold and going about as usual is a great source of danger to others than a pneumonia who is confined to his bed and comes in contact with no one except his attendants."" ." Keep the patient in bed until allowed up by the physician. Keep the patient in a room apart from the rest of the family. Boil all dishes, handkerchiefs, towels, and washable bedding used by the patient before washing. Catch discharges from the nose and throat' of the patients upon pieces of doth which cari be burnt or boiled. Wash your hands with soap and water at once after for the patient .