HEALTH COLUMN

Otago Witness, Issue 1949, 2 July 1891, Page 42

HEALTH COLUMN

Influence of the Width of Streets on Phthisis.

According to an American contemporary, remarks the Lancet, Dr Anders has been making certain inquiries in Philadelphia as to the influence of the width of streetß on the mortality from phthisis, the wasting away of bodily tissue, and as the result of examination into the localisation of 1590 deaths he fias arrived at the conclusion that the number of phthisis deaths is smaller in proportion to the population in wide streets han in narrow ones, and that in narrow treets the mortality is greatest where they re long, or where they form a cul-de-sac ; in other words, complete movement of air about dwellings is a point of great importance in connection with the question of pulmonary phthisis. It is on this principle that all modern bye-laws as to open spaces about houses are based, and it is as impoitant to have wide, open spaces behind houses as well as in the streets in front, so as to secure a proper through current of air. There is, as a rule, not much difficulty in getting a reasonable width of street in the case of newly laid out areas for building, but there is a constant tendency to put an undue limit on the needed area behind dwelling bouses, although this is a matter of the first importance as regards the promotion of health and the prevention of a certain class of disea-es.

Headache almost always yields, so a medical paper says, to the simultaneous application of hot water to the feet and back of the neck.

In A F^int. — The common practice of raising fainting persons to a sitting or upright position is often sufficient to destroy the spark of life which remains. It is ranch better to keep snch persons in the prone position while restoratives and local means are adopted to enable them, if possible, to regain consciousness. Books and Contagious Diseases. — A curious experiment bas been tried at Dresden with regard to the belief that the books of circulating libraries are often the medium of conveying infectious diseases. A number of much used volumes were taken from the Town Library, and the dust from the leaves and covers was sown (like mustard and cress) in nutrient media, as Pasteur would say. The result was that no microbes belonging to infectious diseases were found.

The Microbe of Rheumatism. — A distinguished French physician, after much research, thinks he has discovered a microorganism, specific in sharacter, which is the direct cause of rheumatism. He reports that he has isolated and .cultivated the microbe, injected it into the carotid artery of rabbits, and engendered an imflammation which to all indications is the same which accompanies inflammatory rheumatism iv human beings. Tfhese investigations will undoubtedly stimulate parallel researches by other investigators and may lead to important therapeutical results. Sleep fob Nebyous Headaches.— A scientific writer says : — ".'Steep if taken at the right moment will prevent an attack of nervous headache. If the subjects of such j headaches will watch the symptoms of its coming, they can notice that it begins with a feeling of weariness or heaviness. This is the time that a sleep of anjhour or even two, as Nature guides, will effectually prevent the headache. If not taken just then it will be too late, for after the attack is fairly under way it is impossible to get sleep till iar into the night perhaps." Smallpox. — Amongst recentfacts brought forward to illustrate the progress of sanitary reform there ia none more striking than the statement of the health statistician for Ireland, that during last year there was not a Eingle death from smallpox in that country. Such a result would seem to promise that before long Europe ought to be as free of smallpox as Australia. It would be indeed a triumph for sanitary science if within the next 20 years smallpox was put j ■out of existence amongst civilised people, and a promise that Nature would take her other seonrges off the back of poor humanity if he will take the trouble to live enough. HOW TO TAKE OAKH OF THE BRAIN, — The brain stands the most abuse of any organ in the body. Its best tonic and ■stimulant is success. The worst and most depressing thing to it is failure. The most injurious effects come by using stimulants in early life. Young people should never use liquors, tea, or coffee. The latter two may not exactly do harm, but they are conducive of no good. They act mostly on the brain and injure its growth very materially. Abundance of sleep is necessary. Eight hours is not' more than enough. Sleep is the time of relatively lowered expenditure and increased repair. Fat OB Lea.n. — Some discussion has been going on in medical circles as to whether it is as desirable a thing as bas hitheito been supposed, to get a man who is thinner than the average to put on more flesh if he c in. In most cases a man's thinness is an adaption to the needs of his constitution, it may be the sign of something wrong, but is it desirable to remove the sign, or to try to removeit, unless the cause behind is removable ? Thin•ness is sometimes Nature's way of making things as easy as possible for a weak circulation, just as the athelete in training keeps •down all superfluous tissue so aB to make hip tieart, lung, and muscular action go their very farthest, and accordingly to get a man with a weak circulation to take on mere flesh, unless his circulation is at the same time getting stronger, is only to bupden him. The same line of argument is leading some physicians to question the soundness of fore* ing as much nourishment as possible on feverish patients. The so-called keeping up of the strength may often mean the keeping up the general strength at the expense of the weakest organ.

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