HEALTH COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 65

HEALTH COLUMN.

By A FAMILY DOCTOR.

PNEUMONIA. Medical students study the condition of the lung in pneumonia by being shown under the microscope pieces of lung in the various stages of the disease. First there is the healthy lung, made up of a multitude of little air spaces. Then we see the next stage, when the air-space begins to be filled up with mucus, blood, poisonous microbes, and debris of various kinds. At this stage the poor patient is feverish, breathless, gasping, and miserable, because the air cannot get into the air-spaces and supply the corpuscles with the fresh air they so sorely need. When the doctor puts his stethoscope over such a lung lie hears the air which is trying to get into the bungedup air-cells making all sorts of rushing noises and bubbles and squeaks, all of which sounds are abnormal and ought not to be there at all. And the reason the doctor looks so worried is that he must find out from these sounds how far the trouble extends. If it is only a portion of one lung it is better than if the whole lungis involved, and if both- lungs are in this terrible state ho may have to tell the relatives grave news. ' Moreover, he must measure how far the trouble extends, so that on the next day he may bo able to say whether the inflammation of the lung is spreading farther afield or getting smaller in area. —The CureBut now the interesting stage begins. Tho patient improves and the breathlessness ceases. This is because tho little airspaces axe beginning to .get cloar again. The contents which wore blocking them are being coughed up; the air can once more find its way into the little balloons as before, and tho patient is cured. My object in describing this to you is_ to ask you to stop for a moment and think how wonderful it all is. It is sad to think that such a disease as pneumonia exists, but there is something inspiring in hearing how Nature deals with tho disease. There arc millions and millions of these little airballoons, so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye, and yet when they are all filled up with rubbish by .the disease Dame Nature slowly, but surely, cleans out every one, and leaves it. swept and garnished. It is like magic. —Dame Nature, Physician.—

But you do not trust Nature; one suggests rubbing the chest with tallow, and another loses her temper because she thinks nothing will save the patient but rubbing the chest wi£h turpentine, while another pops in to recommend camomile tea. Dear me, ladies, if you will only keep the air of the room sweet and fresh, and give the nourishment at proper intervals, Dame Nature will clear the air-spaces out for you, even without the help of tallow, turpentine, and dandelion tea. The doctor so thoroughly appreciates the work of Dame Nature; his only wish is to put the patient in the best possible way of taking the fullest advantage of her ministrations. When the patient, though feeling weak and ill, struggles about at her work, the Old Lady wrings her hands in distress at her inability to help; but when the doctor arrives and orders the patient to bod at once, she blesses his name, and immediately sets to work to bring about a cure. SULPHUR OINTMENT. Sulphur is a very useful drug for various, purposes. It can be used in the form of an ointment for skin diseases, especially for the itch. It is sometimes used as a stimulant for the hair. The only precaution to take is that the sulphur should never be applied to a raw wound, as it is too irritating, and even when applied to the unbroken skin care should be exercised to ensure that it is not applied too strong. I have seen more than one case 'where sulphur was used to euro the itch: bur the ointment was rubbed in too hard and it was used too strong, and the result was that when the itch was cured the skin was inflamed from the irritation of the sulphur. Then sulphur can be taken internally either in the shape of jam—the confection of sulphur—or as lozenges or tablets. A simple and effective purgative for people suffering from piles is a mixture of equal parts of confection of sulphur and confection of senna. A teaspoonful is the dose, to bo taken at night. —Sulphur Baths.—

Sulphur is thought to bo beneficial for a sluggish liver. It is contained in many waters; the so-called hepatic waters at Harrogate arc the best known example of an English natiiral water containing sulphur. The worst feature about sulphur is that ft forms compounds with an extremely unpleasant smell; hepatic waters often smell of rotten eggs. The famous natural sulphide baths of the Continent aro those of Aix-la-Ohapelle and Aix-lcs-Bains. In both places the water is warm, and the sulphur is present in onlv very minuto quantities, so that the benefit derived is probably from the warm baths, which certainly do good to rheumatic subjects, and not to the sulphur at all. A series of warm baths at home will probably bo as beneficial as anything you can get abroad, AN INFECTION OF THE EYES. Redness of the eyes or inflammation of the eyelids must never bo neglected, as it may bo infectious or it may become chronic. If one member of a family con tracts this disease, and then another follows suit, it looks suspicious, and every precaution should be taken to prevent the spread. The sufferera should have their

own handkerchiefs, their own sponges, and should never be allowed the use of the towels. —Red Eyelids.— Styes in the eye, or rather on the eyelid, are often the result of sonic irregularity in vision. A child who has red eyelids should always be taken to a doctor to have tho vision tested. Choose your doctor, because not every medical man knows how to test for glasses. A constant and continuous application of lotions wil' only give disappointment if the eyes are unequal in strength. It is especially important in the case of children, as tho defect may grow worse if it is neglected. It is sad to come across a case which might have been cured in childhood, but is now beyond recovery. —Care of tho Eyes.— Never use a prescription for glasses which was ordered for somebody else, and do not wear tho glasses which your granny left behind as a legacy. They will not suit you, and will do more harm than good. Never let anyone you care about read in a bad light. Children actually read by the flickering light of the fire sometimes because they are not allowed to light tho gas. It ruins their eyes. The . proper way to read is with the book propped up, tho head held erect with the spine straight, and the light falling over the left shoulder. The type shouid be clear and easily read; small type is very trying.