OUR BABIES

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 19, 17 August 1928, Page 3

OUR BABIES

BY HYGEIA. Published under the auspices tf the Royal Net? Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). ( '[ '■'' ■ ' 1 ,; 'v : ' , “It Is wiser to .put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at ■ the bottom.”' ; . • .a ,iA'i l i/ '■ ■ ' ' COEDS; THEIR CAUSE, PREVENAND TREATMENT. >" The following remarks are. extracts from an interesting article which appeared in a recent issue Of Life nrid Health,” under the name of “A Sydney Physician,” who says;—■ In the past fifty years medical science ; has wrought wonders in eradicating disease. In civilised countries plague, yellow fever,., uu s mallpox are glmoSt niilisard (f. But in spite of the advance of. wedloai science the common cold standi today as a rock of offence to the r.iohical profession., ’; - ■ , - WHAT IB‘THE CAUSE OF COLDS* Colds are, due to infection,, although this infection i 3 not always due to the same organism. Upon the surface of the body (skin .and mucous' membranes) there are millions of* bacteria halting, as it were... for a favourable condition to develop, 80 that they may implant themselves.. ...... While these organisms are, present in the nose and throat, they do not g|in entrance inyfcCT the syste .uptil the resistance of the individual is lowered or the virulence of the bacteria is increased;,. This lowered resistance to colds is frequently aSsdCiiatdd with a' sluggish circulation. Borne individuals, by taking .top good carp of thhUlseiyes keeping, every Square inch of .body surface wrapped; in closely knitted woollen clothes, allow the vasomotor ‘ - y ■ «. tV ' *'• • . • - systemic beepme soft, as it were, like the man whose hand s are not. accustomed to the shovel, or the hotaouse plant not accustomed to the, weather.' Exposure in these cases ' may be followed by disastrous results. All statistics reveal. that colds are more common among men than women. Thig. statement needs no comment, THE INFLUENCE OP CLIMATE ON 7 • COLDS. In thri tlnited States the incidence of colds Is not, greater in the: Changeable climate of an eastern winter than in''‘sunny California, or' in the Northern State's, where the thermo- . meter goes ten tp. thirty degrees be low zero, than in the ild climate of Florida, . .> , ,• A, In autumn, when nights are cold and days warm, respiratory infection? are common. The extreme and rapid changes of temperature are Seemingly responsible for thiS.

THE DEFENCE '6F TEfE BODY. The db'fence of the body Is dependent on the' circulation. In the blood we find the-white cells'/ specially • f.K *4 * * ' * - - • ' adapted to resist the invasion of micro-organisms by actually engulfing and digesting them, dr by giving Qff certain immune bodies which neu<trali.se, as it vefe, the toxic products of bacteria'; 'lffiese protective bodies we find ill the blcio'd serum, and 'they are excreted in the saliva, the tears, gastric juices', and iiasgl secretions. When shlivu is not.excreted How quickly . the. mouth becomes infected and foul. . These lifegiving elements contained in the blood do not protect the body unless they are evenly distributed to every' tissue, j This distribution is effected by the vascular system, (the tone of which is controlled by nervous influences. Certain external conditions may actually shock the vasomotor system and cause unequal distrib'utiori of blood, resulting in congestion in one part and anaemia 3u another.. If .local apaernla occu<r s i n the nose ajnti throat, due to a stasis, of blood in, other parts of the,; hody infectious organisms or 'bther "toxins' may gain entrance into the tissue; •• • TTiis’ is followed 'by congestion, which ' ig so characteristic of the early symptoms of a cold. . THE DANCERS OP A COLD. Colds Always decrease the efficiency of the human organism, whether in the mental or physical worker. The dangers of a cold in the %ead may be compared to a camp fir e in tflV bush' in dry Weather — slight changes may' produce disastrous results. The air sinuses which connect with the nose and throat may be'cfifne infected, arid these sinuses lihay harbour the infection for mon'th'ri—tonsilitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis*; bronchitis, arid brorichopneumohla: nifty "feriuit.

PREVENTION OF COLDS. ■ Observance of the following suggestions will belli to prevent colds: Live an active, outdoor life as much as possible. Avoid over-dressing the body. Avoid chilling after perspiration. lie regular in habits, of eating, and avoid excessive eating of sweets of any kind. Take a cool sponge in the morning; and follow this with friction until the skin glows. It is important to see that the alimentary canal is kept clear. In doing this we should, avoid; .. the excessive use of purgatives. THE RATIONAL TREATMENT OP COLDS. No form of treatment compares with the proper application of hot and cold water to, restore jthe vasen- : Pii- tone. Excessive sweating should be avoided, a s this tends towards weakness and fatigue. Warm the body till the skin shows a slight perspiration and the patient feels warm' then finish with cold water and friction. This may be accomplished in several .ways.. One may give a'short foot, or leg bath, accompanied by jhot fomentations over the abdomen, chest., or. spine,.. long enough to dilate the skin vessels This should be followed by a cold ’ application with friction. . • The most common method of applying hot fjsnd cold water is by, means Of a spray! . If a sho'Wef; la nsed .;t is well for the feet to be placed m hot water. . . However the treatment is applied, the skin should feel dry and warm, and should glow w r an active circulation. Hydrotherapy, iij worse than useless when a patient’s skin is left ill a cold, clammy erudition; due to improper appßcaition, of the treatment. Therefore s e,e that the treatment leaves; the sknv warm.'.. , ; . 7 v '''' FLUIDS. Fluids should be used freely, as they maintain the volume of the cir dilation and also favour the excretion of toxins from. the blood. Fruu juices should be.uSeci, ; as they contain organic acids, as citiic and inalio . acid,. . •

REST, During art infection the bacteria give Off toxins, which circulate through the body. ; Tlmse toxins cause changes ii the portoplaSm of t n fi cells. . • • which are not able t 6 function properly. That , is, the reason why a. person with a fever has a dry , mouth, and the reason why there is loss, Of appetite,, the bowels are constipated, and the muscles'Wea’k. In ithis condition it is Important to give the body as complete rest a 3 possible, so that the cells may be able; to recuperate property. Physical rest is important; also, give, the patient food that IS • digested (and fluids in abundance). . • There i s one muscle in the body which is apt to be injured if. we do hot take this precaution, and that is the heart. This is especially so after attacks of influenza: .'A cold on the chest tht lasts nfore than a riiOnth is always dangerbiis to the individual, A doctor should be consulted, abd the lungs examined by a competent physician, . . .