The New York Clipper (March 1916)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER March 4 the;cupper , s health department BY DR. MAX TIIOREK, Chlcgo. / ^—■— Surgeon-In-Chief American Hospital; Consulting Surgeon Cook County Hospital; Consulting Surgeon Sheridan Park Hospital, Chicago; Bur geon Whito Bats and Actors Fund, etc., etc These article, are written .Mlnri«ly for the SBW JOBK «t«estlons pcrtzinlng to hemltli, dbtue, hygiene, •eir- prMerrstlOB. preventlonof diseases and matters of generaj Interest of see) lag a large goitre. It is a simple goitre health wdl. be _aa«w«red lagg^ ~jEBbMCA* HOBsOTJkil * It or the subject Is not DR. MAX •f VQ ITT Rlff.B TO CHICAGO. ILLS. Where space wUl not permit or tlie ««£••*• _ suitable for on open answer, letters will be sent Jo tbe applicant peTsonany^Or7 Thorelt should, not be expected to diagnose or prescribe In tbese columns for Individual diseases. DO ROT HANG AROUND SWEEPERS. People are often reckless- Not because they wish, to be, tut because they do not realize fre- SuenUy tbe chances they are faking by apparently armless transgressions. Several days ego I -watched proceedings "back stage" of a local theatre, and had a splendid opportunity to observe how utterly uninformed asM c people are ou matters pertaining to their own physical welfare. A "full stage" act had just fin- ished. Members of the stage .crew were very busy Betting matters for the next act. Three fellows were whirling a cloud of dust that penetrated in. every direction, in their hurry to sweep the stage. In the wings a number of women were talking, and here and there performers were seen waiting for their turn. Of necessity they inhaled masses of dost sent swirling around by the sweepers. One of the women Instantly began to cough and expectorate, but still persisted in banging aronnd and inhaling some more dust. Such Bights are very frequent in theatres. Do most of the people realize the dan* ge*s of a dust-laden atmosphere? Do they under- stand that in predisposed individuals constant in. halation of dust may spell physical disaster? Do most of tbe stage hands know that the whirling up of clouds of dust is a dangerous practice? 1 am afraid not. Just let us analyze the conditions a little Dust Is a great carrier of all sorts of disease producing f:erzos. It has been asserted, and justly so, that t Is of more vital Importance that the air we breathe should be pure than tbe food which wc eat, although the latter Is universally conceded to be a -matter of prime Importance. The reason is that the deleterious materials contained in the air, when inspired by the lungs, pass directly into the blood, whereas, token Into the stomach, tbe action Is much slower and there Is at least the possibility of tbeir passing through the digestive canal unafislruiiatcd. Wind clears the air of imparities, and is not harmful unless it carries dust with it Dust con- sists of particles of all kinds of organic and Inor- ganic matter. It is a nuisance of indoor as well as outdoor lite. Yon. know that the specific canse of consumption is the germ of tuberculosis. Considering the cus- tom . so prevalent of people spitting on the streets, street .cars, back stage, dressing rooms, etc.. tuber- culosis germs are necessarily deposited In the dmt of those places. What happens next? Long- trailed skirts of women and the sweepers whirl up a cloud of dust which one must inspire, and a "complimentary pass" is thus handed oat to Mr. Consumption Germ to enter your air passages and enjoy himself ad libitum. Not only the tuberculosis germ, but almost all species of germ life are thus carried around and distributed. Pink-eye, bronchitis, laryngitis, sore throats, grip, pneumonia and other diseases are thus dis- seminated. In New York a committee of the New York Acad- emy, that has just been investigating tbe conditions of dust in the streets of that great metropolis, re- ported to Commissioner Featherstone as follows: "1. Numerous bacteriological examinations made in tbe city, as well as elsewhere, show that street dust contains a variety of living pathogenic or- ganisms such as tubercle bacilli and various types of streptococci, which are recognized as causative agents of many respiratory and other diseases. "2. Persons free from exposure to city dust aro less liable to suffer from respiratory diseases than those so exposed. "3. Dust has for a long time been universally recognized as an injurious mechanical irritant, and as. a canse of lowered bodily resistance, and one of the first prerequisites of public health has been the elimination of dust as far as possible. "4. Dry sweeping should be entirely abandoned. An adequate system of street flushing should be in- troduced in the street cleaning procedures of onr cities and efforts should be made to apply ell available means to make the streets as free from dust as possible." Many performers softer directly from Inhalation of dust disseminated in the above described man- ner. This is one great reason why actors and actresses suffer more In proportion from laryn- geal and tracheal affections than do others. In the recent grip epidemic thousands of performers were laid up, and I have no hesitancy in saying that inhalation of deleterious stuffs were in no small measure responsible for their morbidity. Did you ever stop to consider why colds are more frequent In the city than in the country? The explanation is: Dust is at the bottom of many eases of cold: there is more dust In the city than in rural sections, and they are more frequent li- the Fall and Spring, when the streets are not ■watered. I visited another theatre and engaged Mike, who was connected with the stage crew, in a con- versation. I spent a couple of hours back-stage watching proceedings, and tbe sensible conduct of tbe men employed here was remarkable "We never permit dust'to be whirled up," said Mike in answer to my questions. "You see I read a great deal,*' he continued,. "and I know the dangers of dust fairly well. I make it my -business to instruct the ?ieopie with whom I come In contact and point out o them the evil Influences of dust to themselves and others, and surely they are a mighty willing lot here." Presently a fellow walked In with a receptacle fall of moistened sawdnst whom Mike asked to step over. "How do you do away with dost here?" questioned Mike. "A simple matter," answered am told, and she has some difficulty in breatbin?. An operation has been advised. Please tell me, through The New Yobk Clippeb, whether an operation for the removal of goitre is dangerous, end how long she will have to remain in a hos- pital. An early reply will be appreciated, REPLY. Simple goitre, while a delicate operation, can be removed with comparative safety in experienced bauds. About two weeks in the hospital la "all' that is necessary. SARCOMA OF* BRAIN. MBS. H. J., Pittsburgh, Pa^ writes: Deae Doctoe: A little nephew of mine died a few weeks ago from what the doctors called sir- coma of the brain. He was two years old. Please tell me, through The New Yobk Clippxb, whether It could have been cured by soae •""•»"•• REPLY. Sarcoma is one of the most malignant forms of tumor. . Affecting a young child, and especially the brain, it stands to reason that the condition was hopeless from every point of view. BLOOD PRESSURE AND HEART TROUBLE. MRS. X. J.. New York, writes: Drab Doctor: Please tell me, through the Health Department of The New Yobk Clippec, what the blood pressure of a normal person should be. My sister has heart trouble, and our doctor tells us she has a leaking heart. Her blood pres- sure is one hundred and twenty-five, and ber pulse runs between seventy and eighty-six. She is weak, suffers from sleeplessness, and awakens during the nlgbt dreaming of falling. Tell me, please, is she in danger of sudden death? How long can she lire like this? Tbe doctor told also that she will have to undergo an operation on her tubes and ovaries. What do you say about it? With many thanks, etc REPLY. Normal blood pressures you will see at a glance by looking at the following table of age and pres- sure: 15. 115: 20. 117: 25. 119; 30. 121: 35. 123 : 40, 128: 45. 130: 50, 132: 60. 138: 70, 145: 80, 150. In women tbe pressure is about 10 mm. less than In men. You can allow ten points either way to determine the approximate pressure. No, sister Is not in danger of sudden death. Leaks In the heart. If well compensated, need give uo adarm. Persons thus effected can rive their-nat- ural Urea, Do not have ber operated upon unless you are sure that her general condition is favor- able to undergo the ordeal. ECLAMPSIA. (MRS. VAN D. V.. Pittsburgh. Pa, writes: Drab Sib: My physician just told me that a be- loved sister of mine Is threatened with ertampsH. She is in tbe seventh month of preenasicy. I am very alarmed. I am in the profession .and there- fore take the Mberty of writing you for lnformc- tion through Thz Cloteb. Anv lucldation yon I was mnch impressed with the earnestness and _\ REPLY. routine kind of work of the fellows there. I com- mended them highly and urged" them to disseminate the principles of dust elimination as much as possi- ble, for It truly Is a matter of vital Importance to the men and women engaged in tbe theatrical busi- ness. Vaudevllllans are more exposed tb"n others for the reason that "legits" are spared the hard- ships of the "four and more" a day, and for the reason that the constant change of individuals and ?iaraphernalia is spared in the instance of the ormer. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. MALARIAL HEADACHES OR FRONTAL SINUSITIS. H. M. T. writes: Dear Doctor: Although I am not an actress. I am connected, with the amusement business and am a constant reader of The New Yobk Clippeb, and an admirer of its Health Department. Please enlighten me on the following: For years past (I am twenty-six now) I have been subject to bead- aches of a severe nature. Tbey come directly over the right eye. about the inner corner of the eye. Tbey generally come once a -week, seldom more often, but sometimes 1 do not have them for two weeks. They last for several days. I have con- sulted two reliable physicians. Tbe last one diagnosed my case as chronic malaria. My eyes were examined and found to be all right. The last doctor gave me medicine for malaria and also headache capsules, containing veronal and codeine. I wonld like to know whether you approve of me taking these capsules. Also, please tell me your opinion of my headaches and what can be done, would osteopathy benefit me? Any advice 70a will give will be much appreciated.' REPLY XChonlc malaria often causes headaches. Antl- J&larial remedies such as quinine, should then be ftnteji in large quantities until the underlying cause is' neutralized The malarial medicine the doctor gave you contains, no doubt, quinine, and I would suggest that you persist in taking It Do not get disappointed if you don't set immediate results. It often takes come time before the desired effect !s obtained. Do not take anything that contains codeine or veronal. Outside of an emergency I never prescribe them. Individuals of your type are predisposed to acquire drug habits, so better leave them alone. Have your frontal sinus (over the eyei examined by a competent nose specialist. It may be that you have a frontal sinus Innammn- tlon, but persist meanwhile in taking the medicine given you for malaria. THREE TROT/BLES. A. H. S., New Orleans, writes: Dt-AB Doctob: Please tell me In Tins Cldth what to do for (11 pimples, (2) bad bod'Iy odor as a result of perspiration, (3) how to strengthen the voice. Thanks. REPLY. Proper elimination. (Normal bowel actlonl. Light diet. Apply, nights and morning, the fol- lowing: Potassium pnlphnret 1 gramme Tlnct. benzolne 1 drachm Glycerine 1% drachms Rose water enough to make four ounces. 2—Dust the sweating areas freely with a powder having the following-composition: Formaldehyde. ...% drachm Salicylic add % drachm Talcum powder 5 ounces 3—Bund no the general physical condition and your voice will thereby also be strengthened. SIMPLE ROITHP, MRS. D. L. M., New York, N. Y„ writes: Deae Doctob: My daughter (thirty-three year? Eclampsia results from an unknown poison cir- culating in the blood Of the woman to become a mother, and causes a variety of symptoms. Tbe poison mav come from the kidneys or other parts of the body. Pregnant women, who have symp- toms suggestive of eclampsia should be under the constant care of a physician who will order an exclusive milk diet for a time, and carefully super- vise the case. As soon as threatening manifesta- tions develop hec wifl Interfere to tbe best advan- ,uage of the mother. An attemnt is made by every conscientious physician to preserve the lives of both mother nn/t child. CH. OAKLEY, Blngnamton. N. Y.: HARRY P.ARTON, Duryea, Pa.; FRANK C. PIERCE. Bos- ton. Mass. — Personal letters were sent von. FATHER OF JUVENILE KINGS — Prescription cent as per request. JIM MARCO—Get in touch with me at once. Want to consult you on a per-' aonal matter. ANYONE—Kindly have Jack Wil- son get In touch with me. I have an Important message for him. H. L. K.—No danger whatever- Throw your dope bottles away. K. U L, Cincin- nati, O.—A glass or two a day does not hurt, especially If It Is well borne by the stomach F. L. P.. Minneapolis, Minn.—Slaving Is excellent In such conditions. HARRY HOUDINI—Please write me. ENLARGED AND BEAUTIFIED MOUQUIN'S M An., ItL 271111. 281 Sis., In Y«t MOST POPULAR PARISIAN CAFE. PREVCH BESTAURATT MUSIC &S0 PJL TO 1 AJf. Tjrr • AJTIJIi to hear from LIIVLIAJI BROWN, « tm IuU, formeriv of WesVPorty-third 8treet. New York, and from ADA HeBwII, or anyone knowing their whereabouts. Address BOX C. O, NEW YOBK CLIPPER, ROYALTY Plsvs to Order on Royalty ALICE HOWLtir. Chicago H eights, ia