New York Clipper (May 1915)

May 22 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 43 THE CLIPPER'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT BY DR. MAX THOREK, Cnieasro. Surgeon-ln-Ctaief Amerioan Hospital; Consulting Burgeon Cook County Hospital; Consulting Surgeon Sheridan Park Hospital, Cnioago; Surgeon White Bats and Aetors Fond, eta, etc These article* are written exclusively ror tbe NEW YORK CLIPPER. Questions pertaining to nealtn, disease, hfgltne. self- prtMrrallon, prevention of diseases and matters of general Interest to healtK will be answered In tbls eolnmn. ADDRESS AJEL INQUIRIES TO DR. MAX THOREK, AMERICAN HOSPITAL, CHICAGO, ILLS. Where space will not permit or the subject I* not suitable for an open answer, letters will be sent to tbe applleant personally. Dr. Thorelt should not be expected to diagnose or prescribe In these columns for Individual diseases. SHALL WE VACCINATE? This question often tolas tbe attention of the public from time to time. There are the "vac- cinationists" °who are ardent advocates of the method, and there are the "antl-vacclnatlonlsts" who - oppose compulsory vaccination. It will be well to analyze some of the facts pertaining to this much mooted question. Just keep the follow- ing In mind and with fair-mindedness decide your- self whether vaccination should be practiced or relegated to tbe "has-beens." There Is no way In getting away from tbe fact that prior to the discovery of Jenner that vac- cination protects against smallpox, smallpox was a disease from which Jew escaped. From 1750- 1800, Inclusive, smallpox caused nearly one-tenth of the total number of deaths (approximately one person out of every ten), and In epidemic years— 1796, for example—this fatality percentage was nearly doubled. So universal was the disease, and so frightful Its disfiguring effects and the risk of loss of sight so great, that horror reigned supreme no matter where you turned. Since the Introduction of vaccination, however, the death rate dropped enormously, and tbe disas- trous effects of tbe disease have to a surprising measure been conquered. Compulsory vaccination In Infancy has saved the lives of an enormous number of children. Statistics sure yon In tbe face and offer conclusive evidence that In vac- cinated children the mortality from smallpox Is only slight, while In those not vaccinated It Is appalling. After the age of fifteen the protective influence of tbe primary vaccination baa to a largo extent disappeared, and It is, therefore, essential that the person be re-vacclnated. It was at first thought that one vaccination afforded Immunity and Indefinitely protected the Individual against smallpox. This Is now known not to be the case. Be-vacclnatlon at tbe proper time. If properly performed, confers a very high degree of im- munity from smallpox for the remainder of lire; and It by chance a re-vacclnated person should acquire smallpox, the disease generally assumes Its mildest type. In Germany, with a population of over fifty millions, surrounded on three sides by badly vaccinated countries, smallpox has been almost stamped out, and during the ten years 1385-1805, seventy-nine per cent, of the few cases which occurred were resident on the frontiers; whereas. In Austria and Belgium, where vaccina- tion Is not compulsory, tbe death rate from small- pox is more than twenty-fold at great. The great Immunity which Germany enjoys Is due to the fact that In that country vaccination 1p cumpul- aory. This applies to re-vacclnatlon as well. 'The following letter received by 'Dr. R. Slee, from the United States War Department, Is of Interest. WAR DEPARTMENT. Office or the Surgeon General, Washington, Feb. 4, 1913. On. Richabd Slee, Swiftwater, Pa. Dkab Sis: In reply to your letter asking for a brief statement concerning my opinion ot the value of vaccination in the army, I am pleased to state as follows: I think that no one who win consider with an open mind the sanitary records of the United States Army can remain for a moment In doubt of the vast and Indispensable protective value of vaccination. Tbls country has been for so long a time par- tially protected by vaccination that this fact is not borne In on us with Its full weight until we come In contact with nations or communities where, through lack of efficient sanitary service, vaccination has been, as a rule neglected, as was the case with the Spanish possessions under our control at the time of the Spanish War. We found smallpox epidemic, and very fatal. In Porto Slco, and the military authorities enforced a thorough vaccination throughout the Island. Tbe result was the absolute extinguishment of the disease, and no death occurred from this disease In the next ten years thereafter. This great change was not due to the sudden establishment of an efficient sanitary service In Porto Rico, because no pro- vision was made for a health department In the hastily prepared organic law under which tbe Porto Rlran civil government was organized at the end of the military occupation, nor had an eillclent health department been created In tbat Island until last year. In Cuba, also, prior to the American occupation smallpox was widespread and very fatal. The American government took control of the Island on January 1, 1899, and In tbe thirteen years since then there have been only seven deaths from smallpox In Havana, and this Is dne to a prompt and general vaccination of the population and en- forcement of this precaution thereafter. In the thirteen years before that date, however, 0,835 persons had died of smallpox in the city of Havana alone. The same Is true In the Philippines, where smallpox was everywhere common before the American occupation, and where now It Is much less prevalent than In the United States. Without vaccination. It Is believed that the American oc- cupation of the Philippines and the suppression of the Insurrection would have been a military Impossibility. Although the stations of the American Army are scattered over the United States, Porto Blco, Panama, Alaska, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Philippine Islands, and In this way brought fre- quently In contact with- Infection of smallpox, Its protection by vaccination Is such that the disease causes no concern to the sanitary authorities, which Is shown by the fact that In tbe last ten years there have been in the entire army scattered over this Immense area only twenty-two deaths from this disease, which Is an annual rate of three In every hundred thousand. Gbobob If. Tosirsi, Surgeon General, V. S. Army. Washington, D. 0. Of course there are cranks and fanatics of all kinds the world over. There are people who as- sail established principles and facts and who are by nature antagonistic. This la a species of human "knocker" who Is omnipresent, and must be con- quered by rationalism and facts. Answer tbe fol- lowing questions yourself and decide according to the dicta of common sense: Why Is It tbat nurses, postmen and others, who have been vaccinated and re-vacclnated, enjoy immunity from smallpox, while others who refused vaccination at the Leicester Smallpox 'Hospital were attacked by the disease? Why Is It tbat during epidemics of smallpox, tbe children who were vaccinated escaped the dis- ease, and those who were not thusly Immunized became 111? Why Is it, that If percbance a vaccinated person' becomes III. tbe disease Is In most instances ex- tremely mild? Why Is it that those with three or four vac- cination marks are less liable to a fatal attack than those with one or two? Why Is It thst vaccinated nations have nearly stamped out smallpox, while others are still suf- fering from Its ravages? There Is oniy one answer, and that Is the bless- ing? of vaccination are indisputable. we often bear from the nn-lnltiated that vac- cination is dangerous. No such thing. If properly performed with clean, fresh lymph, and by a per- son who knows bow, no 111 consequences will result. Rheumatic Fever In the treatment of Rheumatic Fever many physicians employ purgatives, but Dr. M. P. Creed thinks tbat a mild laxative li better. When the patient Is bilious he elves calomel In small doses, one-nltu o( a grain every hour until n grain has been taken. Then alter four hours he gives tbe patient a half ounce ot citrate ox magnesia, with syrup of lemon to disguise tbe taste, or ho keeps the bowels open with the mild laxa- tive "Actolda." Tbe diet should be light, and all animal food should be excluded as far as possible from the dietary. For tbe pain and fever be has found nothing equal to Anti-Kamala Tablets, giving two 'Ablets every 9 to 3 hours as required. These tablets may be obtained from all druggists In any quantity desired. Ask for A-K Tablets. Unexcelled for Headaches, Neu- ralgias, and All Pain. FUNCTIONAL HEART TROUBLE. MISS B. G. O., Washington, D. C, writes: Deae Doctor: My father and mother both died of heart disease. My sister also has a weak heart. I am a splendid specimen of health In every way wlfh the exception of a peculiar con- dition of the heart. I am forty years old and weigh one hundred and forty pounds. I suffered twice from nervous breakdown, from overs tudy and from shock incident to my husband's death five years ago. I am extremely nervous. This Is especially marked when I Join a. new company. I am a very nervous "first-nighter," and generally lie awske half the night following an opening. I am anxious to return to work. Doctors nave frightened me. One eald: "Ton most stop and call a Bait to your career If you care to live." My heart attacks are peculiar. The heart would pal- pitate violently. One doctor diagnosed my con- dition as "nervous gastritis." another as "lniHges ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. blank whether the condition of your heart is "functional" or "organic." If functional, rest up and forget It and go back to work; it organic, then greater enre Is necessary to decide whether you anon Id go back on the stage or not. If the attacks are far between and your general con- dition la good and your work not very strenuous, even If there be a alight organic lesion. I would not hesitate to recommend to resume your work. PECULIAR VOICE. Miss P. E. il., Philadelphia, Pa.—I am very much Interested In your case. Please write <o me at once, giving me all particulars, age, char- acteristics, peculiarities of habits, development, etc. and I will correspond with you. I may be able to help you. WA549ERMAJI TEST. MR. E. W.. New York, N. Y., writes: Daus Doctob : Please answer the following tlon." What am I to dot I am afraid to go back questions through Tarn Nsw yobk Cimn. What to work, ret I am yearning for the stage. Is the Waaserman test? Is It a reliable procedure? REPLY. Is It painful to perform? Does It confine one to Visit a competent physician and ask him point- bed? Thanks. REPLY. The Wasserman test Is applied in cases where '"blood poisoning'' of a certain kind Is suspected. It Is a very reliable procedure. If the person is under treatment and takes the test the results may be misleading. The physician making the test must be told of any simultaneous treatment. The test Is performed by simply taking some blood from a vein, linger or lobe of the ear. and does not Incapacitate the Individual at all. LAMBERT-TOWNB TREATMENT. MB. B. E. B., Vlcksburg, Pa., writes: Dbab Doctob: Will you kindly give me some Idea of the Lambert-Towne Treatment for drug addicts. Please give me the information In The Clipper's Health Department. REPLY. Ask for booklet of the Lambert-Towne people, and therein you will find tbe Information you are seeking. Personally I have had no experience with their treatment There are friends of mine, how- ever, who speak wen of It. CHRONIC DIARRHOEA. OLD RELIABLE. Philadelphia, Pa., writes: Dxab Doctob : Am troubled with diarrhoea, which makes my life miserable. Have tried many things without results. Would be pleased to hear from you through Thi Clippeb. What may cause this trouble? la It curable? What can one do about It? Are diarrhoea mixtures all right? BEPLY. Tbls trouble may be due to a variety of causes. IntCBtlnal Indigestion, ulcerations of the bowels due to many causes. Infections with certain germs and parasites may all be the causative agent of the trouble. The first thing to do Is to discover tbe cause. Once this is established. Intelligent treatment can at once be instituted. Hopes for completely recovering depend upon existing con- ditions, upon how long the trouble has lasted and upon Its amenability to treatment, Sometime*. If the trouble Is due to dietetic errors, a correction of the diet will suffice. At other times, where ulcerations exist, and If they can be reached, topical applications of various medicaments may be of value. Diarrhoea mixta res, as a general proposition, are very bad. They all, as a rule, contain opium or one of Its derivatives, such as mnrphlae, etc, and many an Innocent sufferer acquired the morphine bablt by taking "diarrhoea mixtures." SALVES IN HERNIA. MTt. B. R. F.. Pittsburgh, Pa., writes: Deab Doctob : I am suffering from rupture and am afraid to undergo an operation. A certain fellow here tells me that he can positively cure me with certain salves. Is It possible? I am anxious- ly awaiting a reply through The New Yobs Clippeb. BEPLY. Do not permit yourself to be humbugged. There Is no such salve In existence- The fellow who promised to cure rupture certainly knows bow to apply "salve," but you cannot expect htm to cure your rupture with It- That Is Impossible. ACNE VACCINE. MRS. H. P. M., Bloomlngton. III., writes: Deab Doctor: I have been reading with in- terest Tub Cmppeb. I have teen troubled wlin pimples on the face since I was fifteen. Doctors call It acne. I have taken numerous blood medi- cines without effect. My doctor gave me seven Injections of staph—acne vaccine. No results. Should I continue them. An answer through Thb Clippeb will be appreciated. REPLY. A chronic acne cannot be expected to be cured in a abort time. Let your doctor continue the In- iecllons. They are all right. Give him a chance, flood medicines are absolutely worthless, because It Is NOT a blood disease. Regulate your habits with reference to eatlr.g, etc. Give up coffee and tea and alcoholic beverages. CURED TUBERCULOSIS. MRE. P. L. A-, Philadelphia, Pa., writes: ^Mt Deab Doctob: I have recently been dls- charged from a tuberculosis sanitarium as "cured." I do not cough and gain In weight. I am worried, hpv/ever, of a return of tbe trouble. Please ad- vise me through the Old Reliable if the disease Is really curable. „ .. REPLY. Do not worry. People at sanitaria, who make a specialty of treating diseases of the lungs are usually competent. If they discharged Ton as c? r «l. believe ibem. Forget that yon ever had the trouble. The disease it curable If taken In rime. Live a regular life, sl.^ep In well ventilated rooms, and do not brood.