| Show Tuberculosis Tuberculosis May Follow Flu By DR JAMES W BARTON ta Den Dell Syndicate Syndicate Service WHEN HEN a flu epidemic passes by we are all naturally grateful that not not- notwithstanding notwithstanding withstanding the great grea t num num- number number ber of cases there have not been as many deaths as in some previous epidemics the theone theone one of 1919 1918 being particularly particularly in our minds And yet just what the flu fiu leaves In the way of ot general ill-health ill general gen gen gen- general eral fatigue chronic cases of ot heart dis dis- dis disease disease ease chronic in in- in inflammation inflammation of ot the sinuses and other ailments cannot be ba 4 s estimated For instance in- in influenza in aw-a aw may be fol fol- fol followed lowed by pneumonia or pleurisy One fourth of the total non fatal cases of ot Dr Barton tuberculosis date the onset of ot the disease during the year following an attack of influenza and more than one half of the cases are thus associated with either influenza pneumonia or pleurisy Thus the flu Ou by weakening the in resistance may be con con- considered considered a forerunner of ot tuberculosis and patients should take real care of themselves for some time after fler recovering from flu Watch for These Signs In fact any infection or ailment that causes a run-down run condition or if it the individual is not careful about watching sleep exercise food and fresh air he becomes predis predis- predisposed posed to tuberculosis A patient is likely to acquire or having acquired at least may devel op an active tuberculosis when he heis heis is anemic thin blood when he is underweight when he has a tend tend- tendency ency to recurrent or frequent colds especially recurrent bronchitis when he does not quickly recover from any simple acute infection whether it is flu measles or whooping whoop whoop- whooping ing cough when he does not recover recover er quickly from pneumonia or pleurisy A child is considered predis predis- predisposed posed to tuberculosis if he is pale has a tendency to eczema or has enlarged tonsils or adenoids and es es- es especially especially if he has enlarged glands in the neck To Increase Weight There is likely something wrong with the health of ot one who is either too thin or too fat tat What we call normal weight is associated with a astore astore store of fat sufficient to give the body that symmetry which we asso asso- associate asso- asso elate with a sense of well being Graceful contour can only exist when there is sufficient padding of ot fat beneath the skin to eradicate de de- de depressions depressions and irregularities of sur sur- surface sur- sur surface face The fat around the kidneys helps heps to support them and a nor nor- normal normal mal fat deposit in the mesentery the connective and fat tissue that holds the abdominal organs sus sus- suspended sus- sus suspended from the spinal column helps to keep the stomach and in in- in intestines intestines in their proper position A normal fat reserve is a great pro pro- protection protection against cold It is one evi evi- evi evidence dence of a state of good nutrition When one reads the above state state- statements ments from one of the foremost nu nu- nu nutrition experts Prof E V McCol- McCol McCollum McCollum McCollum lum Johns Hopkins university it would appear that fat bt which is the bugbear of ot so many men and wom wom- women wom- wom women en today is really something that we should shoud all try to accumulate However just as too much fat is isa Isa a menace to health so also is a alack alack lack of ot sufficient quantity to sup sup- supply supply ply the actual needs of the body from the standpoint of ot health and appearance While decreasing the food intake will definitely decrease weight in every case which case which may be dangerous danger danger- dangerous ous to life if food is cut down too much the much the increasing of food will not definitely increase weight in a great many cases This means then that in trying to increase weight other factors besides increasing food must be considered Many are worriers anxious about everything afraid to eat certain foods afraid of con con- constipation constipation and so unduly purge them them- themselves themselves selves They are the restless ac ac- ac active active tive and people who habitually work beyond their capacity because their strength is so limited ted It has long been known that rest is as good as food in building up weight just as too much rest will put on weight in those who are try try- trying trying ing to reduce weight by reducing the food only But in addition to physical rest mental rest is necessary also in building up weight and so these thin individuals must learn to attain calmness of ot spirit also This is why a holiday hollday often increases weight in thin individuals as they for the time lime being leave their cares be be- be behind behind hind The thin individual in addition to making sure of mental and physical rest should be examined by physician physician cian and dentist to make sure that there are no infected teeth or ton ton ton- tonsils tonsils sils which may be sapping strength and preventing the normal increase e ein in weight |
