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Show OOOCXJOOOCOOCOOOOOOOCXDOOOOO HOW TO KEEP. WELL DR. FREDERICK R. GREEN Editor of "HEALTH" CO00000CO0000CO00OCXX)00000 (. 1925. Western Newspaper Union.) RAT-BITE FEVER "D AT bites are not common In this country. Although the rat population popu-lation is said to be at least as large, if not larger than the human, the two apparently come together seldom. In the country, where numerous rats are found under barns, corn cribs and wood sheds, and where children go barefoot at least part of the year, rat bites are probably much more frequent than is usually supposed. In Japan, where the houses are of loose construction, where every one sleeps on mats on the floor and where many of the people go barefooted all the year round, rat bites are much more common than in this country. The doctors In Japan have found that there Is a definite disease which may be gotten from a rat bite, just as hydrophobia hy-drophobia can be gotten from a dog bite. They call It sodoku. Any kind of a bite, so far as the wound is concerned Is like any other kind of e. stabbing or tearing wound. Its seriousness depends largely on the kind of a weapon that makes it. A stab wound with a new, clean, bright knife is not as dangerous as the same wound made with an old, jagged, dirty knife. But animals' teeth are seldom clean. Our old English saying is "as clean as a hound's tooth." But hounds or any other kinds of dogs very seldom have clean teeth. They may have hydrophobia, hy-drophobia, If they have been bitten by a mad dog. Even if they do not have . this worst of dog diseases, they have in their mouths and on their teeth germs of various kinds, which stay In the wound and produce Infection, causing pain, swelling and sometimes fever. Rats also generally have some kind of germ in their mouths, so that the rat bites usually become Infected and mny cause fever. In about ten to twenty days after the bite, the patient, pa-tient, often a child, will complain of headache, weakness and muscular pains. The bite, even if it has apparently ap-parently healed, becomes swollen, painful and a reddish blue color. The glands or "kernels" nearest , the bite become swollen and tender. If the bite is on the foot, the glands in the groin are swollen ; If on the hands, the glands in the arm pit. Fever, nausea, vomiting vomit-ing follow and, in severe cases, the child may become delirious, ine tever lasts -veral days, then disappears for from two to Six days and reappears. A bluish red rash appears on the body. The disease may last weeks or months. Most cases eventually recover. recov-er. Treatment consists in cauterizing the bite with carbolic acid and In the injection of arsphenamine. LEAD POISONING LEAD poisoning Is one of the commonest com-monest diseases due to occupation. occupa-tion. It is found among painters, plumbers and many other workmen who handle or use some form of lead In their work. A recent, article on lead poisoning lists over 150 occupations occupa-tions In which cases have occurred. Lead poisoning is also found among persons wdio have been poisoned by foods containing lead or cooked Id vessels lined with an enamel containing contain-ing lead or by drinking water which ba,s stood for some time In lead pipes. Lead poisoning does not come on suddenly, DUl so siowiy as to cover weeks or even months. The patient Is constipated, always tired, has no appetite, has cramp-like pains In his muscles, especially in the calves. His tongue is coated, he has a foul breath, Is pale and loses weight. Soon a blue line appears on the gums, Just above the edge. This Is the certain and characteristic sign of lead poisoning. If the patient, at this stage, finds out that he Is being poisoned and removes re-moves the cause, or gives up the harmful work, takes frequent warm ) baths, eats good food, takes tonics and laxatives, he may recover without any further harm. But If the poisoning goes on without being treated, he Is I apt to have an attack of lead colic or painter's colic as It is sometimes called. This is a sudden, severe pain in the abdomen, like acute colic, accompanied ac-companied by constipation and followed fol-lowed Dy diarrhea. The pain may last for several days, disappear and return in two or three weeks. I Finally, the poisoned person may ! have a paralysis of one or more groups ! of muscles. The muscles which j straighten out the fingers may first ' be paral.v7.ed, then the group which j opens the hand, and finally the muscles I which straighten the wrist, so that It ' is Impossible to raise or close the hand, which hangs lifeless from the i wrist. This is called "wrist drop." ! The patient is unable to use his i hands. Just why lead poisoning should I paralyze the muscles which the paint-! paint-! er or plumber specially needs in his work, no one knows, but these are I the muscles most generally affected, j persons handling or using nair dyes, ' paints or even some forms of face i powder may also have lead poisoning. ! 'j'hose whos" work makes it necessary ; to handle lead or anything containing It should be especially careful to wash I their bunds always before eating, not ) to eat in the work shop, to protect j their food from any contact witli lend I arid to bvi d breathing dust which ' may contain lead. |