Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs. It is caused by a special kind of germ. These germs are in the discharges from the throat and noses of people suffering from pneumonia and at times in the throat of perfectly well persons. Therefore, do not spit or cough without covering your mouth as you may give the disease to someone.
Pneumonia often leaves persons who get well from it with weak heart and lungs, and many of those sick do not get well.
Pneumonia is spread from one person to another, especially from those who have the disease, by coughing, sneezing, spitting or by handling articles such as handkerchiefs, spoons, forks, etc., which have been soiled by the discharges from the nose and throat.
To protect yourself keep pencils, hands and other things away from your mouth. You should be careful not to cough or sneeze or spit so that any of the spray touches any other person. You should cover up every cough or sneeze with a handkerchief, see that all eating utensils are boiled after using and not spit except in the fire.
Pneumonia comes when we are run down. It often follows a cold because many of us pay too little attention to colds. When you have a cold you should stay at home, in bed, keep away from others, drink plenty of water, move the bowels freely, do not waist your money on pneumonia preventatives. Pneumonia usually starts with a chill, great weakness, loss of appetite, breathing difficulties and in some by blood spital.
Go to bed and send for your doctor. People who stay up too long are the ones who die. Do not get up for any thing. Follow your doctor’s advice. Have plenty of fresh air or what is better, sleep out doors. Fresh air is absolutely necessary to pneumonia patients.
When you begin to improve, go slow. A relapse is more dangerous than a first attack, and it is very easy to get a relapse by over doing. Feed lightly while fever lasts but feed up well with nourishing but easily digested foods as soon as the temperature goes to normal.
Avoid colds and exposure to colds after pneumonia, for you are more likely to have pneumonia again, once you have had it.
Keep away from crowds if you would avoid infection and shun a person who is careless with his cough or spitting.
ALICE T. BASSETT,
Catawba County Public Health Nurse
From page 3 of the Hickory Daily Record, Dec. 19, 1922
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