Page 12 |
Previous | 77 of 209 | Next |
|
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
|
Loading content ...
12 The Health Bulletin February, 1940 Summer Diarrheas By Merl J. Carson, M. D. Division of Preventive Medicine North Carolina State Board of Health Raleigh, North Carolina FOR many years summer diarrhea and dysentery have been one of the leading causes of infant mortality in North Carolina. In former years, these were much more fearful and dreaded conditions than at present, and it was literally true that during the hot summer months, babies died like flies. During the past five years the mortality has steadily decreased. However, even with this decrease, in 1942 approximately 464 children under 2 years of age died as a result of these conditions. This, of course, does not include the numbers of children over 2 years of age who died nor does it indicate the tremendous number of children who were ill but recovered. The hot summer months are now beginning and like train bearers in their wake came flies, contamination of milk and food, diarrhea and dysentery, sickness and death. What causes the summer diarrhea? Some of the causes are due to an infection of the intestinal tract by specific bacteria such as the typhoid or dysentery bacteria. The greater number, however, are due to digestive disturbances, for which no specific bacteria can be blamed. These latter cases are the ones where most can be done by the mother toward preventing the illness. Hot weather in itself has an effect of decreasing the amount of digestive juices secreted by the stomach and intestines. This causes a decrease in the acid content of the stomach so that bacteria can grow and multiply here, and also leaves undigested food in the intestines which encourages the growth of harmful bacteria. These same effects are realized if the child has an infection anywhere in the body, such as an ear infection, pneumonia, etc. Food which the child takes is very often responsible. This is particularly true where the child is being fed on an artificial formula from a bottle. Refrigeration is very frequently a serious difficulty in the rural areas. Ice cannot be delivered to the scattered homes and electric refrigerators are too expensive to be had, even in the relatively few homes where electricity is available. It is very easy to see that if the baby's milk is made up in advance, and remains in the heat, the bacteria which are present in the milk will multiply by the millions very rapidly, and spoil the milk. Then when the baby drinks this milk, he usually becomes sick. It is not necessary to go into the details of the symptoms these babies present when ill. Anyone who has ever seen the pathetic picture they represent can never forget it. The sunken eyes, ringed with dark circles, the dry and wrinkled skin, the weak, small, pitiable cry, the listlessness and apathy, the deep, pulseless breathing, the vomiting and watery, greenish or bloody diarrhea. These are unfortunately far too frequent a sight. What can we do to prevent this situation? Difficult as it is in normal times, the problem is increased manyfold by the exigencies of war. The transportation difficulties are increasing, doctors are scarce and overburdened, and hospitals are so overcrowded that often patients have to be turned away. It is becoming more apparent that the mother is having to accept more responsibility for prevention of disease and maintenance of good health in her children. In order to help prevent this summer diarrhea, a number of simple procedures may be followed. In the first place, there should be more babies raised by breast feeding. Every effort should be made by the mother to achieve this end. She should drink plenty of liquids, get adequate rest and food, and nurse her baby regularly. This will eliminate the tremendous hazard of spoiled milk and eliminate in large degree the need for refrigeration.
Object Description
Rating | |
Fixed Title * | NCHH-04: The Health Bulletin [1914-1973] |
Document Title | The Health Bulletin [1914-1973] |
Subject Topical | Public health -- North Carolina -- Periodicals. |
Subject Topical Other | Public Health -- North Carolina -- Periodicals. |
Contributor | North Carolina. State Board of Health. |
Publisher | Raleigh, North Carolina State Board of Health. |
Repository | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Health Sciences Library. |
Host | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Date | 1943 |
Identifier | NCHH-04-058 |
Form General | Periodicals |
Language | English |
Rights | This item is part of the North Carolina History of Health Digital Collection. Some materials in the Collection are protected by U.S. copyright law. This item is presented by the Health Sciences Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for research and educational purposes. It may not be republished or distributed without permission of the Health Sciences Library. |
Digital Collection | North Carolina History of Health Digital Collection |
Sponsor | The North Carolina History of Health Digital Collection is an open access publishing initiative of the Health Sciences Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Financial support for the initiative was provided in part by a multi-year NC ECHO (Exploring Cultural Heritage Online) digitization grant, awarded by the State Library of North Carolina, and funded through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). |
Volume Number | 58 |
Health Discipline | Public Health |
Digital Format | JPEG 2000 |
Print / Download PDF Version | http://archives.hsl.unc.edu/nchh/nchh-04/nchh-04-058.pdf |
Document Sort | all; group-b; nchh-04 |
Volume Link | http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/search/collection/nchh/field/identi/searchterm/NCHH-04-058 |
Title Link | http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/search/collection/nchh/field/documa/searchterm/NCHH-04 |
Catalog Record link | http://search.lib.unc.edu/search?R=UNCb1296443 |
Description
Fixed Title * | Page 12 |
Document Title | The Health Bulletin [1914-1973] |
Subject Topical | Public health -- North Carolina -- Periodicals. |
Subject Topical Other | Public Health -- North Carolina -- Periodicals. |
Contributor | North Carolina. State Board of Health. |
Publisher | Raleigh, North Carolina State Board of Health. |
Repository | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Health Sciences Library. |
Host | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Date | 1943 |
Identifier | NCHH-04-058-0082 |
Form General | Periodicals |
Page Type | all; article; article title |
Language | English |
Rights | This item is part of the North Carolina History of Health Digital Collection. Some materials in the Collection are protected by U.S. copyright law. This item is presented by the Health Sciences Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for research and educational purposes. It may not be republished or distributed without permission of the Health Sciences Library. |
Filename | healthbulletinse58nort_0082.jp2 |
Digital Collection | North Carolina History of Health Digital Collection |
Sponsor | The North Carolina History of Health Digital Collection is an open access publishing initiative of the Health Sciences Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Financial support for the initiative was provided in part by a multi-year NC ECHO (Exploring Cultural Heritage Online) digitization grant, awarded by the State Library of North Carolina, and funded through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). |
Volume Number | 58 |
Issue Number | 5 |
Page Number | 12 |
Health Discipline | Public Health |
Full Text | 12 The Health Bulletin February, 1940 Summer Diarrheas By Merl J. Carson, M. D. Division of Preventive Medicine North Carolina State Board of Health Raleigh, North Carolina FOR many years summer diarrhea and dysentery have been one of the leading causes of infant mortality in North Carolina. In former years, these were much more fearful and dreaded conditions than at present, and it was literally true that during the hot summer months, babies died like flies. During the past five years the mortality has steadily decreased. However, even with this decrease, in 1942 approximately 464 children under 2 years of age died as a result of these conditions. This, of course, does not include the numbers of children over 2 years of age who died nor does it indicate the tremendous number of children who were ill but recovered. The hot summer months are now beginning and like train bearers in their wake came flies, contamination of milk and food, diarrhea and dysentery, sickness and death. What causes the summer diarrhea? Some of the causes are due to an infection of the intestinal tract by specific bacteria such as the typhoid or dysentery bacteria. The greater number, however, are due to digestive disturbances, for which no specific bacteria can be blamed. These latter cases are the ones where most can be done by the mother toward preventing the illness. Hot weather in itself has an effect of decreasing the amount of digestive juices secreted by the stomach and intestines. This causes a decrease in the acid content of the stomach so that bacteria can grow and multiply here, and also leaves undigested food in the intestines which encourages the growth of harmful bacteria. These same effects are realized if the child has an infection anywhere in the body, such as an ear infection, pneumonia, etc. Food which the child takes is very often responsible. This is particularly true where the child is being fed on an artificial formula from a bottle. Refrigeration is very frequently a serious difficulty in the rural areas. Ice cannot be delivered to the scattered homes and electric refrigerators are too expensive to be had, even in the relatively few homes where electricity is available. It is very easy to see that if the baby's milk is made up in advance, and remains in the heat, the bacteria which are present in the milk will multiply by the millions very rapidly, and spoil the milk. Then when the baby drinks this milk, he usually becomes sick. It is not necessary to go into the details of the symptoms these babies present when ill. Anyone who has ever seen the pathetic picture they represent can never forget it. The sunken eyes, ringed with dark circles, the dry and wrinkled skin, the weak, small, pitiable cry, the listlessness and apathy, the deep, pulseless breathing, the vomiting and watery, greenish or bloody diarrhea. These are unfortunately far too frequent a sight. What can we do to prevent this situation? Difficult as it is in normal times, the problem is increased manyfold by the exigencies of war. The transportation difficulties are increasing, doctors are scarce and overburdened, and hospitals are so overcrowded that often patients have to be turned away. It is becoming more apparent that the mother is having to accept more responsibility for prevention of disease and maintenance of good health in her children. In order to help prevent this summer diarrhea, a number of simple procedures may be followed. In the first place, there should be more babies raised by breast feeding. Every effort should be made by the mother to achieve this end. She should drink plenty of liquids, get adequate rest and food, and nurse her baby regularly. This will eliminate the tremendous hazard of spoiled milk and eliminate in large degree the need for refrigeration. |
Digital Format | JPEG 2000 |
Print / Download PDF Version | http://archives.hsl.unc.edu/nchh/nchh-04/nchh-04-058.pdf |
Document Sort | all; group-b; nchh-04 |
Article Title | Summer Diarrheas |
Article Author | Carson, Merl J. |
Volume Link | http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/search/collection/nchh/field/identi/searchterm/NCHH-04-058 |
Title Link | http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/search/collection/nchh/field/documa/searchterm/NCHH-04 |
Catalog Record link | http://search.lib.unc.edu/search?R=UNCb1296443 |
Tags
Comments
Post a Comment for Page 12