TALKS ON HEALTH.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 148, 2 September 1926, Page 2

TALKS ON HEALTH.

(By a Family Doctor). THE LYMPHATIC VESSELS. Every one has heard of the bloodvessels with the warm stream of blood flowing through them all round th > body; but the man in the street is nc‘ so familiar with another system o channels, called the lymphatic vessels, containing a clear fluid, which are also to be found in every; region of the body. If you get a poisoned finger you may sec red lines running up the front of -the arm. towards the elbov. These red lines are the inflamed lymphatics. In the ordinary Way they a ‘ not visible—they only show up whe.i they are red jJihl; swollen from inflammation. Inflamed Glands. Situated in ,the fine, .these lymphatic channel's are little round kernels or glands, called the lymphatic glands. These, too, tare scarcely to be felt in health, but thiey frequently/become inflamed;, and then they show up as round swellings; i These glands- are, : found in special ’situations—Oh the side of j the neck, in.thp groin,Under the/arm-pit, anil smaller' ones' are 'found ht‘ the cTbbw anil behind therknee. Yon may. have if you have? followed.these articles, , that 1 ..thers .are, twfo. kinds . of blood corpuscles, the fed ,and' the white. The' re'd'-afb 1 used fob carrying the oxygen firoiiDthe' lurigsi'to .all parts 1 of the body-; the> white are- .really, they piakp,. £s% and. > fight . tfie dapgerpus organisms, ,that. givp ff-j; diseases.. ' , '' Guards gainstlnfection, v,. Nqw the| lymphatic, jt,have,, described above 'jaye' really. collections 'of white- 1 -'blood ■ c'orpu'sdles! 1 ‘ They ’ stand' as guards' ’ agaih’st’. - dnf ectiiosaji! cney; delay •the inroatjs ;!(: of ju,inp ~9,n the micrqbus iand„ give .them a warm time. In the fight the glands become swollen, and therefore swollen glands in any situation of the body, indicate that, an .attempt is* being, made to inv.ade the body* The struggle may be protracted and very slow, as in the base of tuberculosis; or, - on the other hand, thb fight may be short and sharp. The toe anay. be poisoned on Monday, and an abscess forms in the groin on Thursday. It all depends on the kind of germ that gains entry. Arguing Backwards. ‘ Now give youf : ’attention to base of swollen glands in the neck. Here cbmesyin.; the .value of a knowledge of anatomy; or the structure of' the body. We' doctors arc taught when -we are students what areas are drained by the lymphatics, and'we. lelarn that the lymphatic vessels of the neck .pome ... from the side of the head, ‘ from the throat, from the tonsils; from the jaw and the teeth, and from .the skin. Therefore, any doctor studying a case of gland's in the neck'seeks in all these situations for the source of infection. Plain Speaking. The germs (are in' the gland, but how did -they - get: there? From the above you will understand that there, are : many sources. First, therefore, we will begin with the skin. I hate to write about it, but it is as well not to shirk unpleasant duties. The :i first great cause-of glands in the neck is a dirty skin; vermin in the head and swollen lumps in the neck go together. The mother 'balls it “ ‘weakness, ■’’■ but I know better, and if tliat. head is net spotlessly clean in twenty-four hours from this minute I w.iil myself take the mother befofe the magistrate’ and tell him • what a cru'el wretch she Is to let jhesn jChilfl suffpiyand Iltvi'll r see . iit y I cannot ~gCjt. .her. severely, punished. .X. can stand a good deal from ignomilt people, but I cannot 'stand hearing'’ 'dirt called ’“ weakness. } ’■ Cure the 'dirt ■ and ,: - the .glands' cure themselves..;.' t 'A l so.re place sj-jlc of the . head,? or face, .may allow ,germs to get in. ‘ The proper treatment is to elciansC the- wound

thoroughly and aj>ply some mild anti septic lotion. Cut off the supply of germs and the lumps will disappear. Types of Casts. Now, suppose we are dealing with a case of infection with a micro-organism that causes r'apid inflammation. First; the gland is swollen, then it becomes more swollen and painful, then it gets red, and the skin over the gland is tight and shiny; then the gland b<=* comes an abscess, and finally tin. abscess bursts and the matter comes out. The sore place may remain open for weeks, and great inconvenience is caused to the unfortunate sufferer. Again, consider a different type of case. The germ may be the germ of consumption the tubercle bacillus. That does not cause a rapid abscess, but causes slow, gradual swelling. The tubercle bacillus gained a foothold either through a septic tooth-socket or through an unhealthy tonsil. Both ought to have been seen to many months ago. , The Question of Operating. ■ One of two things will happen: The vitality of the body may win and the glands die away with' the" death of the germs—ail is ‘ well; or the glands may grow larger, and in;spite of all the parents, may do the germs may win the day. In that .case the question of operation must be taken seriously into consideration. Mind, I- do hot say Operation first. Try every; other piethod.first. Whep all has failed, then take rav advice and have the glands removed by operation and' thrown into thfe fire. The germs'had better in the fire than- in year child ’s neck. Each ease. of..swellen glanels.. in..the neck, piust be studied ..separately. _ln this article I luivc dealt felliefly : with 'child ten, but swellings occur in the necks of grownupi.people, and then they ’generally indicate. spinq. grave .disease of neighbouring parts. Glands in the neck always afipcUr, for' ; lhsta'hbe; in’ every base of earieer of- the--tonnue.- > • : , Care- of the zreet. - You must p>ay scrupulous attention to your feet. Toe-nails should .be cut sliort," but not too' short —the quick of the nail should riot be exposed. Corns should not be cut so as.to expose, the delicate skin underneath. Corns are. a protection for the skin at points of special friction. ' They only become harmful when they reach the size that makes them jut out—they should be cut just, level with the skin.