The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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22 The Health Bulletin March, 1927
the pationt readily succumbs. To
illustrate, a syi)lii.itic with a weakened
heart stands a iH«)r chance to overcome
pneumonia which in itself calls for additional
heart work. The death certificate
of such a patient may read that
he died of pneumonia, whereas the real
cause of his deatli was a heart weakened
by the previous invasion of
syi.bilis." It is said that EVERY CASE
of sy[)hilis i)roduces changes in the
heart muscle wliich incapacitates that
or;;an for its usual work and causes
it to Kive way under the added strain
of any other disease. So it is seen that
syphilis not only kills directly by
causin.i: paresis, locomotor ataxia, liver
and kidney diseases, and in being responsible
for one-half of stillborn children,
but also INDIRECTLY as its
victims readily die of other diseases,
since their vitality is already below
par.
A Few Words of Advice to Those
Who Are Infected
1. Don't waste time or pin your faith
on patent medicines—they are practically
ineit.
2. Dont visit your druggist and ask
him for advice. He doesn't know any
more about the TREATMENT of diseases
than does your baker.
3. Don't be treated by "advertising
doctois." They are unscrupulous quacks
who prey upon the unfortunate.
4. Don't answer advertisements of
"blood medicine" manufacturers. They
are in the same class as the quack.
5. Don't believe that when the external
signs have left, you are well.
Syphilis is a draft drawn on your
health reserve payable with compound
interest—and the obligation will .surely
be paid in
some way.
G. Don't neglect taking treatment for
at least one year and as much longer
as your physician advises.
7. Don't marry for at least THREE
YEARS after becoming infected. It is
especially important for you to be persistently
treated if you intend marrying,
and before this step is taken you
should have been free of any symptoms
whatsoever for at least two years.
8. Last and most impoi'tant, DON'T
GET THE DISEASE. Syphilis is preventable.
The best thing one can do for
his health is to AVOID the chance of
sickness but if it so happens that you
do join the immense army of syphilitics,
avail yourself of the services of
a physician in your community well
qualified to treat such maladies, place
yourself under his care and follow with
exactness his instructions until in his
judgment it is safe for you to discontinue
treatment. In this way, and
in this way only, is it possible for you
to escape paying the debt which syphilis
demands of its victims. West Virginia
Health Bulletin.
WHAT SOME PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW
ASPIRIX
"I wonder if you have any literature
showing the danger in taking aspirin.
I am a teacher and boaiding in a
family wheie there are four children
and four other teachers, and aspirin
is their panacea. I hate to see them
take it so often, but it is useless for
me to say anything as they think it
hai-mless. I would be glad if you would
send me some articles showing the
harmful effect it has on the human
system, which I could show to them."
Reply
Tlie teacher who made the above
inquiry of the State Board of Health,
has iilainly and squaiely stated the
chief danger which lies in the promiscuous
use of aspirin and other quick
file headache remedies. She states they
think it harmless. Very few people in
their right senses would delibei-ately
dope themselves with drugs if they felt
such drugs were harmful. But most of
them who do so think there is no subsequent
harm to be feared. That idea is
erroneous. Almost any drug in the
world if used indiscriminately is
capable of doing harm.
Aspirin is a coal tar derivative. It
is a powerful drug. It depresses the
heart. It lulls sensation. In case of
beginning serious disease it disguises
symi)toms and often means the loss of
valuable time by delaying the inaugura-