Malaria

Malaria is a germ disease, but like many other germ diseases, the primary cause is lowered resistance, caused by poisoned air and adulterated food stuffs. Protection against adulterated food stuffs depends upon enforcement of pure-food laws, and the training of every housekeeper in the art of domestic science. Impure milk, whether poisoned by the milkmen or handled carelessly by the housekeeper, cannot be turned into good blood. The same is true of other food stuffs.

Dry, pure air is absolutely necessary for the patient who suffers with malaria. Dwelling places near which are stagnant pools, rain barrels, marsh land or stores where decayed fruits and vegetables are housed, are dangerous to people who are afflicted with malaria or any other germ disease. Mosquitoes are held responsible for both malaria and yellow fever. They breed in warm weather, wherever stagnant water is found. To prevent a disease that is spread by animal or vegetable parasites we must direct our effort against the breeding places of these disease carriers. Coal oil, poured upon the surface of stagnant water on streets, or near our homes, is a great help in preventing the multiplication of mosquitoes. Screens on dwelling houses, dry basements, plenty of sunshine in the home and the prevention of accumulation of vegetable refuse can do much toward protection from these parasites.

People who are afflicted with partial congestion of the portal circulation have stagnant and poisoned blood, and are more liable to contract malaria than those whose liver is in good working order. Many people are under the impression that they have liver trouble if they put more work upon this organ than it is able to do. Overtaxing of any part of the body will finally result in congestion and disease.

If mechanical obstructions are responsible for sluggish conditions of the liver, they should be remedied by anatomical and physiological adjustment. Deep breathing is of the greatest importance in all diseases affecting the abdominal organs. Fresh air at night is as important as during the day. During rainy weather have a fire going during the night in order to keep the air dry. Protect the body with warmer clothing after sunset, and wear light woolen underwear if necessary to avoid chills during sleep.

The diet should be light and nutritious. Avoid all rich condiments, spices, soft puddings containing milk and eggs, yeast breads and cakes. Some cases should avoid milk, cheese, shellfish and other foods rich in protein.

The Following Suggestions May Be Helpful To Invalids Who Suffer From Chronic Affections Of The Liver And Intestinal Indigestion

1. Spend at least four hours per day out of doors.

2. Take short walks before and after dinner and before and after supper. Take deep breathing exercises by open windows before breakfast, and exercise the lower limbs while in bed.

3. Have breakfast at 9 a. m. and supper between 4 and 5 p. m.

4. Never work or eat when the hands and feet are cold.

5. Relax and breathe deeply with face down for 20 minutes, three times per day before meals.

6. During damp or rainy weather rest more, eat more greens, citrus fruits and fatty foods, and little or none of those foods which are rich in protein, such as cheese, whites of eggs, lean meats, nuts, beans, canned corn and milk foods, and select protein foods for the noon meal in the form of green pea or lentil soup, with or without tomatoes, or fat cold pork, fish or bacon in combination with apples, mashed beets, carrots or yellow turnips with lemon, hard yolks of eggs and fried bacon. Rice with tomato sauce and cold fat meat is also good. Black stale bread is best.

7. For breakfast use fats in the form of mayonnaise dressing with raw apples and tomatoes and plenty of onions, also fat meat if desired, and corn meal mush with eggs and cranberry sauce and celery; or the above mentioned green leaf vegetables. Celery roots, raw or cooked, with lemon and toasted bread and butter or fried bacon is also good. Use raw carrots, cranberries and beets with greens and French dressing. Raw cabbage is also good.

8. For supper select your food according to your appetite. If you are warm, active and energetic, take some raw fresh milk with zwieback and tomato or cranberry juice, or suck the juice of one-half or one-fourth of a lemon or grapefruit with it, white and yellow skin and all, expectorate the residue. Bran tea, barley or oatmeal water with one-fourth sterilized cream is good. If you are cold and chilly eat a plate of warm soup made of tomatoes or plums, huckleberries, string beans or asparagus (treated with lemon), or potato soup, or eat green cooked leaf vegetables with lemon and fried bacon, toasted or puffed wheat, and butter.

9. During the dry, frosty season, when the sun is bright during the middle of the day, eat a moderate amount of those foods forbidden under No. 6, combine them rightly, and take walks in the sunshine after dinner.

Jc. Mornings and evenings eat about the same foods as suggested in the foregoing.

11. Dress the body according to the changes of temperature.

12. Avoid over-heated rooms, and stay in bed until the sun rises, if necessary.

13. Keep the bowels in good order by enemas.

14. Black malt coffee prepared with a few whole or crushed coffee beans is of medicinal value if taken in small quantities after meals, especially after the noon meal; it acts as a tonic to the liver. Law cranberries may be substituted if desired.

The above mentioned suggestions are for extreme cases of liver degeneration. They also apply to many chronic, so-called incurable diseases where the protein and starches of the diet should be limited in quantity to the minimum, compatible with the requirements of the individual.

There are cases of liver trouble where there is no interference with the glycogenic and oxidizing action of the liver, and where an entirely different diet is required. Therefore, no patient should attempt to treat a disease by a book, without having his case diagnosed by a physician and receiving advice as to the special diet required.