Pneumonia-Bronchitis

Children with "'colds,'' if fed and otherwise maltreated, will often develop pneumonia or bronchitis. What is pneumonia? It is a catarrhal state of the lungs brought on from putrescence in the intestines. What, in fact, is the symptom-complex named pneumonia? According to scientific medicine, "pneumonia is an acute disease most often due to a specific micro-organism, the pneumococcus. Besides this particular microbe, the streptococcus and the staphylococcus pyogenes may be the cause." This means that pneumonia is often caused by pneumococci, or it may be caused by the above-named bacilli coming from typhoid fever, or some other derangement that causes ulceration. The general understanding, however, is that simple pneumonia is caused by the germ pneumococcus. The whole germ theory can be dismissed with the one word "piffle."

Years of observation and "watchful waiting" have convinced me that in pneumonia the lungs are requisitioned as the organs to do vicarious eliminating for the regular eliminating organs, which have been put out of commission. (See "Toxemia Explained.") A child develops Toxemia in the regular way. To this state, infection from the stomach and bowels is added--indigestion has continued until the protein of the milk has taken on a state of decomposition. Then, in children predisposed to lung troubles, there will be developed pneumonia or a bronchitis. There is very little difference between pneumonia and bronchitis. The air-cells are involved in pneumonia, and the bronchial tubes in bronchitis. Both come from the same cause and should be treated the same way.

What is the treatment? Stop food, wash out the bowels, and keep the child away from food until the intestines are cleaned out, the temperature normal, and the breath free of odor. If there is severe cough and much filling-up or stuffing-up of the lungs, and oppression in breathing, give hot tub bath to full relief as often as necessary; rub hot oil on the chest and cover with a layer of cotton. This is about the only local application necessary. The main cure (if we desire to use that term) is to keep the feet warm and bowels cleared out, withhold food until the cause gastro- intestinal fermentation and decomposition--has been entirely overcome. Then feed very lightly of the accustomed food, after giving diluted orange juice for two or three days.