Herald & Lantern 21 December '83

43

Christmas Legend® There is a Christmas legend of The Christ Child I would weave Into the children's special dreams On Holy Christmas Eve; While hearts are warm and loving and Good will shine from the eyes, I would take their spirits winging Where (he infant Christ Child lies; Down the centuries we must travel To a distant time and place Where a stable lad is kneeling Looking in the Christ Child's face; Gentle Mary smiles above him As her loving hands caress Stubborn curls that shine defiance At the ragged, threadbare dress. And the little boy who never Owned a toy of any kind Hurries out into the darkness Of the streets that he might find; ■ Some bright trinket, something clever That will catch the baby's eyes. Oh, it must be very special This first gift that he would buy. Through the market place he wanders. Searching every fine display. But, alas, each toy and trinket costs Far more than he can pay. Hours later Mary finds him Sobbing by the manger bed. And again she seeks to smooth the curls That cap his small dark head. "Grieve not, dear lad, the gift you bring A loving thoughtful heart, Could not be bought at any price In all the city's mart; The trinket now so bright and new Would soon have had it's day. But generous hearts like yours keep bright By giving LOVE away. And legend tells us Cod Himself Came down from heaven above To bless the little stable boy Whose only gift was love. “ VINEY H. ENDICOTT ^

GETTING ACQUAINTED — Cape May County's Junior Miss, Joanne Vinci, right, of Wildwood Catholic High School, chats with 1M3 New Jersey’s Junior Miss Trish San Uni, left, and Atlantic County’s Junior Miss, Jana Lea Hionipson of Ham monton High School, at orientation session at Borden town High School recenUy.

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by Dr Robert C Beitman

Early detection of the diagnosis of pneumonia is particularly important here in Cape May County. The number of individuals at risk for developing pneumonia is very high due to the large number of elderly, chronic smokers and alcohol consumers in our community. Fifteen out of 1,000' Americans contract pneumonia each year. Except for mild cases occasionally found in the young and relatively healthy, pneumonia should be considered a serious illness, requiring prompt medical attention. Often pneumonia is the cause of death in elderly or terminally ill persons because of a breakdown in their body’s defense mechanisms to protect the lungs. There are many warning signs. Shortness of breath, especially when lying down, and chest pain when you breathe are two critical clues. Coughing up blood can be a warning sign of many lung disorders, including lung cancer and pneumonia. Check for temperature, chills, sweats, a blush tinge to the skin (means you’re not getting enough oxygen) and a

steady cough. Pneumonia can occasionally lead to mental confusion or even delirium. WAYS TO contracting pneumonia are varied. However, certain virus strains can cause a rapid, violent form of influenza which can kill a weak person in a few days time. Ac-' cordingly, if you note the warning signs of pneumonia, you should seek prompt medical attention! There are four principal ways of contracting pheumonia, which is defined as inflammation of the lungs: (1) Inhaling microbes (“bugs” or viruses) which lodge and grow in the lungs, (2) aspiration (inhaling material into the lung which doesn’t belong there such as food, mucus, soliva, bile or pills, (3) Spread of an infection from a neighboring area in the body, or (4) spread via the blood from a distant site. Your physician will look

for a number-of physical findings to determine whether you have pneumonia. These may include the following: A check of your sputum for a yellow-green-brown appearance, a fqul smell and/or streaks of blood. The history of onset of ydur illness will hold important clues for the doctor. She ywill listen to your chest to hear if you are getting a full volume of air when breathing, and listening for “crackling sounds" in the lungs which would signal the presence of fluid build- • up A chest X-ray may help pinpoint the diagnosis. A , variety of blood test can also prove helpful. In recurrent pneumonia a special test called ,“bronchoscopy" may be arranged where with a thin, flexible fiberoptic scope ^inserted through the nose'the doctor can take a look deep into the lung and biopsy and worrisome areas. Pneumonia is a common problem, but if detected

early can often ije treated early and safely. Health Watch is a project of the. Public Education program, of the Cape May County Unit of the American Cancer Society. For free brochures on topics such as lung cancer, the health effects smoking, and how to stop smoking, contact the office at 15 Delsea Dr, Rio Grande.

Elementary Honor Roll

AVALON — Six students were named for High Honors and three others for honors for the first marking period at the Avalon Elementary School. Nominated for High Honors were Danela Dell’ Orefice, Christin Dodd, Abigail F^gan, Michele Jost and Bobbi Jo Sikora, all Eighth Grade, and Stephanie Orlando, Seventh Grade. On the Honors roll are Ann Orlando, Frank Reed and Faith Talnack, Seventh Grade.

Has your bank asked you to move the contents of your safe deposit box? Are you in need of a place to store your valuables and important papers?

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