Herald & Untem 11 lanuary '84

35

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—County

Library

There is nothing more facinating than people. People love to read the exciting and sordid details of the lives of others. The other day someone asked me to recommend a good book with strong characters and no sentimentality. While picking over some / books in the biography section, I came across many that stood out in my memory. Shpw business personalities are always popular topics for biographies. Charles Chaplin; My Autobiography stands out in my memory. Born to a pair of London vaudevillians, he lived a Dickensian childhood in and out of the workhouse until he came to America in i910. Everything in his . autobiography makes facinating reading — the (lx

early movie days, the birth of his most famous character, “The Tramp", and the McCarthy era political accusations that made him decide to leave the U.S. Yes 1 Can; The Story of Sammy Davis Jr. was another which left a lasting impression. About an entertainer who'was often controversial, this candid autobiography covers his vaudeville childhood, army life, losing his eye and his years of struggle for acceptance'among his people. It's been about 14 years since I read this book but whenever I see or hear this performer I am reminded of the drive and vitality of his life story. The Jack Benny Show; the Life and Time of America's Best Loved .Entertainer by Milt Josefsberg is littered with

Health Watch by Dr. .Robert G. Beitman

Next in our mini-series on diseases of the respiratory system is a discussion of asthma. It is estimated that two to three percent of adult Americans have asthma. It is, however, more common than that figure in school age children. An asthma attack usually involves difficulty -breathing, a tightness in the chest, and some wheezing. The wheezing may be loud enough to hear across the room or only detectable with a stethescope. In severe attacks it may be so difficult to breathe that you begin sweating, your pulse races and you become very anxious. In more ^severe cases the Ups and face may 7turn bluish because of lack _pf oxygen and emergency treatment may be needed. Asthma is rarely fatal. There are two common triggers,to an attack: Contact with something to which you have an allo-gy; and/or your emotions. Attacks can also be caused by infection, strenuous exercise. certain types of drugs and inhaled irritants. DURING AN asthma attack, your body reacts to one. of the triggers by tightening the airways, thereby attempting to prevent what it imagines to be •dangerous invading particules from getting into the*!lings. The airways will also become plugged with thickening mucus, intended to capture and wash out particles. Today control rather than cure is the available medical approach to asthma. If your body has that built-in tendency to react- ‘‘asthmatically" to one of the triggers, you can't reaUy get rid of that trait. What is helpful is to focus on detecting the cause of the attacks and then avoiding the cause if at all possible. Allergic asthma usually •s first diagnosed in childhood and is often outgrown as adulthood approaches, as,, not all alergies persist throughout one’s lifetime. Pollen, certain foods, dander, or hairs of dogs or cats, and tiny insects found in household dust (mites) are often the culprits. INDUSTRIAL causes ean include inhaling saw dust, flour, and other Pollutants . Some

asthmatics cannot handle heavy air pollution and need to leave town during bad episodes. When exercise-related asthma sets in, it is usually just after a period of peak exertion. The precise cause is not known, but inhaling cold air tends to make things worse. Sensitivity to aspirin and other types of antiinflammatory drugs can; in rare cases, lead to an asthma attack. A common trigger in those with persistent asthma is an upper respiratory infection, or a change in humidity. To separate the diagnosis of asthma from other possible causes of shortness of breath, your doctor will need a detailed history over ttfr course of your at- ‘ tacks. A chest X-ray, electrocardiogram and lung function test may also be ordered along with blood and urine tests. If' the source of your asthma can be traced and avoidance doesn’t prove feasible or helpful, then a number of medications can often provide relief or be used to help prevent attacks. Also, the use of allergy shots is occasionally a consideration. IN EMOTIONAL-stress trigger situations, there has been some success in t h e u s e o f behavior/modification techniques, which teach the person to handle stress in a different manner. Asthma attacks can be severe enough to require hospitalization. In the hospital, special machines to help with breathing are available, as well as the more potent intravenous medicati ori*. These measures are temporary to ensure sufficient oxygen during the acute phrse of the attack. If you are concerned that you or your child has asthma, report the symptoms to your physician. All told, the symptoms of shortness*of breath, , wheeze and cough are warning signs. These may be associated with pneumonia, lung cancer, emphysema, bronchitis, tuberculosis, or asthma. Health Watch is a public education project of the x 'Cape May County Unit of the New Jersey Division of the American Cancer Society.

by Kathleen Duffy

remembered jokes and slpts which enabled me to bear his delivery mentally. A delightful book about Benny's Maxwell, his relationship jwth Rochester, his feud with Fred’Allen and all those marvelous characters who studded his show. The lingering warmth and laughter are what you bring away from this'biography. PROBABLY the most important biography I ever read was Dumas Malone's six-volume set entitled Jefferson and His Times. A writer, legislator, farmer, inventor, architett. lawyer, musican, politican. presided, plantation owner, ambassador to France — Jefferson was like a faceted diamond. The principles of freedom which he eloquently fought for — particularly Intellectual freedom — formed the basis for our country and our library system. Just thinking about Jefferson will get me. up on a soap box. The Prince and the Lily by James Brough about Lillie Langtry, was read because of the BBC series on Victoria's son, Edward VII3A courageous and am-

bitious woman who ridded herself of an odious marriage of* convenience, became the acknowledged mistress of the crown prince, the toast of London society who survived her fall from grace and went on to a stage career which led her to be the toast of America known as “the Jersey LUy?’ Eleanor of Aquitane;,# Biography' by Marion Meade is an insightful portrait of a legendary woman filled with enormous intelligence and titaq£c energy'. The stage upon which she moved encompassed, the Crusades, the new Gothic architecture, the struggle between church and state, the first court of the troubadours, the ideas of courtly love and the burgeoning of a feminist movement. The pageantry of medieval France and England upon which she left an indelible mark make's for a remarkable biographical study. Hatshepsut by Evelyn Wells is about the only woman “Pharaoh" Egypt ever had. A fascinating poryait of an era of history w ith.which most of us, have

only a token acquaintance. Proclaiming herself king and wearing the male accoutrements of office, she wrested power away-from Thothmes II, her brother/husband, and lived te give Egypt 17 yeart of -unparaljelSrl peace while building some of its most

beauUfm monuments LOrne Deer Seeker of Vi-

sions; The Life of a Sioux Medicfne Man is the autobiography of a man who upholds the old religion and the ancient ways of his people. He has an unusual gift for anecdote and on-acute awareness of the profound and poetic significance of Indian life — its rituals and

beliefs.

A.Seafaring Legacy; the

Photographs. Diaries. Letters and Memorabilia of a • Maine Sea Captain and his wife 1859-1908 by Julianna FreeHand brings a feminine perspective on a life generally known and experienced only by men The portrait of a downeaster. the ships developed after the “Yankee Clipper”. daily existence in a New England village at the turn of the century - are all lovingly recreated, along with a fascinating love story — a Marvelous American document When you are looking for something to read that will linger in your memory, try browsing through the biography section of the Cape MayrCourity Library

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