Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-10-05
Battle With Baciiii.
Za.ion.

in world enthralled with bacili, breathing
in air the molecules of which are constant
ly agitated by deadly baciili battling for
vantage to assault you, to think of them
lurking and utterly beyond the reach not
only in the food, the drink and the air.
bat in the perfume of the flower,
in the gories of a sunset; poisoning
the air at sunrise and vitlating it at
night, even stealing upon one unawares
in the midst of pieasantest dreams; indeed
it is horrible!
Certainly, years are required to render
one callous to such conditions. Happily
such conditions if they exist are not known
even to the most skilled scientists. They
swarm from the brains of those who write
the interesting science" paragraphs for
those papers which must have sensation to
have existence.
! There are many dangers, however, from
germs to which all are daily exposed without
realizing it. The scientists realize this grave
danger, the common people do not. The
scientists realize moreover that precautions
may be easily taken which shall afford
practical protection against these and rem
der life much pleasanter and safer than
when bacilli were unknown to the world
and the planets were supposed to exert
greater influence than germs upon human
beings.
That one person may easily become in
fected with consumption from victim of
tue disease is certainly an unpleasant fact.
But on the other hand when it is realized
that it is a risk against which all may easily
guard when all realize the danger and CO.
operate against it the future looks brighter
for the knowledge.
Secretary Young of the State board of
health has been endeavoring through the
medium of the Sanitary Inspector and in
other ways to impress upon people the ne
cessity of destroying all sputum from con-
sump,ives. This spittle SO long as it re-
tains its moisture is not dangerous. 1t is
when it becomes dry and the germs float
into the atmosphere that it becomes a
menace to all who breathe tie air. He
permits the JOURNAL to make use of e1-
tracts De made from the able paper read by
N. 4. Wogdin, A. NJ, NJ. ID. of Bridge
port, before the American Public Health AS
ISOLATION few days ago. DE-. Wordin says :
~ make the statement without fear of
successful controversy, established as it is
by the research of scientists and the obseT-
walton of clinicians, pythisis pulmonalis is
not necessarily sn inherited disease. Given
a tendency, which may come by inheri-
lance, and the admission of the germ, and
the disease will follow. Given the tendency
and prevent the admission of the bacillus
tuberculosis and the person will escape.
This germ can alone cause consump-
ton. without passage of this specific
germ into the body, without the
transmission of this particular germ
in some way or ether in living condition
from the sick to the we'll, consumption can
not develop, cannot spread. Consumption
may be prevented then, by preventing the
germ from entering the body"
All must certainly agree with DR.. Wordin
that the public must be taught of these
truths. He says: II believe the most prac-
teal and the quickest would be to put
Tuberculosis on the list of infectious or
communicable diseases to be reported to
the health officer. Following this there
shoull be thorough disinfection of all
houses in which tuberculosis has occurred,
and the recording of such action in open
record In the second place, there could
be compulsory disinfection of hotel rooms,
sleeping car berths, steamer cabins and
prison cells which have been occupied by
consumptives before any other persons are
allowed to occupy them. Our Southern
railroad and steamship lines are constantly
carrying invalids in CHASTITY crowds which
can be tracked almost by their sputum
These poor sufferers seeking a fountain
of health. unwittingly leave behind them
in their train death dealing dangers more
dreadful because unseen and uncared for. >
Dr.. Wordin believes there should be
special hospitals for the treatment of tuber.
culosis, although with proper precautions
he thinks it possible to live on the closest
relations with consumptives without con-
tracing the disease but isolation ia needed
for those who are ignorant of what are
necessary precautions anil of how to make
tn, m.