The herald., 1896-10-18
.CONSUM MPTION
Its Prevalence, Symptoms, Cura-
bility and lncurabiIity
RETORT OF 1A{ SITE BOARD OF HEALTH
Showing the Vast Numbers OF Deaths
From tuberculosis and Recommenda-
tlons Concerning the Same

In the fourteenth biennial report OF
the state board Of health, just issued,
considerable attention Is given to the
subject Of consumption, it's prevalence
and its prevention. In the tables OF
statistics given some interesting facts
are shown. For example: From June
30. 1895, to June 80, 1896. there were in the
state of California 10,462 deaths, 1884 Of
which were due to phthisis pulmonalis
or consumption, 305 to other tuberculous
diseases, or 1889 deaths the direct result
Of tubercle bacilli, or more than one out
Of every six deaths. Besides there were
6S7 deaths from pneumonia and 237 from
bronchitis, many Of which We're propa-
bly, due to the acute diseases superven-
ing when the lungs were already more
or less affected by the tubercle bacillus.
Heart disease caused 956 deaths and
brain troubles 1853, Bright's disease 3S3
and 1853 deaths resulted from stomach
and bowel troubles. Thus it will be seen
that tuberculous diseases caused more
deaths than any other disease.
These facts should not be lost sight
of, and when any Of the symptoms ex-
list in a person, which are known TO pe
present in consumption he should not
stubbornly persist in affirming that he
has not got consumption, and that ne
is only tired or over-worked or slightly
run down and the like. On the contrary,
he should at once seek the advice or
expert physicians and frankly con-
fess that he suspects or fears the be-
ginning of consumption. A thorough
and careful examination will reveal the
fact if it is incipient consumption, and
a few dollars spent at that time with pro-
per care will prevent an untimely death:
The state board of health says: 1T
would be better if the sputum of all sus-
pected cases were subjected to micro
scopic examination, to determine the
presence or absence of the germs OF
consumption. If the germ be present
it is consumption, If the germ be not
present 1t is not consumption, Dut some
other affection of the lungs, perhaps less
dangerous"
The report further says: 1.-THE state
board of health would earnestly urge
that whenever a patient has reached the
second or third stages of consumption,
indicated by daily rise of fever, with
night sweats, copious eXpectoration of
purulent matter, with perhaps swelling
Of the ankles and diarrhoea, that it is
not only folly but criminal to send him
away for the benefit OF climate. Let
such patient have the comforts of home,
if there be such comforts for the pa
tient."
Of preventing the spread of the disease
by the travelling of the patient. But
it also emphasizes the statement made
further on in the report, which says:
when the disease has reached the stage
above described the patient will surely
die, and death is consummation to be
devoutly wished, even by the patient"
The expert physicians at the Koch
Medical Institute, Drs. Ballard and
Whitman, wish to repeat the timely
warning thus publicly and officially
given, and to urge all persons who are
losing health and strength to investi-
gate their condition closely, and if they
find any of the symptoms present indi-
eating a possible approach of the dis
ease of consumption to lose no time in
seeking expert advice and examina-
ton. Some of the symptoms to be look
ed for are loss of weight without any
apparent cause loss of appetite, cough,
expectoration, splitting Of blood, night
sweats, fever, chills, etc.
All persons found to have germs of
consumption present may also be as
sured that the improved tuberculin'
treatment of Drs. Ballard and Whit
man will surely destroy the germs
and arrest the disease If taken in
time, so that a cure may be
effected, even when in some cases 1t
has been declared to be incurable by
other physicians.
1t is the only treatment which does
cure consumption, and 1t Is positively
curing many who had been given up by
other prominent physicians.
The Koch Medical Institute, No. 529
South Broadway, Los Angeles. Office
hours, 10 a. m. to 4 p. M. Branch office,
rooms and 9, Masonic Temple, Pasa-
~HEa 1,o, fn