St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-03-27
CONSUMPTION.
A Communicable Disease-Eow to
Prevent Taking It.

49, #2- w
the Tri-stats Nc iieal Association OF
Arksnsas, Alisslss,ppl and Tennessee
Appointed 1t Its session In
November 1S90.
Consumption In some Of its forms Is the cause
Of about one death in every seven that occur
t1sfoughout the civilized world. Other forms
and other names for the disease are. wasting
disease. marasmus, scrosula, decline lupus and
white swelling. tuberculosis 10 . name applied
to all forms OF the disease, consumption being
generally applied to tuberculosis OF the lungs.
We shall use the word consumption In this paper
As 1t Is the more familiar term. But the condl-
tons which. occurring in the lungs. cause con-
sumption. may occur In any part OF the body
the bowels, the brain. the bones. the glands, the
liver, all may be invaded.
Consumption Caused Moro Deaths Than
Any Other One Disease.
Its gravity should be appreciated. and the
efforts OF all should be exerfed to stop its dread
full progress. Yet little in this direction Is BE-
ing done, although facts revealed BY the invest.
CATION OF the past twenty years show that this
can to . great extent be accomplished. Let us
state some Of the facts upon which the scientific
world Is agreed.
Consumption IL . cortsgious Or Com
municablo Disease.
This means that every new case Ii contracted
from some other one. This Is proven BY clinical
evidence. Wives often contract the disease BY
nursing consumptivc husband. parents by
caring for child, friend from friend. Com
munities have been free from the disease until,
rs In some OF our noted health resorts, an innux
OF consumptive visitors Is followed by IT. fire.
quent occurrence In the resident population
The comnunicability OF consumption Is also
proven beyond dispute. by experimental inocula.
ton. Susceptible animals. as monkeys and
guinea pigs, develop typical cases OF consump-
ton when inoculated with the specific germ,
while like animals fail to develop the disease
when kept free from the germ. although kept
closely confined In conditions un'avOrable to
their health.
The communicabillty OF consumption was NOT
recognized earlier from observation because OF
the very chronic course OF the disease; months
or oven years may elapse between the time OF
contracting the disease and the development OF
pronounced symptoms.
The Cause or Consumption
Il the growth within the body OF rod-like germs
or microbes, 90 small that only the most power.
full microscopes can reveal the presence. A
single m!csobe Is one ten thousandth Of an inch
In length and Its length il six times that Of its
width OF thickneaA The Germs by their growth
In the tissues usually make little nodulss or
tubercles. From these tubercles We derive the
term tuberculosis. and the germ Is known - the
bacillus tuberculosis.
Wherever these germs grow In the body the
tissues arc apt to soften and break down. In
hn NQ.lik
eoughed up. This sputum. or matter coughed
up from . consumptive lung, Is always
laden with germs. All discharges from tuber-
culous areas contain tnbercle bacilli. It IS by
means OF these discharges, chiefly from the
lungs. that consumption Is communicated.
These discharges are the whole source OF
danger % far - the communication o. tho
disease from one human being to another Is con-
eeened Casta are subject to the disease ana
the milk and meat OF such animals are source
OF danger. But the chief source OF danger Is
from infected human beings. Could all the
sputa lmaster coughed up) from the lungs OF
consumptives be destroyed by burning - soon
as raised, consumption would soon b rare
disease.
For consumption Is preventable. This fact
should be known throughout the land.
How the Consump tIve May Avoid Spread
ing the Disease.
Every fair-minded person who has, or Is
threatened with consumption will spare no
pains to avoid Transmitting his disease to others
The consumptive Is = safe companion 50 long -
be destroys his sputa. Neither the air breathed
By him. nor the Civilizations from his body can
cause the disease. So long rs the matter ex-
perforated remains moist the germs are hold
glued to Ii and therefore do no harm. But II
soon dries and then by one means or another Is
ground into dust. This sputum dust, contain
ing myriads OF bacilll Is spread by the broom
ana buster or BY the breezes, and ID breathed
into the lungs Of others. For the eonsumptive
to spit upon the floor OF . room, or upon the
stairs or passages OF any building Is to endanger
the lives OF every one entering that apartment.
And every one with a chronic cough should con-
slider himself as possibly consumptive. In
deed NO one with . cough and expectoration
should spit upon the floor OF any building, or
upon stairways, sidewalks or paths.
While In the house the consumptive should
always spit into . cuspidor or special cup.
These vessels should contain i've per cent So
tuition OF carho!ic acid. or Of some other strong
eermicide. These cups and cuspafors should
never become foul. but should Be frequently
washed in setmicide solutions. Boxes With
sawdust In them may be used As receptacles.
These should never be left uncovered for flies to
get on them, for fly can carry on numbers OF
the bacilli on one OF Its tiny legs. Nor should
these boxes be used longer than twenty -four
hours and then the box and all its contents
be burned.
Pieces OF paper. or paste board should mot be
used to receive the sputa. Is the bacilli very
readily soaks through ordinary paper.
II, BY accident any sputum gets on the floor.
Il should be scrubbed with the solution Of car
bd4ic acid at once. The consumptlve should not
spit into his handkerchief. This soon becomes
dry and there IS great danger Of inhaling the
pulverized matter when 1t Is again used, thus
causing further Infection II Is row believed
shat many consumptives who might otherwise
have recovered, have gone the downward road
because they have reinfected themselves In this
and other ways. II handkerchief must Be
used, 1t should be used only once and then put
into germicide solution or into boiling water.
Japanese handkerchiefs or pieces OF old cloths
are better for this purpose. and they should be
burned As soon Is once used. II the patient Is
At church or where he cannot at once burn these
cloths, he should have envelopes in which he
can place them 30 he can carry them with safety
to where they can be destroyed Tho consump-
tive should not spit on the sidewalk. path or
In the city he ought to carry the
japanese handkerchiefs and envelopes or spit
flask for use even ont OF doors. In the country
there Is little risk In splitting In ont Of the way
Places. provided no chicken or cow can get 1t.
Chickens have been known 10 contract consump-
ton from eating such sputa- The patient should
never swallow his own sputa As this causes con-
sumption Of the bowels.
The consumptlve should be very cleanly In his
habits. He should thoroughly wash his hands,
lips and mouth often during the day.
The moisture Of the mouth Of = consumptive
contains bacilli and such an Individual should
refrain from kissing. The life OF those dear to
him depends upon Ms prudence.
The consumpttve mother should never sucklc
her babe. The clothes worn by = eonsumptive
are apt to become infected, and should never be
used by others until disinfected. The consump-
Tive should never follow occupations where he
Is compelled to handle the food or wearing ap-
parel OF others, or which brings him into close
relations with Others. II, In the emergencies OF
life he Ii compelled to such positions, he should
h. VERY careful that none of his spusa gets upon