The Van Buren press., 1897-02-27
CONSUMPTION.
4 Communicable Dlsease.-H0w u
Prevent Taking H.-F0r the
General Welfare.

~
throughout the civilized world. Other f0rm'
and other names for the disease are, wastint
disease marasmus, scrofula, decline, lupus hhe
white swelling. Tuberculosis Is name Rppnec
, 10 All forms of the disease, consumption being
generally applied 70 tuberculosis OF the lungs
We shall use the word consumption In tnls
paper as il is the more familiar term But .1t .at
conditions which, occurring IN the lungs, cause
consumption may occur in any part OF INT
body-the bowels. the brain The bones, The
glands the liver. all may be invaded
CONSUMPTION CAUSES MORE DEATHS THAN ANY
OTHER ONE DISEASE
It's gravity should be appreciated, and tne
efforts of all shouldbe eGerted to stop It's dread-
full progress Yet little in this direction ls being
done although facts revealed by the inVestlga-
tions of the past twenty years SHOW thst tmhis MT
can TO great extent be accomplished Let US
state some of the facts upon which the scientific
world is agreed.
CONSUMPTION Is A CONTAGIOUS Or cossuN-
IcABLE DISEASE
This.means that every new case Is contracted
from some other one. This is proven by clinical
| evidence Wives often contract the disease by
nursing 6 eonsumptiye husband, parents by
caring for child. friend from friend. Com
nunities have been free from the disease until.
as in some OF our noted health resorts, au influx
/ of consumptve visitors is followed by It's
! frequent occurrence IN the resident population.
| The eommunicability of consumption is also
proven beyond dispute. by experimental
incubation. Susceptible animals as monkeys
and guinea pigs develop typical cases. OF con
| sumption when lnoeulated with the specine
| germ, while like animals fail TO develop the
! disease when kept free IRON the germ although
kept closely confined in conditions unfavorable
/ to their health.
The comm unicability OF consumption was not
| recognized earlier from observation because oil
| the very chronic course of the disease; months
| or even years may elapse between the time of
contracting the disease and the development of
pronounced symptoms.
THE CAUSE OF CONSUMPTION
| IT. t.l..
or microbes, so small that only the most power
| ful microscopes can reveal their presence, A
| single microbe is one ten thousandth of an inch
in length and its length is SIX times that OF its
width or thickness The germs by their growth
In the tissues usually make little nodules OF
tubercles. From these tubercles we derive the
term tuberculosis, aud the germ is known az the
| bacillus tuberculosis.
Wherever these germs grow in the body the
| tissues are apt 10 soften and break down. In
the lungs this softened pus-lke matter Is
eoughed up This sputum or matter eoughed
up from consumpuYe lung, is always laden
| With germs. All discharges from tuberculout
areas contain tubercle bacilli 1t is by means o1
these discharges, chiefly from the lungs, thai
consumption is communicated
These discharges are the whole source oi
danger SO far as the communication OF the
disease from one human being to another il
concerned. Cattle are subject TO the disease
and the milk and meat of such animals are
! source of danger But the chief source o.
DANCES is from infected human beings. Coulc
all the sputa (matter coughed up from the
lungs of eonsumptives be destroyed by burning
as soon Us raised consumption would sooD be ,
rare disease
For consumption is preventable. This fac
| should be known throughout the land
How THE oossUaPTIrE MAY AVOID SPREADING
THE DISEASE.
Every fair minded person who has. OF /,
1 threatened with consumption, Will spare nt
pains 10 avoid transmitting bis disease te
others. The eonsumptve is safe companion
luf lone he dakF his kpifhSr
Rlr breathed by him nor the exhalati0ns from
his body eau cause the disease. So long as tht
matter expectorated remains moist the germs
art held glued 10 II aud therefore do no harm
But il SOON dries and then by one means Oh
another is ground into duet his sputum dust
containing myriads OF banll Is spread by the
| broom and duster or by the breezes. and Ii
breathed into the lungs of others. For the con.
sumpiye 10 spit upon the floor Of ROOM OF
upon the stairs OF passages OF any building ls to
endanger the lives Of everyone entering thai
apartment And everyone with chronic
| cough should consider himself as possibly d
| sonsumptiye. Indeed no one with cough aud
expeetoration should spit upon the floor Of any
building or upon StalrMays, sidewalks or paths
While In the house the consumptiYe should
| always spit into euspidor or special cup
These Vessels should contain a five per een
solution of carbolic acid. or of some other strong
| germicide. These cups and euspidors should
never become foul. but should be frequently
| washed la germicIde solutions Boxes Will
sawdust IL them may be used az reeeptaeles
| These should never be lelt uncovered tor flies
10 yet on tnen. for n fly can carry oil number,
of the bacilli on one OF its tiny legs Nor should
| these boxes be used longer than twenty-foul
hours and then the box and al lis contents
should be burned.
Pieces of paper or paste board should not b,
used 70 receive the sputa. as the bacllh very
readily soak through ordinary paper.
II by accident any sputum gets on the floor i
should be scrubbed with the solution OF eafboli'
| acid at once. The consumptiye should not spi
into his handkerchief This soon becomes DIR,
aud fblrq ia dan oft halin 40
ized matter when II is again used, thus causing
further infection 1t is now believed that many
consumptiyes who might otherwise hav,
| recovered, have gone The downward roao
because they have feipiected themselves in thi,
and other ways.
II handkerchief must be used, II should b,
used only once and then put into germicidI
solution, or into boiling water.
Japanese handkerchiefs or pieces OF old cloths
are better for this purpose, and they should b'
burned as soon as once used. Ii the patient Is a
church or where he cannot at once burn thes'
cloths, he should have envelopes In which b,
can place them SO he can carry them with safet,
70 where they can be destroyed. The con
sumpuYe should not spit on the sidewalk, la. h
or roadway. In the city he ought TO carry tn,
Japanese haudkerchiefs and envelopes or spi
task for use even out of doors. In the county
there is little risk in splitting in out Of the wa!
places, provided no chicken or COW can get il
Chickens have been known TO contract con
sumption from eating such sputa. The patien
should never swallow his own sputa thi
| The consumpuve should be very cleanly il
his habits. lie should thoroughly wash hi
hands, lips and mouth often during the day.
The moisture OF the mouth OF coneumptiv,
contains baciin aud such an individual SHOULD
refrain from kissing The life OF those dear I,
him depends upon his prudence
The consumptiye mother should never suekl'
her babe. The clothes worn by consumptly'
are apt 10 become infected, and should never b'
used by others until disiniected The con
sumpuyc should never follow occupation
| ghaFa ha "a cd In ha ha n
wearing apparel of others, Ur which brings hin
into close relations with others. II in th,
emergencies of life he Is compelled TO suci
| positions, he should be very careful mat non
OF his sputa gets upon his hands OF upon thu
articles handled. or person waited upon BY tn
use OF common sense and good conscience II
| the observance of these directions, the con
sumptve may avoid entirely the dangers will
which his presence threatens the community
Remember that safety TO others lies IN th
immediate destruction of all sputum or dis
charge from tuberculous parts
now TO AVOID CONTRA CITING CONSUMPTION.
II yoa are born Of censumptive parents or
you are NARROW -chcstcd aud have small lung
and II weak heart or II you are subject TO dys
pepsia, or from any cause you nave weak am
feeble constitution, you should carefully avoi'
associating with those who have consumption
Especially should you avoid associatlng viii
collsumpiIyes who have uncleanly habits an
who are careless In the disposal OF the spuh
Yoa should, II possible, lead AN outdoor Lie
and your sleeping aud living rooms should b
well ventilated, sunny aud dry. BY This mean
you not only increase your general health an
Ofer greater resistance 10 disease, but you iesse
the chance OF Infection by the SPECIFIC germ
For Instance, IL you work In o crowded, poorl
ventilated factory, your general health is en-
feebled aud moreover some OF your fellow wOrk
men are very apt To have consumption On
consuMptise Ia a crowded factory may, by care
lessly splitting on the aoor, spread the germ
: throughout the room. aud you IN your teebi
condition, breathe these germs into your lung
, BY out OF door work you lessen such chances {
. exposure.
I But do not because you are born OF col
sumptiye parents think that you are therefor
. doomed ~ die OF consumption.