The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-03
HUMANITY'S SCOURGE.
Progress That Is Being Made in the
Way Of Fighting the Raw
ages of Consumption.

DR.. James j. Walsh, Phi. D., of New
York, but formerly of Parsons, where
his parents reside, is reviewing the
work of the congress of physicians and
surgeons at Washington, d. c., for the
New York Journal.
, In his report of the first days ses-
sion, printed yesterday, was the fol-
lowing interesting resume of the pro-
gress made in fighting consumption:
The proceedings reflect what is latest in scien-
tihc medical practice and theory. The most
striking contribution on this first day was the
review of the sanitarium treatment Of tuber-
Culosis by the great American pioneer in this
method Of therapeutics, DIR. f. l.. Trudeau, Of
Saranac, n. Y. All other methods Of treating
tuberculosis have attracted popular attention.
Especially have all the various drugs and serum
remedies for the disease been thoroughly eX.
plotted by the newspapers
For quarter of century the open air treat
ment of tuberculosis has been humbly, modestly,
but surely accomplishing its great work Of saliva.
tion for the consumptve. Only now is this
method beginning TO attract the public attention
it deserves. DIR. Trudeaus statistics show that
nearly 40 per cent of the patients in the pre-.
liminary stages of consumption have been cured
by the sanitarum treatment Nearly 40 per cent
more have been decidedly benefited.
OF nearly 100 patients who have been treated
at Saranac in thse last fifteen years more than
one.half arc still alive, and more than 300 Of
them are in good health. II looks as il at last
the awful power of humanitys greatest scourge
was broken. More than one-eighth of the human
race is carried off every year by tuberculosis
We fear the so-called contagious diseases, but
consumption kills more than all of them put
together
The maxms Of the new treatment arc air,
a nj nufri Of
how cold the weather, patients must get out
into the open air. At night the air must have
free access to their sleeping rooms. People fear
the deeterious effect of night air. Even physi-
clans sometimes encourage the notion of its
harmtulness. At night the only pure air is the
night air, and pure air consumptives must have
at all hazards Even during unpleasant weather
patients suitably clad must pass a good part of
their time outside. Whenever there is fever,
absolutely no exercise must be taken. Rest is
as important as air for the consumptive. 1t has
been objected that without exercise the appetite
will grow less. Experience has shown, however,
that when patients pass most Of their time in the
open air they can he brought to consume large
quantities of milk and eggs and properly selected
fats without disturbance of digestion.
Besides the improvement in this rational
method OF treating consumption, other fac.
tor that has contributed greatly to the decrease
OF the mortality from tuberculosis was brought
ouI ny DI' iruueau. III Is the carly diagnosis
OF the disease by means Of the N-rays and in.
lections Of tuberculin. The earlier consumption
| is recognized the greater are the hopes OF its
ultimate cure. just soon as the first symp.
toms OF disturbance of health are noticed and
before cough or eXpectoration occurs these
methods Of examination show the existence OF
the consumption in the lung
The diaphragm on the affected side-it cannot
be seen with the Roentgen rays-does not move
as on the other side and the portion of lung
invaded by the tubercle bacillus casts darker
shadow. The tuberculn reaction shows the pres
| cnce of tuberculosis even when the Roentger
rays tail. Under the influence OF these newer
methods of early diagnosis and effective treat
ment, the twentieth century will see a very diff
iercnt state OF affairs with regard to tuberculos,
from that which exists at present.