The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-23
Medical Notes.

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Much space has been given in these
notes To the comparative isolation of
consumptives and the fresh-air treat
ment. 1t may seem to the general PUB
tic tlat too much stress is laid upon these
factors by sanitarians but the condi
tons as they usually exist are forcibiy
shown by DR.. Raw, of England As a
:ule. the consumptive is looked upon
by his friends and relatives as hope
lessly stricken, and he is therefore given
the best room in the house, from which
Rll fresh air is religiously excluded the
windows even being sealed down an !
every method taken to render the air
impure and overheatet. In addition the
patient IS overclothed with heavy wool
en clothing and loaded down. when in
bed, with blankets and comforters. All
Df these are conditions In which con-
sumption dourishes AS rule those al
hcted are young and naturally attract
much sympathy, but much of this SYM
pathN, IN its expression, is of the kind
hess-that-llills kind. There may be drugs
that may cure consumption, or alleviate
some of its NANTES tations, but the oniy
cure known to be such is fresh air and
sunlight With proper environment The
tine is not far distant when coasump-
tives will be provided with suitable Sana-
tariuins in every country and state, not
for the close confinement and life quaran-
unement of cOnSumptiVes alone, but or
the early treatment and cure of the
young cursed with this baneful disease
Instead Of the legend popularity supposed
10 express the fate Of those who ente"
the portals, leave all hope behind, will
De written the cheering greeting, Hope
0E and be assured of life We who enter
here TO build and maintain such
santariums DR. Phisque. French ply
Stefan. recommends an additional tax
upon alcohol, which, he believes, is per-
fectly jusifable, since alcoholism is one
0f the great factors in the causation of
consumption.
Some sO-called safeguards against dis
Ease are in reality traps for disease.
Some faulty sewer traps are an example
Of this Much more common, however,
is the filter, often placed on the cold
water faucet with the idea that it
catches various germs, good ana bad.
and organic matter that-may Vitiate the
water These are, in theory, good. but
il practice bad, for they are actually
filth traps of the worst description. In
experiments made by the Buffalo health
department. water drawn from these
fltcr-protected faucets was found tenn
ing with bacteria and actually contained
more germs than mfitered water. The
dan of drinking filtered water was
shown to be seventeen times greater than
that Of drinking unfltered water. The
filters, at best, clarity the water, making
il beautifully limpid but they are vcri-
ts,bie germ eeders--:he more pro life -
I h. oil
cording TO The public idea, will improve
the quality OF the water but this is
most dangerous falacy. Other Things
being equal. reversible filter is the best.
since il Is occa sionally washed clean if
folk; VIII take the trouble to turn it.
Perhaps as efficacious a filter as any, at
any rate a simple and inexpensive one,
is TO make a bag of flannel and tie
it around the nozzle of the faucet Two.
al least, of these should be made ana
the one should take the place of the
other while it is turned inside out wish
cd and boiled every day. Such filter
viii catch Injurious matter communicating
the water, and II changed daily will not
serve as a nest and breeding place for
offensive germs and decaying matter.
At this time of the year the daily
papers have their usual notices of death
from muShroOms-a most horrible death,
by the way. These are always acct
dental, case of mistaken identity for
which there is really no excuse. BY ad-
dressing The department of agriculture
at Washington books and colored charts
descriptive Of the edible and poisonous
fungi may be obtained which will enable
persons to distinguish the good from the
bad. 1t would also be a good idea
II these charts were displayed in schools
and other places where they would make
en- impression, but unless the person
collect nG these fungi has considerable
cNrsri renee this nutritious and palata BILE
q ii should not be INDUCED in. Even