The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-02-03

and progress in the study
seem 10 be powerless in the
and practice OF medicine
presence Of the dread consumption
Herr DR.. Koch and his predecessors
and successors, as inventor of q
specific for combating the disease.
have always failed. and there seems
TO be no reason for any one to look
for any other result from future ex-
periments along the lines followed Oy
these eminent gentlemen
Apparently the only. way in which
consumption can be fought is in TAX
ing care that it does not have an )p-
portunity 10 become fastened upon its
would-be victim. II care is taken NJ
the appearance of the first symptom
which indicates that tuberculosis and
all Its awful consequences are abopt
TO take possession OF the afflicted
person, many-perhaps a majority
might be saved.
But many people imagine that they
have the disease when they have only
a set of symptoms which might be
confounded with those of tuberculosis
and which in reality might develop
into a virulent form of that disease,
and consequently there is always
more or less carelessnes in dealing
with the first symptoms. Bronchitis,
catarrh and many other forms If
throat and lung diseases may easily
be mistaken for tuberculosis in its
first stages. but the presence of the
disease itself can only be positively
determined after considerable prog
ress has been made. and only then
after a searching examination by a
physician.
Favorably as these islaTSs are sit
uated with regard to suppressing
and conquering consumption, the re
ports of vital statistics made by the
Board of Health show that tubercu-
losis carries off more residents Of
Hawaii than any otner one cause.
About one death in every five is Of
ficially laid at the uoor of consump-
ton and the disease is also indirectly
charged with being the cause of as
many more deaths. The mortality
among children is large, and the disA
ease should be carefully watched lest
il become even more prevalent than
it is at present. Parents who have
the welfare of their progeny at heart
would do well to study these simple
rules for preventing the trouble and
dealing with it, and remember that
the disease is not unconquerable in
its incipient stages.
In the first place. alarming symp-
toms are far more likely to betoken
the tuberculosis itself if the child be
suffering from some other affection
such as spinal or hip disease. Tuber-
culosis often starts during the prog
ress of a case of measles or whoop-
ing cough.
Unhygienic surroundings must be
taken into account.
\ tuberculous family history must
never be lost sight of.
Finally. according 10 the London
Lancet, curious but almost unfail-
ing sign of tuberculosis is a copious
crop of downy hair on the child's
back
When the presence of the disease
is established beyond a doubt. there
are multitude of precautions
which must be followed if the disease
is to be mastered. Following are the
most important of tnem:
Recognize the bacterial origin of
the disease and see that the air the
child breathes and tne food it eats
are pure oeyond all possibility of re
proach
Sunlight is important. See that
the child has plenty of 1t.
Do not stint his diet. Provide him
with an abundance of good. nourish-
ing. digestible fooo.
Wrap him warmly and protect him I
against draughts so that he may not
take cold.
See that he does not get tired. This /
important point is too often over
looked. A child's progress to re-
covery is often checked for no other
reason than that he has been allowed |
10 ONerSNeTt llmSeu.
On the other hand, be careful not |
to weaken him or lessen his power /
of resistance in your endeavor to /
shield him from exposure and fatigue |
He must be kept as nardy as possible.
According to the most recent and /
trustworthy authorities. an even tenn
perature and dry soil are the most
important features Oh the ideal eli
mate.
Low attitudes are preferable to
high Varying temperatures and
moisture are to be avided at all |
hazards. Cold is not hurtful. In
iced, cold coupled with dryness IS
better for the young patient than
warmth.
The condition of the throat and
onsils must be constantly and care
ully scrutinized. With so formidable
IN enemy TO battle with. no illness is
90 trivial to be overlooked. The
slightest cold must be promptly
reatted.
Massage is not only an excellent
'emedy in itself. but has frequently
the condition of cansumpt-
We children.
Codliver oil is among the most ben
.ficial of remedies. 1nis is really a
God The best plan is 10 begin with
-ery small amounts and then gradual
v TO increase the daily amount.
For child two years of age begin
With half dram of codliver oil twice
i day. Increase this amount SLOWLY.
I the fat is not absorbed by the pa
lent. diminish the dose or give in
edition some pancreatic preparation.