The sun., 1902-03-09


down on the first OF November. They
were not opened again until two weeks ago.
-Then there's the question OF clothes.
Poor people wear what they can get, but
when they spend what little money they
have they may as well get the incest thing
Loose. warm clothing is, OF course, the
ideal winter wear. Wool next the skin Is
best, but lightweight wool and loose
everything loose. Let them sleep In wool.
too-and In garments not worn during the
Heavy clothing, tight clothing suppresses
the lung action. Whatever suppresses
breathing capacity breeds consumption.
Working girls corsets have had more TO
do with inducing pulmonary consumption
are quite as bad, but there aren't the other
evil conditions there to help the oorsets
when you come to diet, there again the
poor man Is handicapped, but he oan do
better than he usually rI does. Fatty sub, sub
nutriment against consumption. Cream
Is best Of all.
THE poor man can't drink much cream.
but he can drink some milk, and that's
good. II 1t Is puro. He'd better get 1t at
and he has to put up with a little less Of il.
"A consumptive should avoid all ecorbutlc
diet. salt meat, pickles, fndigestible made
dishes, cheese, spices, all liquors. Usually.
In the incipient stages Of consumption, the
consumptive Is just the one who goes In
heavily Tor such indigestible things.
He has an abnormal appetite and he
thinks nothing he eats hurts him, because
he doesn't feel indigestion. AS a matter
Of fact, he doesn't pay with his stomach
because his diseased lungs are paying for
ssssry1thtns' sSory1n and he's making them pay
Graham bread, milk. fruit, vegetables
are all good. Plenty Of water is a good
thing too. and a thing few people have
sense enough to take. A quart OF cold
water at bedtime will often prevent a
consumptive's night sweats and induce
easy breathing.
Liquor and tobacco are both deadly 10
any one with a tendency toward consump-
ton. but it's rare man that will not take
the chances Of consumption, rather than
give them up. Alcoholism will do moro
20 put system into q condition receptive
Of tuberculosis. germs than any other one
thing know Of.
-One vital point in the fight against con-
sumption I've said nothing about. Con-
sumption Is infectious. Everybody knows
that to-day. All the papers have discussed
the fact and the necessity for isolation OF
oonsumptives.
Now believe In the isolation Of coneump-
tives In hospitals and public institutions,
but I'm afraid certain injustice is being
QOn0 10 tne cOHsutuptlNc III uNtly
agitation. He's being made 10 feel like
a pariah. People say they rather run the
risk OF infection than send members Of
their family into isolation and unhappl-
ness.
'If they would only show some sanity
there wouldn't be the vital need OF isola-
tion. A perfectly well person isn't going
10 contract consumption by occasional
contact with a consumptive, but long-con-
tinued association with consumptiye
Is likely to breed infection.
The sputum-that, Is the ,mucus e1-
pectorated-is the evil agent, the source Of
danger. People are criminaliy careless
about It. I've known workshops where
fourteen out Of twenty men had consump-
tion and all expectorated freely all over
the place. The other four were doomed
If they stayed; The fact act, that me iirst
oarelessly around accounted for the four
teen consumptives.
sIn a tenement where a big family lives
In two rooms a consumptiye will spit on
the floor or In an open cuspidor OF leave
kerchiefs lying around. / know it's un-
pleasant TO talk about, but we've got to talk
about II. The sputum dried, pulverized,
fyinR everywhere, Is rank poison TO every
inmate of the tenement or workshop where
the consumptive lives or works.
IF people would learn that common sanity
demands the destruction Of the sputum,
isolation wouldn't be necessary, but not
only the poor, but the rich also, are either
criminally ignorant or criminally careless
in the matter. A carefully covered re-
ceptacle should receive the sputum and be
frequently cleaned and disinfected or rags
should be used and burned as soon as pos
sible.
What I've said about precautions for
poor people whose work OF constitution
threatens them with consumption or who
have consumption applies 10 the rich;
NJ IA n
guards and remedies. The rich man can
have exactly the right diet, but he seldom
takes il. In fact, he more often than the
poor man eats the things that are worst Tor
him.
aThe rich man can go to a good climate.
He can live out Of doors for months OF the
year. He can have a fair supply Of fine
outdoor exercise all through the year.
He can have well ventilated rooms and
Offices.
OF these things. More fool he! He's
not 70 be pitied when he pays the penalty
as poor man is.
If man with a good constitution leads
a rational life under fair conditions he
never have consumption. II he has poor
constitution, but takes the right precau-
tions, and can afford ordinary comforts,
he will not have consumption.
"If he does have consumption and before
IL goes too far has proper treatment, he
may be cured. That Is 10 say, the Tissue
will not be replaced, but the disease may
be arrested. But prevention is worth all
the remedies going
with consumption as prevalent as y Ia,
everybody, strong or weak. should i've
so as 10 avoid it. There's no such thing
as inheriting consumption. All authorities
agree on that now, but a child may in
herit a constitution SO frail that II con
sumption germs come along they will find
ready lodging.
"Such a child should be taught from
the start to form habits that will be abso-
lutte safeguards-deep breathing, thirst
for fresh air, as much open air exercise as
possible, sensible clothing and diet. He
should preserve these habits when he
grows older and becomes responsible for
himself He'll be sound as a good nut.
The same thing holds good Of the poor
man and woman whose occupation and
environment are conducive TO consump-
ton. They should begin the precautionary
life before any sign of disease appears and
the chances are that with all their handi-
cap they will escape scot free.
iThey must avoid exoesses OF all kinds.
Those persons who have actually acquired
consumption must take that rule to heart.
Even excessive anger works havoc with
tuberculosis patient.
"On the whole the outlook is bright /
believe we'll stamp out consumption here.
Our conditions are better than conditions