The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-09-29

tion Is not given of by the breath, |
except in coughing or loud speaking,
or by the skin, or by any of the Sc
cretions or excretions of the body, |
except from the lungs.
When the bowels or kidneys are af- |
fected, or where there are discharges |
from tuberculous ulcers, this is not |
true; but in consumption, until late
in the disease, at least, the lungs, as
a rule, are alone affected. The
germs of the disease are found in
the sputum and spittle of the patient
and nowhere else.
NO DANGER FROM coNSUMP1IvEs.
Care for the sputum properly and
promptly and the patient will not en-
danger others. The consumptive
has obligations hare which he should
consider. If he will not, when the
way is pointed out, take the neces-
sary precautions to protect society,
he must expect society to resort to
measures to protect itself. He will
be ostraciZed, he may be isolated.
But If the consumptive has no re-
gard for family or society in this
matter, he should know that self
preservation should prompt him to
it. He may infect himself. One
lung may be affected and be on the
road to recovery. II he is careless
in disposing of his sputa he may in
hale into the other lung some of the
germs he has cast out, and thus start
the disease anew.
1t is almost uncomfortable that any
one who has had this matter fully
explained to him would neglect any
precautions to protect his family or
| friends.
INSTRUCTIONS BY PHYSICIANS.
The trouble has often been that the
physician has failed to warn or in
struct his patient. He shrinks from
lpronouncing this dreaded word-con.
sumption.
When the disease was considered as
practically incurable it was like pro-
uounclng the death sentence. And
when the theory of heredity held
sway, it was thought to be disgrace
to have consumption in the family.
1t also interfered with marriage and
life insurance; and it does yet to an
unjustifiable extent.
But we no longer believe these
things. Consumption is not inherit.
ed. The disease in early stages is
durable.
PATIENT SHOULD BE WARNED.
It is practically impossible to effect
a cure unless the patient knows what
is the matter with him.
1t is wholly impossible to protect
those about him unless he fully un.
derstands the precautions he must
constantly observe.
REPORTS OF CASES.
This brings up the question of re.
lporting cases of tuberculosis to the
health authorities. 1t is required and
enforced in New York City. 1t is re
Iquired but not enforced in many 9th
lers.
A considerable number of the medi
cal profession still oppose it. but they
loppose it only because they believe
that their patients and their families
Iare against it. The campaign of the
health department of New York Cit,
lagainst tuberculosis has been follow
ed by a marked reduction in tn,
deaths from this disease. There i
no meddlesome Inference on theii
lpart. There is no thought of re
stricting the patient in any way
They examine sputum, they disinfec
houses, they give useful instruction
in many ways, but only when request
ed by the attending physicians.
1t is hard to see how reporting
cases of tuberculosis can do any rea
harm, 1t may do much good, and sucl
a practice should be supported b.
the public.
DEBT TO SOCIETY AND SELF.
II The consumptive owes 1t to society
he owes it to his family, and he owe
it to himself to take every possibl
, Iprecaution to prevent the communi
cation of his disease to others.
1t is the duty of physicians and o
, the health authorities, and it will b
the effort of the Ohio Society for tn
Prevention of tuberculosis to poin
out how such precautions may b
taken. If the consumptive, properl
: instr is still unwilling to do hi
duty in the matter land these pre-
Icautionary measures are extremel
= simple and easily followed he mus
|. Iexpect growing prejudice aga,ns
him which may finally lead to the er
forcement of unnecessarily hars
measures to control him as the mai
factor in the propagation and sprea
> of this universally dreaded disease
In the next article the measures I
be taken by a consumptive to pro
tect others will be clearly set forth
i, The secretary has received man
. letters of encouragement and injur
, from readers of preceding article,
!. and valuable suggestions have bee
made as to information desired /
those to follow. All inquiries will b
anwered as fully as possible.
Il c. o. PRoBsT, NJ. D.,
al Secretary.
Thinks He Is Charlie Ross.
oil William Van Hodge, of Galveston