Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-25
TO FIGHT CONSUMPTION.
Man Should Be Strong Enough to Re-
sist Microbe.

From the New York Herald
There is probably no topic in which the
community in general is more interested
than in the prevention and cure of pull
mOnary consumption. The general fatality
of the disease is greater than any other,
fully 10 per cent of all deaths being attribu-
table to it. Its prevalence is also in due
proportion.
When viewed from a matter of fact stand
point this is bad enough but still there is
no reason why we should not look at the
actual situation fairly and squarely in order
to meet more intelligently and practically
the issues at stake. Very encouraging eff
forts are being made In such directions, and
the common sense basis of them as given
by experts deserves the widest possible dis
cussion.
The grand principle aimed at is to place
the possible cure within the reach of all.
In keeping with such intention the public
is being educated in the proper direction of
purely hygienic treatment. Fresh air, sun
light and plain, nutritious food are easily
obtainable even by the comparatively poor
man.
1t is high time that the individual as such
should have a show and the overdreaded
bacillus come in a second-class ticket
Since the useless scare concerning the uni
versal danger of infection by this veritably
omnipresent microbe too little attention has
trines of prevention and cure.
The newly found bug is as much part
Of creation as the human being, and has
come to stay, in spite of the detiantly bel.
lieerent manifestoes of health boards. II
1t could speak in it's own behalf it would
say that, far from being an intruder in
the animal economy, 1t Is a specially IN
vited guest. The susceptible person Is
after all, the only one that offers 1t a
welcome. Thus it happens that only
small proportion of all that must be some
time or other exposed to infection become
victims to the disease.
The bacillus Is the theory, but evidently
the patient himself must be the fact. The
higher purpose should be to make the man
strong enough to throw off the disease, no
roatter what it's source. The same rule
should apply with equal force to the sus-
ceptible person, however exposed In both
instances the germ would be as seed on the
rock.
DIR. L, F. Flick, an extract from whose
book on consumption was recently given IN
the Herald, is the latest exponent of these
advanced views. He even goes farther
than most advocates of the new treatment
by advising that the patient must get freSh
air, irrespective of weather, night and day,
even at the expense of numerous draughts
in the bed chamber. Mere climate, he
AYERS, Is not always necessary FACTOR
provided the victim is well fed. leads an
outdoor life and keeps up his pluck.
The more such doctrines are preached
the better for the army of sufferers who
lCok for praCucal help w ME the lear
of catching consumption from the casual
victim is greatly exaggerated by various
overzealous health boards. it is equally
true that the erroneous belief that the
disease is incurable has also gained alto
gether too much currency. In fact, If such
opinions were we'll founded not only would
doctors. nurses and friendly attendants be
stricken by the thousands. but the poor
tuberculous patient would be branded as
common leper.
1t is good sign of the times that broad
and rational methods Of dealing with the
white plague" are SO steadily gaining
ground and mere archaeological theories
are wanting in their more direct applica-
ton. Let US continue. then. to have less
scare about the business and more rational
and better directed aims. The main ques-
ton is. which can hold the fort the mi
crobe or the patient? We confess that our
sympathies are always with the latter.
Fresh air, sunlight. good food and plenty
of pluck may yet rob the bacillus of all it's