The Newark journal., 1903-10-30
TO COMBAT CONSUMPTION.
cal Experts in Warfare on Deadly MicrObe.

There is probably no topic in which the community in general is more in- terested than in the prevention and cure of pulmonary consumption. The general fatality of the disease Is great CT than any other, fully ten per cent of all deaths being attributable to it. Its prevalence is also in due propor- tion, states the New York Herald.
 When viewed from a matter of fact standpoint 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 intelli- gently and practically the issues at stake. Very encouraging efforts are being made in such directions, and the common sense basis of them as given by experts deserves the widest possible discussion.
 The grand principle aimed at is to place the possible cure within the reach of all. In keepng with such intention the public is being educated in the proper direction of purely hygienic treatment. Fresh air. sunlight and pAdiAs IuNl ttlOuS 1OOQ dIt CdotiJ Ob- tainable even by the comparatively poor man.
 Ii is high time that the individual as such should have a show and the over dreaded bacillus come in on a second class ticket. Since the useless scare concerning the universal danger of in lection by this vertically omnipresent mierobe too little attention has been paid to the more fundamental doctrines 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 defantly belligerent manifestoes of health boards. If it could speak in it's own behalf 1t would say that, far from being an intruder in the animal econ omy. 1t is a specially invited guest. The susceptible person is. after all, the only one that offers it 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 evi- dently the patient himself must be the fact. The higher purpose should be to make the man strong enough to throw off the disease. no matter what it's source. The same rule should ap- ply with equal force to the susceptible person, however exposed. In both in stances the germ would be as seed on the rock.
 Dr l.. r Flick. an extract from whose book on consumption was re- gently given in the Herald. is the latest exponent of these advanced views. He even goes farther than most advocates of the new treatment by ad vising 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 nec- essary factor provided the victim is we'll fed, leads an outdoor life and keeps up his pluck.
 The more such doctrines are preached the better for the army of sufferers who look for practical help. While the fear of catching consump- tion from the casual victim is greatly exaggerated by various oyerzealous health boards, it is equally true that the erroneous belief that the disease is incurable has also gained altogether too much currency. In fact, if such opinions were well founded not only would doctors. nurses and friendly at- tendants be stricken by the thousands but the poor tuberculous patient would be branded as a common leper.
 It is a good sign of the times that broad and rational methods of dealing with the white plague" are so steadily gaining ground and mere meteorological theories are wanting in their more di- rect application. Let us continue, then. to have less scare about the business and more rational and better directed aims The main question is. which can hold the fort, the microbe 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 zeal.