The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-03
Statistics Show that This Disease Is
Killing Five Thousand Persons
Annually I'm Indiana.
CAMPAIGN OF AGGREssIvENEss
TABOO AGAINST POORLY yENTI-
LATED sCHOOLHOUSEs.
Circulars VIII BE Sent Broadcast
Over the State-A Cure for the
Dread Disease.

Indiana is preparing to make strong
fight against the dread disease consump-
ton, which statistics show is taking off al
most five thousand persons annually in this
State. For the first six months of the pres
ent year there were 2,311 deaths in Indiana
from consumption, 103l being males and
1.2SO being females. The monthly statistics
of the State Board of Health show that
more women than men die of consumption.
THE reason for this" explained DIR. j. n.
Hurry, secretary of the board, sis that
women have less outdoor life than men, and
consumption is an indoor disease"
The statistics of the board further show
that in the six months ending June 80 there
were 196 fathers between the ages of twenty
and forty and 45S mothers between the same
ages who died Of consumption. They left
1.30S orphans under twelve years of age.
How many of these will find their way into
orphan ayslums, of course, cannot be esti-
mated, but a certain per cent. OF them GER
tainly will. Authorities in hygiene point to
this awful sacrifice of life and breaking up
of homes as unnecessary, because consump-
ton is a preventable disease. 1t is stated
that more deaths from consumption occur
in March and April than in any other
months of the year. 1t is explained that
the invalids are exhausted by the long win
ter, which treats them harshly, and in the
clustering month Of March easily succumb
to the disease. In the office of the State
Board of Health is series of charts con-
structed on actual statistics which show
that this disease marches steadily onward
through all the months. The black columns
showing the monthly mortality in Indiana
are about the same length, with the excep-
ton of March and April. In these months
the columns rise little higher than the
others.
POORLY VENTILATED SCHOOL
HOUSES.
The Investigations of the State Board of
Health show that poorly ventilated school
houses prepare the children's air passages
for pulmonary disorders. Children are
forced to sit daily in too many school
houses and breathe foul air. The tissues
are denied oxydation and thus vitality is
lowered and the nutrition of mucous sur
faces impaired. The Board of Health sug-
gests that this occurs only in a certain per
cent. of the pupils. The soil being made
ready by the foul air. the germs of coughs.
colds and catarrhs find growth possible and
all these diseases appear. Finally after
next visitor and frequently following pneu-
monia comes consumption. 1t is pointed
out that many children are compelled to
sleep in illy-ventilated bedrooms and so
this further embargo upon healthful life is
forced upon them The Board of Health
suggests that it is a positive measure of
economy to provide for the perfect ventila-
ton and regular temperature of school
rooms. who has not noticed" says the
board in a circular to the public. 1.-The Ian
guild, impatient and gaping children, espe-
cially in the afternoons when the air has
been we'll used up? At this time, too, the
teacher shows impatience, wipes her fore
head frequently with her hands and exhib-
Fresh air is what they are needing then.
And at such times school money is being
thrown away because progress is not being
made and health Is attacked.
The last Legislature increased the health
appropriation and IL is proposed TO use this
in lighting consumption. Health pamphlets
are being prepared which will be distributed
to the schools, and teachers will be re-
quested to first carefully study them and
then present their teachings to the pupils.
The circulars will carefully set forth how
air is absolutely necessary every minute
of life, and If people deny themselves or
air in any degree they must suffer
Drowning is simply denial of air., the cir
culars say. The Board of Health Is now
gathering lists of the families where con-
sumption exists, and circular which gives
the details of how cases should be managed
to prevent the spread of the disease will
be sent to these homes. The circulars spe-
officially point out how the sputum should
be cared for and the rooms In which
consumptives live must be kept and dis
infected. To emphasize the necessity of
these points the circular shows that houses
once visited by consumption are pretty GER
tain to know 1T again.
CURE OF THE DISEASE.
prevention" but there will be one circular
that will deal with the cure of the disease.
For" says this circular, consumption in
its incipiency is one of the most durable
maladies. In order to cure almost no medi-
cines are to be used, but there must be a
complete abandonment of the conditions
and environments which have caused the
disease. The patient must live out Of doors
all day and sleep out of doors all night.
| The air and the sunshine must be enjoyed
TO the utmost. Plain. nutritious diet must
! be given as eggs, milk, cream, beef, we'll
| baked bread, and with exceptions, only
cooked fruits. Immature meats like veal
| and young chicken must not be thought of.
| Rich pastry and salads must not be used.
| Desserts like rice pudding, bread pudding
| and the like are prescribed. In order to per-
| feet a cure every function of the body must
| be put into action and, therefore, cold morn
| ing baths and brisk rubbing with towels
are necessary. To omit the cold sponging
| of the chest and its thorough rubbing each
| morning is to leave out one of the most
| important necessities for cure.
Recognizing the danger of the patient
giving up this rigid treatment on slight
| Improvement and because IL Is considerable
trouble to take the treatment at home, the
circulars discuss the hospital question.
| The very great desirability of hospitals for
| indigents and those who can pay something
/ of the cost of the treatment, is set out in
the circulars. Pictures are given of the
German government consumptive hospitals,
/ and also of the Massachusetts State hos
| pitfalls for consumptives, together with sta
| tistics of cures There is also a detailed
| explanation of how these hospitals are
| managed