The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-03-19

D which the American people are .
o afflicted, was read before the y
D los Angeles Schoolmasters' club .
y in January Of last year: =
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This being pre-eminently CONNER
cial era, we have sacrificed health and
happiness TO material prosperity We
have welcomed the advent of labor
saving machinery; we have watched
with pride the building of the great
lines OF transportation, which have ex-
tended our markets and made out-of-
the-way places accessible; We have
been compelled to stand in awe at the
wonders OF electricity, at the trans
mission OF intelligence from ocean to
ocean and from continent to continent.
These have attracted our attention be-
cause through them fortunes have been
made and wealth has accumulated.
Great as these discoveries are, they
sink into insignificance when compared
with the discovery Of the tubercle
bacillus Is being the cause Of tuber-
culosis. No discovery In the scientific
world carries with it such blessing
to the human race as this. for 1t places
tuberculosis in the ranks of prevent
able diseases. This discovery gives us
the key to the situation and shows us
how we may overcome this dread dis
case which causes more deaths than
all other infectious diseases, excepting
pneumonia, combined. and which leaves
more suffering in its path than all the
armies Of the world.
The common beliefs held by the laity
concerning this great scourge are more
or less erroneous: in fact, few have an
exact understanding OF it.
The average man knows that tuber-
cnlosis is very prevalent disease and
believes that there is no hope for per-
son when once afflicted with it, and
doubts the diagnosis in cases which
profess to have been cured
Some believe it to be infectious, 9TH
ers do not, and very few know the
sources of infection or how to avoid
them. Perhaps the most common mis-
conception is that it Is hereditary.
This has been disproyen for the vast
majority OF cases In the literature Of
the entire subject OF tuberculosis there
are reported only few authenticated
cases where the disease was inherited.
One Investigator claims that after
careful search OF medical literature he
was able to find only Is cases where
it was shown that the disease was
transmitted from parent to offspring
al the time of birth. So seldom does
this occur that 1t can be totally disre-
garded in the discussion Of the subject.
Tuberculosis is 80 common that we
are all interested in it. About every
seventh man dies Of II. New York city,
the metropolis Of America, digs 5000
graves a year for tubercular patients.
The United States sacrifices more than
100000 precious lives every year, and
the world offers up 100000 of its peo-
ple during every 365 days upon
it's altar. There are 1,250,O0O people in
the United states who are constantly
%x.,~A fx.h
Such facts are appalling and show
us that we must have the hearty CO.
operation of all members Of society II
we wish to cope successfully with tu-
berculosis.
There are three points ! wish you to
remember concerning tuberculosis:
First Tuberculosis is an infectious
disease.
Second Tuberculosis is a preventabie
disease.
Third tuberculosis is a durable dis
case.
II YOU remember these you will en-
deayor to learn In what manner it Is
infectious; how to prevent 1t, and what
things are necessary to cure when the
disease has once ATTAINED foothold.
The infection is produced by the tu-
bercular bacillus. without which there
can be no tuberculosis. This minute
organism Is found in all tubercular TO-
d, The lungs being the most common
seat of the disease we will consider how
tha infection takes place from one Ill
OF tuberculosis Of the lungs. The tu-
bercls bacillus develops only within the
body Or on artificial media in incu-
bators. In fact, 1t must have certain
conditions or 1t cannot grow. It re-
auires 4 cretain temperature, the range
ii which is quite limited, being from
% to los degrees, Fahrenheit t must
have moisture and must be excluded
from the light,
All Of these conditions we find within
the human lung and here the germs
are developed in great numbers, and
thrown out with the cough and ex-
pectoratlon. 1t has been estimated
that a patient in the advanced stage of
tuberculosis, or consumption, will cast
of through hts expectoration as many
as .ooO, 900 900 Of bacilll a day. which,
il the patient is careless. will infect
Ills surroundings and thus continue to
spread the disease.
y.a.a nav cav III one natient cast