The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-06-17
THE cRrAr WHITE PLAGUE.

rope. Fortunately for us, we in Amer
lea have practically escaped its raw
ages, and 1t may be that II will never
obtain such a foothold here as to con
stitute real menace on this CONT
nent
But while we may congratulate our
selves that we have little to dreat
from this disease we have ever with u.
a disease perhaps more to be dreaded
because 1t Is so insidious. so universe
and SO deadly. Consumption in some
OF its forms is coming to be known a:
the Great White Plague, and that it i.
becoming serious is not to be doubted
Unlike some of the other diseases
which are practically local in theil
range. tubercular diseases are not con-
fined to any locality or climate. In
some form they are to be met with In
the coolest as well as the hottest por-
lions OF the Union, and everywhere the
disease comes In the same general
forms and with the same general eff
fects. Creeping on US when least ex-
pected. 1t works Its silent course and
the end is death.
There are two facts in connection
with this disease which appear to be
thoroughly established, and the first is
that no certain cure for consumption
has been found. There are many rem
edies exploited, both by regular physi-
clans and by manufacturers of proprie-
tary medicines. In some cases relief
is afforded. and 1t may be that cures
are sometimes effected. especially when
case. 1t is also true that change of
air and climate will at times give tenn
porary or permanent relief, but when
all this is admitted the fact remains
that there is as yet no cure for 1T. and
the medical men freely admit 1t.
The other fact to be kept in mind is
that it is now established beyond con-
troversy that consumption is germ
disease and that 1t is communicable
not precisely as some of the ordinary
much more to be dreaded. When we
know that a person has smallpox, yell
low fever, or other disease known to
be infectious orr contagious we may
avoid that person or locality with q
reasonable expectation of escaping, and
we know. too, that such diseases yield
to medical treatment.
With consumption the danger is more
| to be dreaded because it comes in a
more insidious manner. and one which
people are less disposed to take pre-
cautions against. When we reflect
that the air that we breathe and tht
dust that we inhale are liable to be-
loaded with germs of consumption. and
that we are in danger every time we
take dust-laden air into our lungs we
may begin to understand the menace
and to appreciate the difficulties.
1t is somewhat singular. but up to &
comparatively recent period this dis
| ease was looked on as strictly heredi
tary. II a person had consumption 1
was taken for granted that some an
cestor had it and that settled it. w,
are not contending that there may no
sometimes be a consumptive faint in thu
blood that will eventually show itself
but we now know that the disease II
not thus to be accounted for nor ex
planned away. 1t is too common anC
too widely distributed to be thus dis
posed of.
1t was noticed that when a consump
tive patient was confined in a clos
room at a hospital that others would
take the disease. When consump
tive convict is shut up in crowded
prison other convicts contract it, Ever
in the home where members of fam
lily occupy a closed room with con
sumptive 1t is not unusual for some o
them to take it from this patient
These facts are so well established tina
in many of the States separate wards
prisons or hospitals are provided TO
consumptives, and the effect of thes'
precautions has been so decided as t.
remove the last doubt, If any existed
on the subject. 1t is now known tina
consumption can be communicated ant
| that it can be guarded against.
This brings us to most important
and vital consideration, and that /:
that we must not depend strictly OF
the medical profession for relief OF
safety. They can do much to relieve
or cure disease. and in this case they
are ready to do their duty but botf
the individual citizen and the munich
pal authorities of the towns and cities
are vitality interested. A strong com.
munication in The Advertiser a few
days ago pointed out some, at least, OF
the precautions to be taken in the way
of sanitation and segregation, and we
commend it to our readers.
Why is it-for it is a fact-that the
death rate from consumption in the
cities is so much greater among the
colored population than among the
whites? There is no reason except
that the negroes are crowded into
small and badly ventilated tenements
where sanitation is practically un,
known. whore no health precautions
are used. and where sick and wei
breathe the same foul and disease
4 laden air. Such places are very gar
den spots for consumption, and from
such 1t draws most of its victims. 7,
a certain extent this is true among
poorer classes of whites who ar
crowded in our cities. but negroes ar
the greatest sufferers and our healtl
/