Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-02-06
Shing- Two OF the
at they be excused
ine-drinking. being ina
n lack of condition
ALCOHOL sd TUBERCULOSIS.
Extracts IN Sm Paper by DIR. LeErain.
of Paris, mt the Antf-AlcohoI
Congress at Bremen.

1. Alcohol in its action as a predispos-
ing agent stands in the same relation To
tuberculosis as 20 other contagious dis
eases. But the problem is here Of great.
er Importance, as tuberculosis Is the
disease that has the greatest predisposi.
ton for the human body and demands
the greatest number Of victims.
2. Alcohol makes a person more dis
posed for tuberculosis by fits paralyzine
and smothering effects on the proto-
plasm of the cells, making their power OF
resistance against the bacteria less. II
prepares the soil for the tuberculosis BY
destroying all the works of defense O,
the organism, especially by affecting the
| nervous system, for which 1t is a power.
ful poison. 1t also produces organic
troubles in the organ Of nutrition and
their works
3. BY producing innate weakness Il
makes person predisposed for tubercu-
losis from its birth.
4. At last alcohol makes disease worse
by continued influence on the already at
fected organism, thus Fastening the de.
velopment of the infection. 1t prevents
the cure OF the disease, which generally
Is possible.
8. Therefore It is absolutely wrong
although some Italian specialist Mari.
ghfana) lately claims the opposite, "a
systematically treat tuberculosis pa.
tients with alcohol, showing a great tx.
norance OF the human nature.
6. Alcohol makes the human system
more predisposed to tuberculosis from
the social side by removing from him
every moral support. every other ideal
and by darkening the consciousness OF
MS real wants. This brings the conse-
Quence that he neglects bis body and 1t is
this that brings the pauperism with all
Its weli-known signs-small, overpopu-
lated, unhealthy habitations, unwhole-
some food, and ignorance OF the most
simple rules of private and public by
giene. The inebriates do not know
enough to eat, to dress, to live, or to get
habitation in harmony with the other
wants of human being.
z. Therefore, from a social standpoint
the bacteria are not the real cause OF
the disease, but all such conditions that
are suitable to extend this field for the
power of the bacteria and to bring the
injection to its full effect-sickness
physical, moral or financial pauperism
absence of proper sanitary conditions
all causes that come direct from the use
OF alcohol when it has become a habit.
g. logical consequence hereof is that
the tight against the tuberculosis must
precede the treatment OF the tubercu-
losis patient, and that this fight in the
1rst place must tend to remove the So
cial causes for the disease. that is. 10
prevent those. BY curing few tubercu-
losis patients the tuberculosis does not
disappear more than drunkenness would
disappear by curing an inebriate,
9. That tuberculosis is contagious Is a
fact. but this has been greatly exagger.
ated. 1t is all right to cry out the risk OF
infection. as the wholesale terror this
will cause among the people. by and by,
may induce them to change their way OF
living in accordance with the general
rules for sanitary conditions, but the
scientists themselves must never esti-
mate the danger higher than that from
other contagious or infectious diseases.
10. | do not at all hereby say that we
should not treat the tuberculosis patient.
and give them all the help we can. but
II is, In my opinion. as the Importance of
the subject demands, that we first of all
concentrate our works in trying To
change the drinking habits, thus ami
hilate the alcoholism and terminate the
cause Of tuberculosis.
IL II, also, the sanatories are great
help FOR the tuberculosis patients. II is
yet from social side TO proceed In a
wrong way, II not at the same time
means are provided to prevent the evil.
The most important of these means Is.
without doubt, the fight against alco-
hol. To triumph over alcohol is almost
as to triumph over the tuberculosis.
IL. The efforts of the official author
ties and of the private charity will be
almost fruitless if they, as at present
concentrate their work on the tubercu.
losis alone.
IL. The efforts OF the states and the
capital spent In the interest of society
are used In the wrong directions as lone
as they are not to the same extent used
In the nights against alcoholism, The
sanitation of tuberculosis patients de-
mands one for the treatment Of tuber-
culosis.
Ia. Cooperation with the work against
the alcohol can do more against the tu-
berculosis than the sanatories. Those
only give their attention to the sick, but
| neglect entirely to teach them how ia
live after they are cured, and In this we
have one OF the greatest GAUGES of the
spreading OF the disease.
Is. Both ZOE the individual and the
community ,he most important treat
ment of the tuberculosis Is TO take tn,
? proper measures TO prevent the evil. q
all such measures the most important Il
total abstinence from alcoholic eever
ages and to spread among the people tn
knowledge. of the Importance of tota
| abstinence.
16. Therefore the fight against tub4S
culosis must necessarily be a fgh
agairst the alcohol The physicians a
the asyluUs for treatment Of tubercu
leafs patients must consider 1t their dut
N De te&totale rs and to educate + he sic