Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-27
NOT IN THE SCHOOL
Circulars on Consumption Should be
Given Children for
Study.
KNOWLEDGE is IMPORTANT
Third Edition Prepared by State
Board of Health Has
New Data.

The widespread interest in consump-
| ton could probably be in no way so
| clearly demonstrated as by the remark
able demands that have been made up
| on the state board of health for the
circular on the cause and prevention
of the disease, originally issued early
in July and now appearing in a third
revised edition.
Not only has the demand throughout
| the state exceeded every expectation,
but health authorities and individuals
in practically every state in the union
have requested copies in greater or
smaller numbers. while railroad COM
panies and large employers of labor
have asked for thousands of general
distribution. In only one channel has
interest been apparently lacking, and
that has been among the officials OF
the public schools of Illinois. a class
which would have been presumed TO
be more vitality interested than any
other. since education and a moderate
amount of instruction will do more to
check the spread of consumption than
any other disease. However, while the
officials of every county in the state
were notified that this circular was to
be had in any quantity desired, not one
request for school use has been re.
ceived by the board.
importance of Circular.
The Importance of this circular in
the education of the people is quite
clearly indicated in the opinion given
out by the state board of health of
in 10 in
which it is stated that 1--WE regard it
as the most complete and compact
statement of the cause and prevention
of this too-universal and fatal disease
that we have ever seen. If a copy of
it could be put into every home in the
land and was read and its precepts
needed. consumption would be reduced
so per cent in ten years"
In the third edition Secretary J. a.
Egan reiterates the claim made in the
former edition, that consumption can
be cured in Illinois. but he goes fur
Their in substantiating this claim with
the most convincing evidence. Atten-
ton is called to the consumptive hos
pitfalls in Massachusetts, New York.
Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, where
the results of treatment have been most
gratifying. and to the recently proven
statistics showing that at the Massa
chusetts state sanitarium the results
have been better than in the arid re-
gions of the west. That Illinois af-
fords climatic conditions and eleva-
tions equal to any of those eastern in
situations is DR.. Egan's contention.
based upon most careful and painstak-
ing Investigations and comparisons.
Table of Comparison.
A table showing the comparisons of
climate and soil of an Illinois town,
selected at random. with Rutland.
Mass; Saranac Lake, New York, and
Philadelphia, the site of the most sue
cessful of eastern sanitaria, indicates
that Illinois possesses more of the eS-
sentialS for successful out-Of-dOOr treat
ment than any of these points; less
rainfall, more sunshine and more mod
crate average range of temperature,
while the barOmetric conditions, soil.
elevation and ground contour are quite
as satisfactory in every way, justify
ing the conclusion that Illinois con-
sumptives may be treated at home
with excellent chances of recovery and
under conditions as favorable to that
end as in other states.
The section of the circular on the
care of consumptives TO prevent the
spread of the disease to others and to
check the progress of the disease in
the individual. and on the general SUI
pervision of the disease, have been re-
written and much new and valuable
information has been added.
COnsumptive Hospital.
Within the past few days. a wealthy
citizen of Illinois, whose interest had
been aroused by the crusade of the
state board of health against consump
ton. offered the sum of $4,000 to the
board TO be used in the establishment
of a consumptive hospital in the state,
as advocated hV this circular