Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-06-29
THE GOSPEL OF HEALTH.

One OF the most important subjects
for the consideration of the people Of
Utah, and Indeed Of the whole country
Is presented In the paper on Tubercu-
losis. by pr T, B. Beatty and issued
by the Board OF Health of which he IL
the very efficient secretary. II contains
much that Is new 70 the general public,
and perhaps also TO practitioners who
do not keep pace with the developments
OF modern medical science and lnyest-
CATION. We hope the article, which
appears on another page OF the News"
will receive the careful attention OF the
health boards and of the leading men
and women among our people. And II
Is OF the utmost Importance that the
rules and regulations concerning quar-
antine and dsinfection shall also be
rgidly carried out.
The three chief points set forth are
that the disease commonly called con-
sumption is infectious, that It Is pre-
ventlble. and that It is durable These
may be called new because they are
different from the common ideas con-
corning the disease which has carried
on so many Of the fairest OF our race.
II has been demonstrated Ia the entire
eatisfaotlon OF the faculty that tuber-
oulosis IL infectious; TO q very large
number that II Is also preyentlble' and,
further that It is durable.
The infection IL not conveyed by con.
tact nor by inhaling The breath Of
the afflicted; nor usually carried IN the
clothing worm by them. The germs
have been completely identified and It il
known that they are carried In the
sputum only. They are as distinct from
typhoid germs--whlch are carried In the
excreta--as sheep are from goats and
the difference Is more greatly marked
This suggests that the laws and or
dinances rs TO expectoratlon in the
streets should be complied with, and
their violation punished. Also that the
afflicted shall be careful "a to the dis
posal Of that which Ia coughed up from
the lungs and throat, as provided for I'm
the regulations given In the article from
the Board OF Health. That mat
Ter f. usually left upon the
ground where It dries and .mingles
with the dust. which IL carried In the
air and breathed into lungs that are
susceptible 10 the infection, and there
they md Judgment and pabulum for
modification. Unless the system is In
condition to reproduce them the
germs lie dormant or are cast on from
the body.
The prevention Of tuberculosis IL
chiefly in maintaining generally
healthy condition, and in measures TO
destroy the baoilll as already explained.
There need be no fear about association
with the afflicted. unless those germs
are received from the sputum expec-
torated. Nor does II follow that the
children OF tho consumptive must in
herit the disease. They may inherit an
enfeebled condition OF the body, and
therefore predisposition TO contract
the disorder when the noxlous baccilli
are taken into the lungs IN the way
described. Hut that condition may be
changed and the susceptibility be over-
come by proper dietary and hygienic
observances, and the dellyerance Of the
mind from the fear Of the supposed in
heritanoe.
The cure OF consumption Is stated to
be principally open air living and occu-
patton with nourishing food and cheer
ful society And also freedom from
the old notion that the patient is
doomed; that the disease is fatal that
rapid death is but question OF little
time, and that when the lungs are once
on the road to destruction nothing can
avert the speedy end. II is now cer-
can be cured and their lungs made
sound and strong, This Ia the gospel OF
modern science--the good news OF
physical salvation, IL should be pro-
claimed to all the world. Fresh air ant
clear sunshine are at once curative ant
preventive. They are foes TO thos,
powers OF darkness--the bacilli o.
destruction. OF course there are rule
of living that must be observed anC
habits and foods that should be avoided
These can be learned from personal eX
perlence and sound medical advice.
Now as to the determination OF th'
disease It can be certainly dlscoy
cred whether a patient is or is no
afflicted with tuberculosis The mi
croscope in skilfui hands is necessar!
TO this demonstration Physicians Fl
this state can have tests made from
the sputum Of the patient by sending
sample to the secretary OF the Boar,
OF Health, under regulations furnished
by the Board. The test will be mad
free OF charge. The germ theory IS 8,
thoroughly established by competen
use Of the microscope, with the precau
lions used as to the exclusion Of every
thing foreign to the specimen exam
ined, that Il may be considered cor
tain. There are as great difference
between the baeilli which cause yarl
Gus diseases, as there are between tn
animals Of the several species and III
fora that grace the earth. They ca
be seen and grouped and cultivate
and destroyed
flst.