Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-28


ond edition of a circular on The
Cause and Prevention of Consump-
tion," the first edition of which,
amounting to 10000 copies. was issued
a little over two weeks ago. This
second edition, thoroughly edited and
revised, will be out in a very few
days, but in the meantime the most
remarkable accumulation of applica-
tiOns for these publications is piling
up in the Office of the board. The
circular was written for the layman,
not for the medical man, and it was
designed as plain and practical talk
TO the consumptive on how he may
regain his health and how he may
prevent conveying the disease to 9TH
ers; to the healthful man on how he
may avoid acquiring the disease him
self and how he may appreciate the
physical conditions which indicate the
threatened invasion of the disease;
to members of families of consump-
tiveS, advising them as to how they
may properly care for cOnsumptives
with little danger to themselves and
how they may safely continue to live
in houses in which consumptives
have lived or died.
Demands From Other States.
When the people were advised that
such a publication could be secured
the demand for copies commenced and
the extent of this demand is an eX-
cellent index to the wide prevalence of
the disease and the great dread of it
on the part of all people. From every
county in Illinois have come applica-
tiOns from cOnsumptives, their friends,
from other individuals, from teachers
editors, physicians and health officers;
but the demand has by no means been
confined to Illinois. From Maine. New
Jersey and New York. from Virginia
Georgia and other of the southern
states, from Texas and Colorado, from
the DakOtas and the Pacific coast
states have come applications from
health officers for immense quantities
for public distribution or cries for sin
gle copies from individual consump-
tives reaching out for any light upon
the disease threatening their destruc-
ton. individuals and sanitary organi-
cations from some of the provinces of
Canada have also asked for copies of
the circular. A number of editors have
requested liberal supplies which they
desire to send out as supplements to
their weekly papers.
That such demands cannot all be
met by the state board of an individual
state is easily appreciated, but an i'm
mediate order for a second and larger
edition inHirotnS 10 IF no
board to see that a copy of this circu-
lar gets into every home in the state
of Illinois where consumptive may
live. and there can be no doubt but
that this wide distribution of plain
and simple lessons on the great
white plague" will do much to limit
the spread of the disease in the state
and will assist materially in that edu-
cation of the common people which
is essential to the wiping out of the
scourge altogether.
1000 Deaths In Illinois In 1903.
No better excuse for this circular
need be given than the statement that
in 1903 over 1000 people died from
this one disease in Illinois, more than
died from typhoid fever. diphtheria
scarlet fever, all forms of bronchitis,
influenza. whooping cough. measles
and smallpox combined and that of
all these deaths consumption is the
one great enemy of the man in the
prime of life. killing, without respect
to the manner of life or social condi.
ton, at the age when man is of the
most value to his family and to the
state. OF the 1000 dead from con
sumption in 1908 in Illinois $500 died
between the ages of 30 and 30.
But in this prevalence of consump-
ton Illinois is not more unfortunate
than other states. Mortality statistics
OF all states are strikingly similar in
this particular. and the grand total of
deaths in the United States in a single
year would approximate 100000.
What this means from an economic
point of view is shown by the fact
that the cost to Illinois from this dis
ease, in the education of children who
die before reaching a producing age,
from the loss of lives of value to the
state. the care and treatment and
burial of consumptives. in a single
year amounts to about S36.OO0,00O.
But admitting as it does the terrible
prevalence of this deadly malady. this
has the cheering information
to unfold that consumption is prevent
able. that hereditary consumption is
almost never seen, that most cases
Of consumption can be positively and
cured. and that this cure
may be accomplished as well at home
in Illinois as anywhere else.
Prevention of Consumption.
In the prevention OF consumption the
circular especially points out the fact
that the splitting of consumptives is the
chief source of infection, and il urges
strongly that healthful persons should |
not spit in public places or on floors
and that they should not permit others
TO do so. other important advice in |
the matter of prevention is: Don't
wear skirts which sweep the infection !
Of consumption from the sidewalks in !
TO your homes. Don't put in your
mouth things that are promiscuOusly /
handled by others Don't fail TO wash /