Evening journal., 1904-12-06


of lower animals and we drink their
milk, and both are a source OF great
danger-especially when we recall the
fact that probably 20 per cent. of the
dairy cows Of Delaware are tuberculous.
The great importance of herd testing
here comes in and legislation should be
invoked to check and remedy this great
menace to the health Of our people. The
State Board of Health, the Farmers
Institutes. the oranges, the State Board
Of Agriculture, and many good citizens
led by such able men as Neale Chester
Robin, Pearson and Ewes have in the
past done good and able work on these
lines, and they should receive the
thanks of a grateful public and means
be afforded them to go on inn the good
work. Let us again recur to tuber-
culosis in man. The cause as has
been said is the tubercle bacillus. 1t is
present in many people we look on
as delicate and they don't know 1t. Il
may run ten years or more before IL
leads to a fatal issue. 1t depends
much on the vitality Of the patient.
Let him be exposed at any time to
contagious Surroundings and the end
may rapidly come. For a long time
he has been tuberculous. now he may
become a consumptive. Here what we
call secondary infection supervenes.
The pulmony tracts become infected,
/ the tissues break down, puss forms,
chills are frequent. The tubercle
bacillus is what Is called a faculative
( aerobic parasite. That is, it's favorite
environment is tissue from which at
mospheric air is excluded, yet it has
the knack of living under some con-
ditions where atmospheric air is pres
ent.
Under the first conditions the suf-
ferer is said to be tuberculous. under
the latter he is a consumptive. The
Itubercle bacillus is also called a facul-
tative saprophite that is, it may live
on some body higher in the scale Of
life as a parasite, yet it has also the
knack Of living on some dead matter
as a saprophite. Now in the stage Of
secondary infection the consumptive's
lung contains puss. Steptooocci and
staphylococci are present and the
ltubercle bacilli Joining with these
sooner or later break down the lung
tissues and death sooner or later comes
to the unfortunate sufferer. Nature
does all it can to cast off the tubercle
lbacilli with the pus as expectoration,
but this condition soon weakens the
subject to a point incompatible with
life. In this cast Off expeceoration is
the danger to others. Here the con-
lsumpuve is most dangerous TO those
he comes in contact with. To save
lothers, it is here our duty to instruct
him as to his habits of expectoration,
J etc, and thus reduce this danger Ia
others to a minimum. To bring about
this good result here comes in sana-
: torium treatment There may be
| lmany predisposing causes to tuber-
lculosis-an injury to some part by O
blow or otherwise, some other micro
organism, as the germ of typhoid fever
may lay the way for the tubercls
bacillus to get in its work Dissipa-
ton and poverty are a great cause, FOL
malnutrition is at work here and moth.
ling perhaps causes as many cares az
malnutrition. The poor are the greai
sufferers after all from this and othei
parasites. Here comes the burning
question. To attacvk this great plague
and prevent its running over the com.
munity we must bring our guns T.
; bear on the poor and impoverished
We must attack It in the slums par
ticularly in our cities and towns. tn
congested centres OF population. Wha
are the essentials IN treating a case o
consumption? Fresh air, sun light
: cheerful surroundings. rest more o
less absolute, depending on the stag
of disease, good nerve in the patien
and good digestion. II the microbe
4 4 have invaded the abdominal organs tn
case is almost hopeless. Forced feed
ing and no alcohol are the great es
sentials. Alcohol checks digestion
and must not be used except possibi
as a stimulant to hold for a short tim
{ the last chickering's OF life. Don't b
afraid Of fresh air and drafts. Cold
: are not the cause OF consumption
. Colds come from contagious of a d's
ferent character and are probably al
contagious and can be traced to con
tact. tuberculosis has its own gerr
q and only its own germ win produce Il
: It is absolutely a contagious disease
; What we call a cold may by lowerin
> the vitality Of the system for a tim
: help the tubercle bacillus in its worl
e nothing more.
q Take a case-a man comes to a ply
: isician, the man is poor. he may be o
= good habits. but struggling to worI
h and provide for helpless family. Tn
a physician finds in the lungs Of thi
+ Imam undoubted evidence OF con
! sumption. He tells him the condition
s and more. he tells him by prope
n treatment he should get well-what i
r the proper treatment-a good. cleai
v lhouse.a good, clean. we'll ventilate
n sleeping room-plenty of good. warn
/. clothing, plenty Of blankets. plenty o
e good, selected food. rest and a prope
IS care Of his surroundings and clean per
sonal habits. The poor victim stand
e aghast. Why doctor. I have no clea
al home. I have no clean bed and sleep
J. ling room-five of us occupy one room