The Lamar register., 1905-10-04
The suprem. Need of the Tuberculosis
Patient.


In the Journal of the American
Medical Association DR.. Norman
Bridge calls attention to the fact that
the tuberculosis mortality has been re-
duced in the last thirty years from
1425 to 10 per cent OF all deaths.
These results are not accidental. but
are clearly due to the increased kno.wl-
edge of the best methods of treating
this disease. In order TO point out
the best course he calls attention in
the following words to some common
errors still prevailing:
Men grow fixed in their ideas; they
come to regard their notions as i'm
mutable, and so are SLOW to discover
and to change. 1t is somehow easier
| for us to think that qulnine or cod
liver oil. creosote or change of eli
mate: some inhalation OF drugs G. a
so-called anti-toXin, is good for tuber-
culcsis, than it is to understand that
the great first purpose OF all treat
ment is to increase the physioloSic
power of the patient to resist the dis
ease and to destroy or circumscribe
its cause. within his own body.
THE sober fact confronts us that
| the one supreme need is FOR more pow
er in the afflicted body TO restrict or
destroy the tuberculosis process. For
our present guidance this truth is so
vital that it takes rank with a confes'
sion of faith in religion.
I'VE have given our patients some
drug, and have neglected the half doz'
/ .,rhn tendency is In
crease the power of the patient. Thus
we have often thrown away the great
resources of rest. fresh air, outdoor
life, changes in surroundings. and n
systematic effort ot increase The nutri'
tive forces the body.
There is no objection 10 the tonic
medicines. always provided they are
| understood to be minor and subsidiary
things, never of great value. and to be
used only as aids to the general meas
ures referred to.
TO give drugs. while tho patient is
allowed to go in an unhysienic course
of life without advice or correction, Is
an error awful in its results.
Every one of these patients should
be constantly supplied with outdoor
atmosphere in such abundance that
every successive Inspiration brings a
fresh dose of air to the lungs, and
none from previous expiration. Every
one should have long hours of rest
If feverish, the rest recumbent should
be almost or quite constant, for eNer
else increases the fever. The digest
i've powers should be made to do theii
best, under the most careful supervis
ion, toward improving the nutrition
and possibly also the resisting power
OF the patient.
patients have been allowed to sta!
indoors without proper ventilation
and breathe a poisoned house-ai
three quarters of the time. We hav'
subscribed to the popular untruth-a
pitiful as it is groundless-that pa
tients in a gentle current of air calle'
a draught are in danger OF colds an'
other harm, and so we have kept then
breathing over and over again thei
contaminated air. The truth is. on'
never takes cold in any draught, evei
wind, If his body and head are KEEP
warm by clothing. The advice of thu
profession ought to be to keep in
draught, never out OF it; only it woul'
lessen the business OF the physician
while it would be of incalculable ben
eft to the people.
"A consumptive's body should al
ways be well and equally clothed, an'
should never be hampered or restrict
ed by garments. Snug corsets an'
conventional gowns are an absurdit!
for the tuberculosis woman; worn a!
they are by most such women, the,
frequently tip the scales in favor o
death rather than recovery"