The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1905-11-10
Get Out Of "Work Cages" to Cure
Consumption.

Consumption.
"No animal ever dies of cOnsump.
ton unless it has suffered imprison-
ment in a cage" says DR.. W. A. Evans
in the Chicago Tribune. From this
feet he draws the conclusion that it is
the Gagged life of animal man, in many
cases an inevitable accompaniment
Of his work, that is responsible for the
large proportion of deaths from this
dread disease. How quickly cure
may be wrought if only those afflict-
ed will abandon their work cages
and get into the fresh air, he tells in
the following paragraphs:
"Every year in Chicago there are
5000 cases of tuberculosis among
men. and 1900 individuals die from the
disease. two years and three months
OF more or less inability to work pre-
cede the end in these 1900 cases, to
say nothing of the time lost to those
who are cured To the economic Chi.
cago, the aggregate cost Of one years
death roll is the work of one man for
5,365 years.
From the point Of view Of the
humblest worker, however. the mere
fact that he has contracted tubercu-
losis is nothing if only the discovery
is made early enough and little time
and a little money be available for his
treatment. How short a time and how
little the money necessary may sur.
prise the layman who has recognized
consumption as one of the stubborn,
costly diseases which, in the end,
promised only death.
"Only a little while ago case
! passed under my observation as typ.
ical of what may be done in the earli-
est stages of the disease. He was
about % years old and manufacture
| ing emplOye working at his bench. A
slight hemorrhage was the first indi,
| cation of the disease. He consulted a
physician at once. He lived at home
| with his parents. and was a partial
support for them. The father was
called in and asked if he could spare
the earnings of the young man for one
month. He thought he could, and was
more than willing to try.
so, late in July. the boy left his
bench and prepared to lay around in
the parks as much as possible. His
home was a top fiat, and he fixed up a
shack on the back porch. in which his
bed was placed. and where he slept.
He was given a substantial diet. and a
large quantity of milk and cream and
eggs were taken daily.
"He was better in an incredibly
short time. At the end of the four
weeks period he had gained fifteen
pounds and, to outward appearances,
was a we'll man. He secured a posi-.
ton at outside work in the country,
and is an example of young man
saved to the worlds work at a cost
not exceeding $25 over his lost time.
"A salesman at SO years old, pretty
far advanced in the early stage of the
disease, has been another individual
instance of an early cure. He took
three months away from his work,
slept in a shack out of doors, provid.
ed proper diet, and is now complet-
| ing his cure by outdoor work in
Iowa.
"A Chicago throat specialist discov.
cred his infection early, and having a
knowledge of the stock business. and
an acquaintanceship in Indiana, went
down there last summer as buyer
of cattle for packing house. He had
only to get out Of his cage, and the
work, the dieting, and the fresh air
have done the rest.
1.-THE whole subject, as it appeals to
the worker, may be summed up in the
advice to discover his infection as
early as possible; to drop his aggra-
waiting employment; to provide prop
err diet, and then to get out of his
cage into the open air.