Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-06-23
PREVENTA1LE AND cusA.,-
The Modern Idea About cor,n
Stated by a Competent Ao,, 'pu's

Stated by a Competent Autho.a I've
A fair has recently been held t.,
ton FOR the benefit of the sanator,,,,- Bog
consumptiVes at Sharon, Mass a., ,un To-
luton Which was the first to be est.t tlst'
eu III tnat suate Tor the proper cav. Ol'a'
tho cure of persons afflicted tyith Vate att
airy disease. While this fair vas ~ ~ pulnoa.
DR.. Arthur T. Cabot, one m :. poTsa
Of the Harvard Medical scboo eie head
man of UNREASONABLE avn and
dressed a letter to the Boston ny a.
from which this extract is ,aIScr1
showing the modern idea that olAen
tion Is a durable as well as a nro,.lsllnl
disease. He'enaba
1t would seem that the time is .,-
the public to look at tubercuIo.,IE u
a broader point Of view and IN o,.. if0a
that II Is preventable disease. teyaA
that 1t is disease which might he ' .
ed out In the community II stamp
measures for its isolation co,iS yAOln
diligently carried out. "s b.
This sounds like a wild. utori.-
perhaps, to many, but with the kroIllA
that we now have Of the dIseas ,.'yNlsCg.
justified in believing It. The dlg,'w' AZ
the way Of stamping out tubercU,..ly9
very largely due to the indifferero-a'' ' ~, Z
people and their neglect Of ordinar,. y. N'
cautions. Pc
Armies with typhoid fever. which
10 per cent of the enlisted tpoors , anotl
Spanish war, and the successful d. IL ns
Of this disease by the japanese ~ s' .l
present war, shows what can he ao. ulsi
plished in avoidance Of a nra,e-. .',l'
disease by common sense. careful , a..,,
cation Of existing knowledge. Tho 'g Il
anese approached the subject wItbon, ' ~
more knowledge than that which -,
existed at the time Of the Spanish -.
but with full determination tn CO
out all the precautions that were possI5!
By the thorough work Of their rnoS''',
service In protecting the army -'O si,a
obvious sources of infection. and h. ~
plying ordinary tests to determine ~, ~
such infection probably lurked. tbev t..
practically eliminated typhoid foyer ~ ~.
the army. -
What then are the measures vt.,
common sense would suggest for the az
ication Of tuberculosis?
The answer is. isolation OF those -
with the disease. and immediate des4r,-
ton or dislnfectlon Of all secretions ~
contain bacilli.
Much can be done In teaching the n.
pie how to give proper surroundInvE
tuberculosis patients in their homes n.
teaching should include instr,IctIon /, =.
proper disposal and distinction N -,
and other secretions that are IIkalv
contain bacilli.
Much is being done in this wsv "a,
the people are slowly learning how !,
take necessary precautions. The nsriJ
Observance OF the order Of the boar5
health. forbidding splitting In public ps,s.
furnishes evidence OF the growing n.
probation Of the public that this 4 :,
measure of public health and not ns-.-
of good taste.
Our duty is not confined, however IA
the durable cases. The cases Of advances
disease In which recovery canno, h
looked for demand our attention IA !,
even greater degree. These are the css..
which most promote the spread OF n,-.
sumption. for, being in a condition /,
actively spread the contagion. they Az
left in the community to be cared for b
their families and friends.
They come largely from the class vbls
cannot pay for nurses. and their care fsTs
upon relatives, hard worked and especial.
~ liable TO catch the disease. Under ths
condition Of things II is not difficult "a +
see why tuberculosis has become tts
commonest OF diseases in our crovis
communities. Its very extent has led
TO be accepted as a necessary EVIL his
time we threw of this mental PARALYSIS
We must recognize the magnitude Of t,s
task and the difficulty OF success but alS
its possibility.
1t will take several generations per.
maps, to bring the disease within eav
control The community must be educated
to the point of willing co-operadon in The
measures of supervision and solatios
necessary to obtain this control Ven
substantial results will be obtained
however, soon. Many poor sufferer
Will have their last days made Ay +
and an immense burden will be LIFTED
from the shoulders of their friends II.
spread of the disease will be checked
Lie in crowded communities will be &c.
stantly safer. Fewer and fewer vO,fss
VIII be taken out OF productive labGni
made a burden on the comu-iG
Economies worked In this way will 81
ually repay the expenditure reQuirA
obtain them. The present polly
neglect is penny wise, pound foo3s
IL Is time for us to recognize that i
disgrace to any community to b.
Within its borders preventable discs
against which it is not waging war IN 1
discoverable ways.