The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-30

1t is not spectacular. Communities are
never swept from the earth they some
times are by cholera. But the deadly work
goes on Just the same
Perfect health and sanitary quarters are
the best representatives. for consumption,
and this is closely shown by a study Of
the negro race. Before the war when the
negro worked out in the open air and
was provided with ample quarters by
his owner consumption was almost UNI
known. Since the war the negro has been
attracted to the cities. and il is well
known that they have a tendency to hud-
die together Dozens of families live TO
together in one room almost without any
ventilation, and now after a period of
forty years the negro race suffers three
times as heavily from the white plague as
do the white race
In a few state where sanitariums for
coilSumptlVeS nave been conducted there
has been n marked success in curing the
disease 1t is comparatively an easy mat
ter to cure a patient in the first stages
of the disease if he is given the prop
er tea tment, and this only can be given
IN Sanitarium where the consumptive is
isolated from the rest of the world. The
disease in the second stage can also be
cured and numerous instances are on rec
ord where patient believed to be in the
last stages Of the disease and beyond all
aid has been completely cured by treat
ment at Sanitarium.
oIo idea Was Wrong
Another thing, a eonsumptive should
always be informed as to his exact con-
dition. The old idea OF keeping the patient
in ignorance of his malady did more harm
than good. but considering that a few
years ago consumption was believed to be
lncurable the idea was not so bad Now,
however, that the disease can be cured the
patient should be told everything. as he
can greatly aid his recovery if he knows
his condition.
1t has been said consumption is heredi-
taIy. and this is true, which is in itself a
strong argument that consumptives should
be segregated from the rest of the world.
| believe that in many cases children have
inherited the disease through kisses eX-
changed by their parents
The state has appropriated $4,000 for
the purchasing of a site and the building
OF a Sanltarium at Walker. Mimi. but of
this $4,000 has been expended in purchas
ing site which has no equal anywhere
but the remaining money is insufficient
to erect Sanitarium that would be of
any use. The state should be asked to
appropriate 5000. 900 for a constructive
sanitarium for the honest poor of the
state This l believe would be an
economy to the state.
The average human life is valued at
about S2-50O, being of that worth to any
state, and it is estimated that during the
period of a mans life when he is able to
work he earns about $12 900.
The loss to the state of Illinois for each
year during 19012-3 was $36, 55l 800. due
to deaths from consumption, and the
annual loss to the United States from the
same cause amounts to $2.340. 000, 900. This
would seem to indicate that some steps
should be taken to check the disease.
With a modern sanitarium at Walker
for consumptives of this state in five
years the death rate due to this disease
would be cut in two. and at the same
time thousands of people who are now
exposed to the germs every day would
be safe.
Care for a consumptive at the right
time and in the right way until he is
cured, not at the wrong time and in the
wrong way until he is dead