Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-13
LUNG DISEASES
ilsshsl fsr aslliaS o4 Dssasfsl A1s
 Aietisn. the sWhits" pisfse,

0SssOue sAV Woss~ S0OOvs
 Through the good of1ces of tho Friendly league on Leavenworth street Waterbury people are now being af. ,forded an opportunity to receive some valuable hints regarding the best methods of warding of the dreaded malady, consumption. The exhibit which consists of life size figure Of woman taking the outdoor treat- ment. is in position in front of the building. and last night Prof Wilson of Boston delivered an interesting and ins structive illustrated lecture on tho subject.
 Prevention" said the speaker. "has ever been the watchwOrd in the his- tory of modern science In the early days leprosy claimed it's victims by tho thousands. At last the lepers wero huddled together in colonies in an at. tempt to prevent the spread of the dis ease. Typhoid fever was prevalent score or more of years ago. At last people began to discover that the cause from typhoid was to be found In polluted drinking water. The preven- tion of the disease then became an easy matter.
 1.-The Japanese army has taught many lessons in hygiene During our last war America lost many men I through disease because the army ofiis cials failed to apply the preventives l they should have known. BMt whiie | the army showed there were many I things which it ought to have learned
 America very soon found preventive | for the dread yellow fever when II was discovered that the cause of its
 spread was due to the mosquito. l Where patients were formerly isolated | from their families and most cruelty | treated they are to-day isolated only Dy l a niece of mOsquito netting placed
 around the sick bed.
 l Consumption is the greatest enemy i of mankind. There is but one other disease which anywhere near approach es it, pneumonia. There isn't as much outcry against pneumonia because 1t is of short duration. Consumption Is lingering disease Pneumonia takes
 away the very old and the very young. while consumption makes it's worst rayages upon the men and women in middle life, when they are of the most
 value to the home and the community.
 We do not know the means of pre-
 venting pneumonia. but we have found l means of preventing the spread Q
 consumption. Previous to looI con-
 sumption was believed to be neredl-
 tary disease. In that year Koch, a Ger
 man physician, discovered the germ,
 small vegetable growth, so small that
 when magnified 800 times it is stiu
 less than one-eighth of an inch ID
 length. This growth gets in the sys
 tenn and plants itself there.
 ..These germs multiply rapidly. Each
 time patient coughs he brings up ni'- Ilions of these germs. When these are
 moist there is very little danger or their being carried from one person 10
 another, but it is when this sputum becomes dry and the dust is blown
 about that we breathe the deadly
 germs into our systems
 Persons in good physical condition
 could perhaps take large number or
 these germs into their systems without
 danger. But 1t is the man who Is weak or convalescent whose system IS fin the best condition for contracting the dread disease. @.. Lsd"Dust is the prime cause for the con- !. tagion, but there are others A person might easily catch the germs by stand , ing in front of c0nsumptive ana
 catching drops of spittle as he coughs.
 It Is possible to take the germs into
 the system with food upon which mes, carrying the germs, have rested. lt also possible to contract the germs through a cut or wound in the hand If must also be understood that there l is more than one form of tuberculosis. , Consumption or tuberculosis of the
 lungs is but one of the many forms
 which the disease takes.
 ..The idea that consumption is hered- itary is erroneous. Some people are horn with a predisposition to consump- tion. That is, they may have weak
 lungs. they may have 6 contracted
 chest or they may have too little vital ity to resist the ravages of the disr
 ease. With such constitutions 1t is possi-
 ble to contract the disease through fn- , temperance: not merely intemperance . in drinking, but intemperance along 2 other lines. Those who work and i've and sleep with too little regard for the fresh air may also fall victims to the disease.
 , ..Take the man who works all day in : n poorly ventilated work shop; rides , home in crowded street car; stays m the house during the evening. too tired to % out. or, if he does go out. spends : his evening in a barroom where men are splitting on the floor and where he 3 must inbale foul tobacco smoke, and } then retires in bedroom with little or r no ventilation. What chance has such
 man got with consumption!
 But the tendency of modern fimes
 is for good. We have higher stand 7 ard and are living better. Consump- 2 ton is not only preventable but curaole l as well. There Is no specific. Men and | women who spend their money for SO , called cures for consumption are vast 1, ing their money. Fresh air and right : living are the only cures. When l say consumption can be cured l mean that tbe process can be arrested Of course it ls impossible to replace the lost tis' ' sues.
 Q Gases of consumption should be re a ported to the board of health just al 1 any case of smallpox would be report n ed. Every house where consumpfivs , has died should be thoroughly disin
 fected. Care should be taken in the
 matter of spufum- Sanitary device'