The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-07-04

Since the discovery of the germ OF
tuberculosis Tor. as it is commonly
called consumption), by DIR. kock in
1882, most careful study mas oeeh
made of every phase of the disease.
When we realize that the deaths from
tuberculosis are one-fifth OF the num-
ber of deaths from all other diseases,
the importance of studying the subject
is understood. The result of the IN
vestigations which have been under
taken simultaneously i'll many coun-
tries establish facts regarding tubercu-
losis which all should know, i'll ORDER
that they may prevent the spread OF
the disease by protecting themselves
and their families from it. All over
this country antituberculosis societies
are springing up, their object 10 eau
cate the people and to establish SAM
tariums for consumptiVes.
According to the latest scientific IN
yestigation, tuberculosis is chrome,
infectious, communicable, preventaole
and durable disease.
/ It is chronic when the patient lin
gers for several years. 1t Is commun-
icable through the germ, Whlcn Is
most commonly found in the sputum
or expectoration of the consumptlVe.
It is transmitted from man 10 man,
from man to beast. from beast to man.
The sources of infection are: first by
inhalation. A consumptive splts on
the floor, on the street, or in hander'
chief. When this consumptiyve spittie
dries and is trodden to powder; IL Is
inhaled by a person in a susceptible
condition; that is, one is just recover
ing from some illness or who has been
EXPOSED to severe weather or LABOR or
mental strain that has exhausted the
system, or one who is underted, ana
he gets tuberculosis. A person IN vlg-
orous health exposed to the contaglon
NAV throw it off. But when you re-
member that an advanced consump-
tive can disseminate seven billion oac.
cilli or germs in twenty-four hours, II
he is permitted to do so there is NOT
. much chance of even a healthy person
escaping the contagion.
Second, by taking the bacillus lnto
the system by meat or milk from a tu-
berculous animal.
Third, by incubation or receiving
. the germ through the skin. Or.
Knopf gives the following illustration
of this method: A devoted servant
has a tuberculous master, and he used
aporcelain spittoon which was nicked
and half broken. The girl scratched
herself. The tuberculous substance
mingled With the scratch and she be-
came inoculated with tuberculosis.
: Fourth by the tiny drops of saliva
that f1y from the lips of one who is
coughing and reach the mouth of some
one standing near.
!. It is established beyond dispute that
careless expectoration is the chief cause
of the increase and spread of the dis
ease both to the public in general and
to the consumptiye himself. The con-
sumptive should expectoratei into large
piece of paper or cloth which should
be Immediately burned. AS long as
the spittle is wet it cannot mlngle Win
the atmosphere and be inhaled. Con-
sumptives should never kiss person.
nor should they allow anyone 10 use
the glass, spoon, fork, cup, anything
that has in anyway come IN contacl
with their lips. A consumptlVe
mother may give the disease to her
child by kissing it or by tasting its
food and allowing the child to use the
same spoon or bottle. On the street
consumptives should spit into piece
of cloth or paper return it to the pock-
at and burn it before it has time to
dry. When the fingers or mouth
have been wiped upon the clothes or
upon anything that cannot be boiled
the article should be placed in the hot
sun for some time. Consumptive ba-
cilli may live for months in dark
place, but they are destroyed in from
fifteen minutes to an hour in the rays
{ of the sun. Therefore in the patients
room and every room in the house
should be thrown wide open for at
: least part of every day, as nothing is
more destructive to disease germs of
every sort than the sunlight. Throw
the shutters and windows wide open
. and let in the fresh air and sunshine If
you wish to live in a healthy, happy
home.
To much stress cannot be laid upon
the subject of expectoration. The pa
tient who uses 8 handkerchief again
and again carries to his lips the bacilli
that comes from the diseased portion OF
his lung, and SO infects the healthy
part while the most robust person is
not safe where the dried spittle is
floating in the atmoshere or by inhala.
ton OF dried spittle swept and busted,
and when moving feet stir up the
germs.
A person is much safer in a sanitar-
ium with consumptives who are con-
scientious about splitting and who cover
the mouth with the hand when cough
ing which is what everyone should
do, than is home or hall or crowded
city street Car with people going about
splitting everywhere.
It has been demonstrated that the
germ is not found in the breath of the
consumptive. 1t is only in the spittle.
It is also believed by the majority of
physicians today that consumption is
not inherited. The children Of con-
sumptives are weak and SO predisposed
to take it. Where very young babies
have died of it, many scientists believe
the germs were introduced after birth
in the mothers milk or by Inhalation of
dried spittle or by the mothers kiss.
In regard to meat and milk the i'll
spectors of cattle in cities are urged to
do their work thoroughly and weed
out all tuberculosis. Suspected meat
should be thoroughly cooked and milk
should be sterilized or boiled before
using. Especially is this necessary
for babies unless the mother knows
that the milk comes from a perfectly
healthy cow.
Inoculat alton should be treated by al
lowing the scratch or wound 10 bleed
freely, dress it with alcohol and get a
doctor to treat it with some germ-kill-