Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-27
FIGHT AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS.

Editorial in Sunday star.
1t should be a source of congratu
lation that Wilmington has Joined the
crusade against what has become
known as the 'great white plague.
A society known as the "Anti-Tubercu-
losis League" has been organized and
has already entered upon an active
campaign with a view Of establishing
a sanatorium for the treatment and
cure Of the unfortunate victims of this
dread disease. With the advance Of
medical science ray Of hope has
entered the hitherto dark and gloomy
field. We no longer look upon a per-
son suffering from tuberculosis as one
doomed TO death nor do we consider
a long soiourn in the far West, re-
moved from friends and relatives and
often without adequate means Of sup
port as an essential part Of the treat
ment. We now know that tubercu-
losis can be cured in its incipient
stages greatly ameliorated in the ad-
vanced stages, and life prolonged even
when the disease is so far advanced as
to make the condition of the victim
hopeless. And this we are assured can
be accomplished right here at home,
by such simple remedies as plenty of
fresh air, nourishing food and occa-
sional administration Of drugs that
seem to be demanded by certain in
dioations.
Moreover it has been learned that
the disease is caused by a germ, that
this germ is thrown off with the ex-
pectoration, and that by taking proper
care of the expectoration the danger
Of injecting others is eliminated, or at
Irrn Az Sc ~.
with other infectious diseases the
problem resolves itself into two essen
tial parts: Prevention and cure. In
tuberculosis the disease may be pre-
vented by rendering harmless the germ
laden sputum and cured by adopting
at an early stage what has become
known as the hygienic treatment.
| This treatment can be carried out
successfully only IN we'll established
and properly conducted institutions
under the supervision of skilled physi-
clans and care Of trained nurses. In
such institutions the afflicted receive
| practical instructions day by day, and
/ night by night, how to take care Of
their expeotoration, so as to cease to
be a menace to their neighbors, and
/ how to live so as TO insure rapid and
/ permanent recovery. A few weeks of
such instruction, and the patient is
able to return 20 his home, greatly
improved in health and fully capable
of maintaining the mode Of life which
| modern medical science demonstrates
is alone conducive TO a complete cure.
What is more, the patient returns,
! not as a center Of infection, not as a
menace to those who come in contact
with him, not as a breeder Of disease,
but with a full knowledge of the
dangers lurking in his expectoration
and with such habits of cleanliness
inculcatad that he may discharge his
daily duties without in the least en-
dangering the health Of those with
whom be is brought IN contact. One
person reclaimed to health and use
! fulness means that the danger of
spreading tuberculosis is minimized
| 10 that extent. One source of in
lection removed, and hundreds Of lives
NAV be saved. What a noble cause 10
work fora cause which means the
saving OF the individual from an un-
timely death, the protection Of the
community against dread disease,
and the ultimate extinction of the
"great white plague. ~
We understand that the league must
have the slnews OF war in order that
il may combat this powerful foe. In
| addition 10 money, few acres of
suitable land are needed to establis b
tent sanatorium. IL is probable
that this want will not long remain
uusatisfied, and that our ph hilanthropic
citizens who are able and willing "a
help in all good work will supply
what is needed for the success Of this
noble effort.