The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-06-13
TO CHECK SPREAD
OF CONSUMPTION
Stringent Rules Laid Down fer
Government Employees.
DISEASE CAN BE CURED.
Precautions Which Should be Taken
Against it-President Taking an
Active Interest in the Fight
Against Its RaVages.

Active Interest in the Figh
Against Its Ravages.
Washington, May 14.-Special. The
government employee who spits upon
the floor of a government building OF
office in the future is liable to summary
dismissal from his position. under
rules now being promulgated through
the departments by order of the Presi'
dent.
The President considers that drastic
rules of this kind are necessary to pre-.
vent the spread of tuberculosis among
government employees. While there
are other rules that must be observed
particular stress is laid upon the fact
that moist sputum is the worst posi-.
BILE form of communicating consump.
ton to we'll people. Myriads of con.
sumption germs adhere to drinking
glasses and may be transferred from
the sick to the we'll by this method
by towels, handkerchief, soap and toi-
let articles; even tableware and OBJ
jects of personal use.
It is declared that one out of every
four deaths of people between the ages
of 20 and 80 years is due to consump.
ton, both in the United States and
Europe, and it is for the purpose OF
checking Its spread among govern.
ment employees that thousands of cir
culars have been issued. These circu-
lars lay down a number of rules that
must be followed byclerks, one of them
being the use of individual drinking
glasses. Those suffering from pulmo.
nary troubles are to be separated from
other clerks W bile they are at work
The positive statement is made in
the regulations issued that consump-
tion is durable when intelligent treat
ment is undertaken early in the dis
ease. It is admitted that some climates
are more favorable to the cure of the
disease than others, but in no climate
is the disease beyond cure if taken in
time. 1t is declared that consumption
can eventually be stamped out if rec
ognized sanitary rules are followed and
every ybody will join in the efforts to
stop the dread "white plague" Con.
sumptlves are appealed to to aid by
seeing that every bit of their sputum
ia destroyed. The following advice is
given to consumptives who want to
get we'll of the disease:
l. Sleep alone.
2. Use no hangings, upholstered
furniture or useless floor coverings in
your sleeping room.
3. WhiteWashed or painted walls
are preferable to those covered with
wall paper.
4. Expose the bedroom freely to the
outside air when not occupied, and
sleep with the windows open. Spend
as much time as possible in the open
air, and use the bedroom only at night.
5. De not be afraid of cold weather
as long as the body is protected. and
especially be careful to keep the feet
dry.
s. Keep the body warmly clad and
guarI against sudden changes in the
weather.
7. Take plenty of nourishing food.
Consumptives often need more nutri-
ment than they are inclined to take.
Milk, eggs and fatty foods are espe-
cially valuable when they can be as
simulated.
s. There is no known medicine that
can cure consumption. Medicines for
the relief Of cough and other symptoms
of the disease should be taken only on
the advice of physician.
8. Lead temperate life in all
things.
10. Be scrupulously careful not to
infect the other members of your FAM
lily by distributing the germs contained
in your sputum. Refrain from cough
ing as far as possible, but when it is
necessary turn your head aside and
hold handkerchief to your mouth.
II. Use a destructible portable spit
receiver, which can be bought for a few
cents use one or more a day and de-
stroy them by burning.
II. Never swallow the material
brought up from the lungs; it may
cause infection of the digestive tract.
13. 1t is not best to use handker-
chiefs to receive the sputum. japanese
paper napkins or squares of old linen,
to be burned when soiled, may be used;
but these are not as cleanly as the port
able spittoons.
IA. Scrupulously avoid dust, disor-
der, damppess, darkness and bad air
in your home.
is. Be hopeful and expect a cure.
The rules direct that all CLERKS pro-
vide 80 much fresh air in the looms in
which they work as possible and di.
rects that spittoOns shall be cleaned
daily with very hot water, besides be.
ing allowed to contain smallquantity
of water at all times.
P. II. McGoWan.