Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-05-14


pencil, etc. and keep them to himself
The tubercular germ may be con-
veyed to an Individual through any
slight abrasion of the skin. Cases
are on record where individuals have
contracted tuberculosis from having
the finger, scratched while performing
post norton operations upon tuber-
culous animals, also from applying
cream to an abrasion of the skin.
Thousands of children are infected
with tuberculosis and carry the germs
in. their systems for many years and
still be apparently healthy. The dis
ease is usually limited in these chill
dren to enlarged glands, principally
around the neck. Under proper care,
most of these ultimately throw off the
disease, but in many of them pulmon-
airy or other forms of tuberculosis
later on occurs. .,. ~
. Prevention or tuberculosis.
It is a generally accepted theory
that If one is in perfectly healthy
condition, there is very little danger
of taking tuberculosis. However, al
most every one, at some time or an
other, is in a physical condition below
par, perhaps from exposure, night
of dissipation, such as drunken ca
rousal, or even fashionable ball or
party, especially those who change
from heavy to light underwear for
that evening. One should avoid dis
sipation of all kinds and maintain
regular habits. He should battle
regularly, especially the hands before
eating, His mouth and teeth should
be kept as>clean as possible, his food
should be wholesome, but plain. He
should have plenty of exercise to keep
the body in normal condition. Exer'
}cise out of doors in the fresh air is
much better than in door exercise and
Often is necessary to keep the whole
body in good condition. He should
sleep in well ventilated room which
admits an abundance of sunlight. He
should never, under any conditions
kiss Or sleep with a. consumptive. or
Fsleep in a room where a consumptive
has previously slept until after it has
been thoroughly disinfected.
Consumption is not directly an her
editary:. disease so that those who
have been born of consumptive par
ents need not, by any means despair
for while such seem to be more prone
to contract the disease than others, a
proper observance of hygienic rules
will give them a very fair prospect of
long life. is advisable for such per-
sons to select a trade or profession
which will not compel them to re-
main largely within doors or work at
any trade in which it is necessary to
inhale large quantities of dust or
smoke of any kind. 1t is believed
that this apparently hereditary ten
dency is merely one Of infection. The
child by being constantly associated
with other members of the family who
are tuberculous, must take these
germs into his system every day,
though he may not show any marked
evidence of the disease until later in
life. In other words, if a child is
taken from consumptive parents as
soon as born and placed in healthful
surroundings, he would be very little,
IL any, more apt to contract tuber-
culosis later than children of healthy
parents. No child should be allowed
to attend school where a tubercular
teacher is employed. 5 Il: Az II. n +
| Treatment. =
mi 1t is, of course, outside the province
Of the board Of health to give in de
tail the treatment of tuberculosis. but
there are IA few things in general,
about which it may be well to make
some mention. In the first place, nc
one should be discouraged and lose
heart because he has tuberculosis, for
the fact is, thas a large percentage
can be cured by proper treatment,
Treatment consists mainly of fresh
iair, proper amount of exercise and
plenty Of good wholesome, liourishing
food. A consumpt iYe should be In
fresh air all of the time, even during
sleep. BY fresh ali, Is meant prac.
fically out Of doors air. II one sleeps
ID 4 house the windows should be
wide open, summer and winter. There
lis no danger Of catching cold SO long
as one IS warmly covered. con,
Isumptive should reIigiously avoid
crowded churches, theatres, etc 4
few hours spent In a 10 nlatmosphere
might undo all Of the good accom-,
pIished BY weeks Of careful treatment
Medicine has very small part To
play ID curing 4 case o. consunpt ton
IIn fact, \ believe that much more
harm than good is often done by the