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

DR.. H. H. Healy, secretary of the
state board of health, has just issued
an interesting circular on tuberculosis
in North Dakota, containing much in
formation on subject that is an il.
portant one. 1t reads: ssl5z
Tuberculosis, commonly called con-
sumption, is responsible in North Da-
kota for about one out Of every nine
deaths from all causes, including sui
cides, accidents and still births. It is
responsible for more deaths than any
other disease. Excluding pneumonia,
it is responsible for more deaths than
all other contagious diseases COM
bined. RI. N t15 .;s
The disease is caused by taking in
to the system the tubercular bacillus
which has been thrown off by some
other person or animal having tuber-
culosis. This bacillus is rod shaped,
very small and must be stained and
magnified about ten hundred dame
tiers before it can be identified. The
tubercular bacillus is very tenacious
of life and will live a long time out
side of the body, especially If it has
been deposited in room having little
sunlight. 4 Direct sunlight is antag-
onistic to the growth. A boiling tenn
perature readily kills the germs. 1t
is also easily killed by the use of any
one of many disinfectants. However,
the more or less common practice of
burning a small quantity of sulphur,
or generating fumes Of any other dis
infectant in rooms where people are
living, can have no germ destroying
action, as it: takes more to kill the
germ than it does the human being.
,ss Method of Infection
There are many ways in which in
lection may take place, the most com
mon of which is believed to be that
Of directly breathing into the lungs
dust which has been contaminated by
sputum from the consnmpt ive. Next
in order is probably from swallowing
some material into the stomach which
has been infected with the tubercular
germ. This method may cause tuber-
culosis Of the bowels or the lungs or
any. part of the body. The germ
may be conveyed in a moist state to
? the mouth In a great variety of ways
such as eating Of infected meat, drink
ing infected milk, kissing using drink
ing glasses, dishes, towels, etc. IN
common with ssubercu1ar patients.
The practice commonly followed by
most Of the Christian churches of
using common communion cup con
tanning a light wine, which IS passed
from one to the other, each taking a
little sip, is one; OF the most nauseat-
B ing, unsanitary, besides one Of the
most dangerous practices followed by
people who pretend to be civilized. It
is safe to say that each person adds
h his quota Of germs of half a dozen
diseases such as tuberculosis. la
grippe, neurnonia diphtheFia, sgd
3 hills, common colds ct The mouth
q Is q very unclean part sof the body
Tlibercular. ii well as many other
n disease germs, can be, and probably
often are conveyed to the mouth by
dirty fingers, by eating unpeeied fruit
which has been exposed to the dust
of the street corners, Or polished BY
Y the vender, using his spntum for 4
Il lubricant. other source OF danger
! ii the plan followed BY some schools
Of collecting pencils; books. etc, from
the children at the end Of study hours
and distributing them again without
regard to which child had certain
article the day before. Az children
are very prone to place anything and