Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-06-06
Country Cure Of COnsumpiiVes

tion Of Tuberculosis is sending out a word
of warning TO those who at this season Of
the year, especially, are recommending q
life in the country as a way in which to-
treat consumption. There are many5 say
she Corr lee WHO advise country for al
sorts and conditions Of consumptiyes.
Many physicians as we'll as charitable per-
sons, interested friends, and nearly always
the sufferers themselves, seem to consider
that once the city oonsumptiye is taken
from his overcrowded tenement and placed
in the country the problem is solved. Often
is Is thereby merely made more complicated.
on she other hand, undoubtedly there are
many oonsumptives who will profit greatly
by carefully supervised residence in the
country
The position is taken that it is fair neith-
er TO the consumptiYe nor 10 the country
districts to send away to boarding houses
persons who have advanced tuberculosis and
who have not been been carefully trained
in so caring for themselves that they will
not infect others or who are unwilling to
take pains against injecting others. Is is
shat if this form Of treatment Is to be per-
mitted the consumptiye should be carefully
taught until he has thoroughly learned at
least the fact that this dry cough and his
sputum contain the living germs Of con-
sumption which spread the disease to
others, aud it is pointed ont that consump-
tive who is careless in these matters is q
source of great danger to whatever house
hold he goes into. The following rules are
laid down as those that every doctor, every
boarding house keeper, and every consump-
tive himself should insist upon:
s'The careful and clean consumptive is
not dangerous to those with whom he lives
and lives and works, She careless one is.
The sputum Of the eonsumptiye contains
living germs which when breathed in may
and very often do set up consumption in
Others. Every consumptiye should there-
fore use the GREATEST possible precaution
against allowing these living, death deal
log germs to sscaps into the air and when
he spits, when indoors. ne should always
spit into spitlaan isass 4 illss with water, or
into a essF cred ed-side cup The contents
of these receptacles should be cleaned out
frequently and the cup or spitsoon sterilized
by thorough boiling. When out Of doors
the consumptive should spit only into a
pocket flask of which $here are various cheap
varities on the market and this be may do.
without attracting attention by carrying the
bottle concealed in handkerchief. II un-
willing to do this, q servieeable and effec-
tive substitute will be found in pieces of
cheap, thin white cloth, cut about ten by
ten inches and carried, dozen or more, in
the pocket. They have the appearance Of
handkerchief and when used once should be
put in another pocket in which should be
placed small ordinary paper bag for their
reception Women sufferers from consump-
tion can use the handbags now so common,
in the same way taat the men use their
pockets. A handkerchief is better than
nothing but is not as good as the bottle or
the cloth as each time il is taken ont Of the
pockes it may scatter Che aerus that have
been deposited there when previously used.
The consumptive should be particular also
when coughing as the small invisible drop
let's expelled in coughing carry with them
the germs OF consumption just as does the
sputum. The mouth and nose should there
fore always be covered when coughing. IL
is best TO dispose Of the sputum Of the con-
sumptiye by burning and this is another
reason for the use Of cloths instead of hand
kerchiefs, the latter if used and put into the
wash being apt to convey the germs to the
other clothing. Where there are no regular
sewers it is not safe to getrid Of the sputum
Of consamptives except by burning !"
It is the Committees opinion that ordi-
narily only a small number Of those suffer-
ing from tuberculosis and seeking charitable
assistance are fitted for residence in the
country, and that Of these a very small
number may safely take such form Of treat
ment without medical supervision.