Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-02-22
ALCOHOL AND TUBERCULOSIS.

Alcohol as remedy. or a preventive
medicine is most dangerous drug. All
preparations Of syrups containing spirits
increase rather than diminish the disease
They may cover up the bad symptoms.
but they increase the poisons, and the soil
for the growth OF the consumptive germ.
Rock and rye prescriptions make the con-
ditions more incurable.
Alcohol is narcotic and while quieting
the pain, lessening the cough. diminishes
the vitality and power OF nature TO over
come the disease. Consumption and alco-
holism are twin sisters. The subsistence
OF the one is followed by the development
of the other.
\ very large per cent Of the so-called in
ebriates, or persons who have stopped
drinking die Of consumption or pneu-
mouia.
\ large number Of Consumptives become
inebriates and die suddenly. Consumption
associated or following moderate or excess
sive drinking. is always marked by Sc
we're hemorrhages.
Alcohol seems TO have weakened the
blood vessels OF the lungs and predisposes
To the growth Of consumption and other
acute diseases.
The congestion Of the face from excess
sive use Of spirits is the same in the
lungs. Hence, a chill, or any special dis
turbance develops congestion. pneu-
monia and death.
The excessive drinker Of spirits whose
breath gives evidence of alcohol being
thrown off, is permanently injuring his
lungs. and inviting consumption.
Alcoholic parents are followed by con-
sumptive children. and consumptive par
ents have alcoholic children Statistics
show that at least a third Of the descend
ants of inebriates have consumption, and
fully a fourth of the children of consump-
tives become spirit drinkers.
Spirit drinkers living in close bad air
always have lung disease. Alcohol and
/ drug taking are very active causes of con-
sumption, for the reason that they di-
/ minish the vitality OF the body and the
] power TO resist bacteria invasions Also
/ they add to the toxins and poisons of
the system,
Consumption may not break out from
/ these causes. but pneumonia is almost
certain to follow. Children born during
this period are almost certain to be in
! ehriates In any ordinary exposure
Both of these diseases depend on poi
sons and low vitality.
! In alcoholism the system is starved but
the brain and nerves suffer and alcohol
is most grateful narcotic.
In consumption a local Inflammation ex-
lists. encouraged by low resisting power
| and general degeneration.
Mountain sanitoriums can do little
| towards permanent restoration unless all
other conditions are favorable.
Absolute freedom from all alcoholic
/ wines, and beers, also from dust and
noise, and in conditions where the air is
in active circulation, are great remedial
forces which can often be had in the
homes.
Both alcoholism and tuberculosis one
the Great White Plague" and the other
the Great Black One" are a menace tc
civilization and a reflection on the failure
OF medical men to permit them to grow
and develop without the most strenuous
protest
Consumption IS attracting a great dea
Of attention, alcoholism is neglected ant
the preventable deaths from both viii ex.
coed in numbers any estimates of tn,
present OF the hundred thousand inc
briates dying every year, CONSUMPTION
and pneumonia are the most prominent
causes at the last. OF the vast army n,
consumptives a large per cent. are inc
briates alcohol and drug takers.
Bad air laden with germs and contao
with other victims are all insignihcan
cause, compared with the degeneration,
from alcohol, and the toxins from ne
glect of healthy living.
tuberculosis and alcoholism are 81
closely associated that all measures n
prevention and treatment, must recognize
this relation, II they succeed. Both n
them can be stamped out, the same a,