The Washington times., 1907-04-07
Local Citizens Organized
to Combat Dread
Evil.
Associated Charities in
Need of Cash to Con-
tinue the Work.
Physicians at Dispensary
on H Street Giving
Treatment.

Treatment.
tuberculosis Is the great urgent sani-
tary problem Of the new century. In
no other direction can such large re
suits be achieved so certainly and at
such relatively small cost The time is
not far distant when those States and
municipalities which have not adopted
a comprehensive plan for dealing with
tuberculosis viii be regarded as almost
criminally negligent in their admins
traitor OF sanitary affairs and inexeusa-
bly, blind to their own best economic in
terests.
This insidious disease. which we call
consumption. phthisis, or tuberculosis
of the lungs. is the most terrible de-
stroyer Of lives with which civilization
has TO contend. Within the last few
years science has shown the nature of
the disease. and has clearly demon
strated its cause. how it iourishes and
spreads, how it declines and disappears.
The time has now arrived when It be-
comes the duty OF all sanitary authori-
ties to assume more aggressive atti-
tude.
IN order to bring about a more intel
ngent interest on the part OF the gem
eral public to the necessity OF taking
proper precautions, municipal as well
as individual, in relation to tubereuIo-
sis. some of the known and now gen
orally accepted facts regarding the
nature OF this disease are to be borne
in mind.
Facts 10 Be Remembered
The disease known as tuberculosis
may attack any organ or tissue in the
body When it affects the lungs II Is
called pulmonary tuberculosis. or con-
sumption. In this form it causes about
one-seventh OF all the deaths occurring
in the human race, and emitting the
deaths among children up 10 fifteen
years and adults after sixty we find 1t
causes about quarter OF all deaths, so
that its ravages are most deadly at a
period when the life of an individual
Is most useful The death roll from
tuberculosis in this city was 77s last
year. In the United States It exceeds
one hundred thousand every year.
It has been proved beyond a doubt
that a living germ called the tubercIe
bacillus is the cause, and the only cause,
of tuberculosis. When these germs find
their way into the body they multiply
there; If conditions are favorable for
their growth, they produce new growths
of nodules (tubercles) which tend to
soften. The discharges from the soft
ened tubercles. containing the living
germs, are thrown of from. the body IN
various ways. In pulmonary tubercu-
losis the expectoration discharged con-
"a In
bers.
Discharged Germs Retain Vitality.
It has been proved that IN the course |
OF twenty-four hours. many millions Of
tubercle bacili may be discharged under /
certain conditions by one person SUI I
fering from tuberculosis. The germs 4
thus thrown of do not grow outside /
the living body except under artificial /
but they may and often do /
retain their vitality and Virulence for |
long periods. As tuberculosis can only
result from the action of these germs. |
il follows, from what has been said, |
that when the disease Is acquired il /
must be acquired from receiving into
the body the living germs that have
come from some other human being or /
animal affected with the disease. Ordi- /
narily the sputum Of the consumptive i
is the means of thus spreading and i
consumption. While the i
meat and milk of tubereular cattle may
be important sources of danger. vet
the disease as a rule is acquired through /
its communication direct from man TO /
man through the very general and very
practice Of indiscriminate
splitting.
tuberculosis Dust.
The expectoration of tubercuious per-
sons frequently lodges in places where /
It afterwards dries, as on handkerchiefs,
carpets. floors. sidewalks. or
vehicles. After drying, It is very apt 1
In one way or another to become pull
verified. and then, by means Of wind, /
trailing skirts or other causes, it floats /
IN the air as dust.
Pulmonary tuberculosis is usually pro-
duced by breathing air IN which the
living germs are suspended as dust or
TO dust; such dust may re- /
tain for weeks, or even months, or long
er, its power of causing the disease. |
1t should be distinctly understood that
the element Of danger is the dried and /
pulverized sputum. and not the breath /
OF tuberculosis patients or the moist /
sputum received into proper cups. The
breath and moist sputum are prac-
dcally free from danger. because the
germs are not dislodged from the moist
surface. The act OF coughing or speak
Ing may expel particles containing in
fective matter If all discharges were
destroyed at the time Of their exit. bv
far the greatest danger OF communica-
ton from man to man would be re-
moved.
Consumption in Washington is being
,ombated by a group OF citizens organ
zed some years ago by the Associated
Charities. This committee is entirely de-
Dendable upon private contributions
given specifically TO fight consumption.
The Office and dispensary are located
It 923 II street northwest.
Physicians are available for examin-
atoms and treatments at the above ad-
lress Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday.
and Thursday afternoons from . to 2
o'clock. and Friday evenings from 80
10 $3.50. The Office Of the committee is
It the same address and open from 3 to
daily