The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-03-12
VALUABLE INFORMATION
ON TUBERCULOSIS s

The following paper was prepared
by one of Roswel's physicians as an
address to the nurses of the city and
will be of general interest, inasmucl
as there are so many health-seekers
in the city:
Consumption is a disease of the
lungs which is produced by a germ
which is called the tubercle bacillus
Tuberculosis of the lungs is only one
of the many manifestations produced
by this germ. This is the only form
of the disease, however, which is OF
special interest to those that have
the immediate care of persons suff-
ering from the disease, as it is the
only one which is, in any way, danger
Gus to the attendants. The tubercle
bacillus is a very minute plant, so
small that it would take more than
10000, laid side by side, to make a
row an inch long. 1t will grow, and
does grow, when once lodged in al
most any portion of the human body.
ALI warm-blooded animals and even
some coId-blooded animals are sub
ject to this disease.
The patient suffering from con-
sumption is almost constantly eXpec-
torating greater Or lesser amounts OF
pus, which contains these germs in
absolutely uncountable numbers, and
the danger to persons, who are daily
coming in contact with such persons,
is that the germs will be taken into
the respiratory or digestive tract.
Fortunately, most of us enjoy more
or less immunity to this disease, that
is, we nave great resisting power TO
the invasion of the germs. This, how
ever, is not an absolute protection
because if the conditions are very fa-
vorable for the growth of the germs,
AID our resisting power happens to
be even temporarily a. a low ebb
they may gain access to the lungs
OR the aIimentary tract, or to other
parts of the body, where they may
multiply almost without limit.
This sputum, if allowed to come in
contact with clothing or the hands
of the attendants. may be conveyed
to the mouth or the nose, by direct
contact, or through the agency OF
food or drink, and thus be a begin
ming of the disease.
When a patient, having tuberculosis
coughs into the atmosphere, he
throws out fine spray. which con
sists of minute drops of mucus and
saliva, and these drops may contain
great numbers of germs. They will
float il the atmosphere like drops OF
moisture in a fog, for an indefinite
time, and may be inhaled by any
person occupying or passing through
the room.
Therefore, it behooves the attend
ants to be extremely careful that they
carefully wash their hands, after be
ing soiIed, and before eating, wheth-
er they know them soiled or not. Ev-
cry particle of sputum should be de
stroyed by burning. If any of it, by
any means, be deposited on the floor
the furniture, or the bed clothing, the
spots should Immediately be wiped
up with a cloth, saturated with a
solution of bichlorid of mercury. The
skin and mucous membrane is coat
of mail to keep these germs out, but
if there is any break in this coat OF
mail, which may come as a wound
or as a cold, or sore throat, or a bron
chitis or a tolsilitis, a door is opened
through which the person may be in
vaded by the germs, and any nurse
who is in condition thus to become
easily infected by the disease, should
be, If possible, Immediately removed
from the neighborhood of infection
The following was written by the
same doctor as an address to fuber
cular patients and, in like manner
win be read with interest by the