The Washington herald., 1907-02-20

ton.
The people Of the poorer classes are
more liable TO infection because they have
less sunshine and fresh air in their homes.
have less nourishing food. and so have
less resisting power when the disease
germs come their way. There are 10000
cases amons the lower classes In New
York City. One authority says. Con
sumption is more frequent among the
poor, the badly housed. the underfed. the
incorporate. and individuals debilitated
by excuses. disease. or certain occupa-
tions. Without better housing for the
poor, the tuberculosis problem cannot be
solved" Negroes are more susceptible
to the ravages Of consumption than white
people, the mortality among them being
three times as great. More married men
die Of this disease than those who are
single. one of the greatest aids to con-
sumption nowadays is found in adulterat-
ed foods. which offer bulk and not sub
stance TO the consumer.
The one great thing about consumption
thas the world has not yet realized is
that il cannot be cured by nostrums. by
patent medicines, by quack doctors, nor
by widely advertised remedies with at
tractive sounding titles It Is cured sole
~ and entirely by wise and judicious use
Of fresh air. water, sunshine and an
abundance of wholesome food, all abett-
ed by determination to rid the mind of
worry and to get well. Occasionally
simple medical remedies are necessary,
when the hygiene OF dietetic means have
not proved sufficient TO combat the dis
ease; but those instances where medi-
cine is needed are few and should not
be magnifed. Climate is a great factor,
and one should generally be chosen that
goes to neither excess Of heat nor cold.
Those who have made the prevention Of
tuberculosis a study say that people who
are afflicted with the disease should sleep
alone in a room with no hangings. up
hOlstered furniture, or useless floor
coverings. Whitewashed or painted walls
are better than those covered with wall
paper. Consumptives need not be afraid
OF cold weather so long as the body is
protected and the feet kept dry. They
need 10 be temperate in all things. and
should scrupulously avoid dust. disorder.
dampuess, and bad air Instead of med
icines they need large quantities of nour-
ishiug food. At the sanatoriums the in
mates are often forced to eat more than
they are inclined to take, in order to
overcome the wasting effects of the it's
sue-destroying disease.
II is accepted that the surest cure lies
in the old cry. Back to nature,' and In a
hundred mountain regions in the United
States one may see rough log cabins or
canvas tents, with one side open TO the
weather where live all the year round
men and women who are being cured Of
what was considered few years ago an
iHcurable and hopeless maIady And this
is how they are doing it. They have
clothed themselves warmly and comfort
ably; they have left care and worry be-
hind; they are eating four and five meals
a day of fruit. vegetables, milk, eggs. and
beef; they are spending from twelve to
twenty-five hours out doors each day. "
ing in big chairs in the sun, or perhaps
taking short walks and a little exercise:
they are making "a point of being cheer
ful and hopeful. and as a result of such
determination the majority of them will
return to their homes restored TO the
health which they lest through careless
ness or ignorance.
A young lady who recently spent year
in Western resort for tuberculosis pa
tients said to me not long ago with tears
IN her eyes: "Oh, I wish ] were rich! I
never wished it before. but now l would
know what TO do with money If had It.
would not build art galleries. nor found
libraries. nor endow schools / would
Just buy yards Of beefsteak, and tanks OF
good rich milk and cream. and carloads
Of eggs and bread, and l would take them
out West to these people-the poor ones
who are making fight for life. Oh. what
"a brave fight they are making and many
OF them can't win out, just because they
haven't enough TO eat The fresh air
can't do it all. ] have seen them, l have
lived among them. and I know how much
many Of them need. "
1t is said that the people OF the arid
regions Of the West pctitiOned one OF our