Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-02
DURABILITY OF TUBERCULOSIS.
Nature Willing to Help in Fight
Against White Plague.

From the New York Herald.
One of the most promising signs of the
times is the growing attention given by the
public press TO the prevention and cure of
infectious diseases. Naturally enough tu-
berculosis. SO widely prevalent in all COM
munities, commands first interest. AS a
wholesale malady 1t must necessarily be
treated by comprehensive and expansive
methods. This is being done in a way that
properly appeals to the public al large. The
recent anti-tuberculosis congress held in
Washington has also helped not a little to
revive general discussion on the proven
ton and cure of tie aiment by giving a
renewed interest to the subject based on
the opinions of acknowledged experts
In summing up conclusions thus far what
have We learned? Not only that tubercu-
losis can be prevented but that Il goodly
majority of incipient cases can be perma-
nently cured The best OF all, also, that
such cures are within the reach OF every
one who will follow simple and common
sense directions. What is most needed is
not drugs, as of old, but simply abundance
of fresh air, plenty of sunlight and properly
nourishing TODD. The real and efficient
helps are all around US. We have but to
reach to take and to be saved. This GER
fanny seems easy enough, and perhaps
because SO Simple We are apt TO lose sight
OF the necessary and really fundamental
guarantee of ultimate salvation. 1t is after
all, the individual element in the equation
that must appeal.
Inc germ is every where IN thlckly settled
communities We can hardly escape It. go
where we Will. The whole game is not only
to give 1t the least quarter but 10 conquer
it promptly in its first attack.
AS the Herald has time and again re-
peated, 1t Is d mere question OF seed and
Soll-tEe seed being the germ and the soil
the human subject. If the constitution IS OF
rock the Seed merely pershes by the way
side. The enemy can never enter the fort-
ress until the gates are open. In this is
the lesson OF prevention and cure.
The best Of all is, Nature is ready 10 help
us at every turn. Fresh air 10 Kill the mi
crobe in the lung, healthy circulation to re-
pei continued inVasiOns and good food TO
strengthen weak and receptive tissues.
To make such measures adaptable to
every condition OF environment we are com
forted to know that mere climate in itself
is not essential proviso. Recent invest
cations have proved mat the poor man can
be treated as well at home as else~ here
and even to much better advantage than
formerly, as he can be cured and remain
cured in the climate IN which he IS u do
his future work
When we hear Of humble cottaSers sleep
ing even in winter on verandas. OF the poor
washerwoman who got the better OF her
disease by taking TO her nightly bed on a
mere fire escape, or the respondent clerk
who turned ticket chopper on the WINDY
platform of the elevated station, all to fight
their troubles under almost insurmountab!e
difficulties, must admit that success by
much simpler means can be reasonably
promised to all who in various modified and
similar ways are ready to follow their ex-
amples.
Then as to food. Fortunately the simplest
and cheapest are the most nutritious. Here
again even the poor man has an advantage
on his side. All told, can we not say that
great progress has been made in treating
the fell malady, and can we be too grateful
to advancing science for giving us such
simple and plain rules for eventually over
coming the greatest plague Of our land?