The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-11-10
sompiIsdat "kaiserlich Dsutsehes &c.
sundheitsamt" at Berlin,
A. WHIT is TuhsrruInstsa

A. What is Tuberculusis7
tuberculosis is the most destructive
of all Infectious diseases, II attacks
various pcrts Of the body, chiefly, how.
sr, the lungs It spares no nation. no
age. no yocstiau. no ctass OF people
More than 100000 persons die each
year in Germany from the effects of
it, the number of patients afflicted by
It being estimated as ten times as nu-
merous. Every third person, who dies
between The ages Of 10 and GO years,
succumhJ to tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is caused by the tn.
bercle.bacillus discovered by Robert
Koch. This is minute creature OF the
lowest scale. visible only when very
highly ngnified. 1t thriyes best at
blood temperature tabout 9S degrees
FahrenhciD /. and multiplies in the in
terror OF the body. 1t reaches tho out
err world chiefly in the sputum of sick
persons and in the milk Of diseased an.
imals.
Every person is exposed to the dan.
ger Of taking up the germs of tubercu-
losis into his own system, and mary
harbor them long time without know
ing IL" Every one must therefore be
prepared for battle with this enemy.
The 'tbercEe-baciTTus IS most eff
GENTLY destroyed by burning, boiling
or 8teaming. It can not long resist the
action Of sunlight. Other means of
distinction, such as cresol water. a
solution of carbolic acid, formalde-
hyde. require special previous knowl-
edge for safe and effective use.
8. How Does the Infection Take
Placer
Hereditary tuberculosis is rare.
THberle-bac3llf enter the humIn
body mainly by the respiratoI; organs
and the digestive system.
TNberCle-baciilli are taken rp:
|, BY inhaIing with the air: germs
either from the dried sputun Of tuber.
cr!ous persons in the dust, whirled
by winds and draughts while sweeping
out, or carried on clothing or shoe
soles; or from the mint moist drops
which nvallIs hiffuse in their inme-
diate vicinity by coughing or talking;
?. With the food: first through un.
boiled milk, also. in case OF unsatis-
factory inspection of meat through
the flesh OF tuberculons animals,
in trade was not afterwards thorough.
" cooked before being eaten:
3, By means OF unclean hands and
nnclean utensils: e. e., in the case of
children crawling on the floor. Selling
sciled objects Clothing, handker-
chiefs and The, likel and Immediately
afterwards putting the fingers into the
mouth Sucking fingers. biting nails,
licking fingers when turning over
leaNes), picking the nose, aud similar
bad habits as putting into the mouth
Toys. drinking glasses, eating utensils.
wind Instruments used by others.
Tuberle-bacilli may also enter
through injured Or diseased places in
the skin Or in the visible mucous mem.
brane (nnnotiCed small sores, scratch.
e5, eruptions).
The result OF the absorption of tn.
Dercle'Oacilli usually in the case of
children at first disease Of Tho glands
(e. s. Of the neck and abdomen) and,
in connection Herewith. of the lungs
the bones and joints (scrofuIa of the
bones. tlbercular excrescences. volun.
AIRY limDing), the cerebral mcmDrance,
etc, In the case of adults infection by
pfedominates and leads to
tuberculosis of the lungs, more unfre.
luent1y OF the larynx (consimption)
Through absorption of the tubercle-
baeilll into the skin there is arising
tuberculosis of the skin &c. s. lupus,
corrosive herpes).
Most usually. tuberculosis progress.
es slowly tchronicallyJ; exception;
sallomng consumption.
"onefourth of the corpses OF per
sons who have died from other dis.