The Colorado statesman., 1908-12-19
TUBERCULOSIS CONGRESS.
Some Lessons from the Recent Inter
national Gathering at Washington.


The optimism displayed by those SER
wants who convened in Washington
during September and October, regard
ing the control if not annihilation, of
tuberculosis, was one of the most en-
couraging signs of the times. Preven-
ton was the keynote Of the meeting.
The world is only waking up to what
can be accomplished in this way. 1t is
now well known that the tubercle
bacillus is necessary to the develop
ment of the disease. Persons afflicted
with the disease throw these germs off
In large numbers with the sputum and
to certain extent from the bowels. II
al these were killed by disinfection or
burning and our dairy herds were
cleared Of infected cows-which can
easily be done with the tuberculin test
the world would soon be rid of the
disease. But as it is hardly possible
that they will all be destroyed in this
way, we have to look to measures de-
stined to increase the resistance of the
individual as well. The exposure of
the germ-laden material to fresh air
and sunlight soon impairs its vitality
to such a degree that it is much more
easily resisted-in fact, it has been
shown that two or three hours expos
ure to direct sunlight renders it prac-
tically harmless.
The resistance of the individual is
increased by the inhalation of an abun-
dance of fresh air. In the living room
or sleeping room, there should be
oh nj Lott oP ofr thnf hn
breath of air that is exhaled should be
carried away from the individuals nos
trils before the succeeding inspira-
ton takes place, so that there is as lit
tie rebreathing of air as possible, be-
cause it is well known that the germs
cannot stand oxygen and for the
further reason that the oxygen is a
stimulant to the lung tissue and ena-
bles it to resist the onslaught of any
chance germ which may have found
lodgment; as evidence of this fact, 1t
is almost always the parts of the lungs
that are most difficult for air to reach
that are first affected when the dan
ger sets in.
A considerable portion, at least, OF
the disease is caused by the germs be-
ing taken with food and drink. The
principal source Of infection by this
re1yte, is milk which has come from a
dairy herd, some one or more of which
are tuberculous. Flies and other YER
min sometimes feed upon germ laden
sputum or other material and then
carry it to food which is left unpro-
tected Food is also infected by such
sputum driving and being blown about
with the dust. Heredity plays very
small part, although it is recognized
that person born of family in which
there is strong hereditary tendency is
a little more likely to contract the dis
ease than others would be. A person
infected with tuberculosis should never
spit in the open, but always into some
receptacle, in order that the germs
may be destroyed instead of being set
at large to infect some one else. BY
simple measures like these, tuberculo-
sis has in less than ten years lost Its
place of distinction as Captain of the
Men of DEATH" destroying one-sev-
enth Of the human family. Prussia has
reduced her death rate from this
cause, 40 per cent in ten years, New
York so per cent. in fifteen years,
Boston 55 per cent. In twenty years.
The reduction during the three years
that have elapsed since the last meet-
ing of the Congress has been twice as
rapid as any previous period of the
same length of time.
The opinion was expressed by DR..
Lawrence F. Flick, director of the
phipps Institute in Philadelphia, that If
the crusade was continued with the
vigor which seems likely, tuberculosis
will be as we'll controlled in fifteen
years as smallpox is now.