The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-29
VIII Die Of Consumption Unless
Something Is Done.
CLAIMS $4,000 YEARLY
And These Cost the Country a
Billion Dollars.
Statement Causes a Sensation
at tuberculosis Congress.

Washington. Sept. 29-That 100000
people now living in the United States
are doomed to fill consumptives
graves unless something is done to pre-
Vent IT,. was the startling declaration
of Prof Irving Fisher of Yale univer-
sity in an address on THE cost of
tuberculosis" before the International
tuberculosis congress today. Prof.
Fishers address created a sensation.
Prof Fisher further declared that the
13S.O0O persons who die of consump-
tion annually in this country cost, in
hard cash, over one billion dollars a
year.
In section one in which it is ex-
pected the most of the scientific dis
cussions and the discoveries will de-
velop, there was a discussion of great
Importance to the congress at this
mornings session when Prof. Calmett
of Lille, France, director of the Pasteur
institute, advanced the theory that
tubercule bacilli are taken into the
system by swallowing. Heretofore in
halation has been considered the prin-
cipal method of contracting consump-
tion. Infection by inhalation was
warmly defended by Prof. Tendeloo, Of
Holland.
Past Assistant Surgeon Victor G..
Heifer. of the United States public
health and marine hospital service and
director Of health of the Philippine is
lands. asserted that in tropical coun-
tries. where tuberculosis and hook
worm disease preVaiLelimination of the
hook worm produced better results in
diminishing the mortality from tuber-
culosis than any other measure that
has yet been tried on a large scale.
Don't overfeed the consumptive," "
said Professor Fisher. He quoted sta
tstics based on returns from 95 Sana-
toria, showing great differences in diet
and little system. although there is a
tendency toward reduction.
Professor Fisher said that. many
sanatoria all over the world are be-
ginning to see that "stuffing' the pa
tient is not good for him. This is a
reaction against the extreme overfeed-
ing which has fattened consumptives
like Strasburg geese-and perhaps
had the same effect on their livers. 1t
has made them look strong but feel
weak. The reason so many sanatoria
and physicians are beginning to real
jze this fact is due, according to Pro-
fessor Fisher. to the influence of Pro-
fessor Chittenden of Yale, as we'll as
to Metchnkoff, in Paris. and many
others. who have been writing about
the dangers of eating too much, es-
pecially too much meat and of auto
intoxication" as a consequence. Ac-
cording to these writer's the chief
troubles from over eating are from
eating too much meat and eggs, or
other high protein foods. Profess
Sor Fisher does not advocate strict
vegetarian diet, but believes that when
meat is eaten, it should be eaten mod
crately In his experiments at Yale
Professor Fisher has shown that those
who eat little or no meat have more
physical and mental endurance than
the lovers of beefsteak or chops three
times a day.
High Altitude Treatment.
Dr. O. Anrein. of Arosa Switzerland,
read a paper which was in part as fol-
lows:
although the influence of climate at
high altitude on tuberculosis has long
been known and estimated and al
though the results obtained at the
mountain stations have been appre-
ciated as most excellent, there are
many medical men who refuse o
acknowledge the good of climates at all
and especially of climatic conditions at
high attitudes. Often indeed we may
hear the opinion expressed that tuber-
culosis must be cured under the same
climate conditions as those under
which they will have to live after
wards. And many of the low-land san
atoria declare that they obtain just as
good results as those obtained at high
attitudes. Undoubtedly proper care is
the most important element in the
treatment of tuberculosis patients and
proper care in a bad climate is better
than no cure in good one. NeVerthe-
less. no one will venture to deny that
the very best Of all is proper care in
the very best possible climate.
Il am far from appraising the
high altitude treatment a panacea.
as an infallible remedy. but after haV-
ing been cured from tuberculosis my
self in the Swiss mountains and after
an experience of ten years practice
there I do esteem it one of the best
weapons we can use in modern
therapeutic methods against this our
worst enemy"
DR.. Amreiu reviewed the various
advantages of high altitude climate.
and said that tendency to
hemorrhages is less frequent than in
the lowlands. with the exception of
cases when blood-spitting is due to an
increased blood pressure. He sends
such patients away. He cited many
observations in denial of the assertion
mat fever cOntra-indicateS the high
altitude treatment saying that oppon-
tnts or the high altitude treatment
show no proof that they rid more
patients of fever in the lowlands
than we do up in the mountains but
"ddec, whenever possible patients
should not be sent to our attitudes so
long as they have temperatures of
y "'o degrees c. and more; such pa
uents had better wait until their
temperatures are lower"
In answer to the assertion that tuber-
.49 H"btIlts SuOulu De cured IN the
.Hmate conditions under which they
nave TO live afterwards. he said: But
IT our patients are really cured in our
mountain climate they can live quite
"eH IN the lowlands again. assuming
dlWays that they do not leave too early
ana begin work too soon."
re said that systematic and care
luI use Of sun-rays viii help in a great
many cases. and that the mountain
Tumate enables us to carry out sun
uEnt cures much more effectively than
S "here else" He also said: Care