The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-16
STATE CAMPAIGN
 OPENS AT JASPER Fight on the Dread Disease,
 Consumption PROMINENT SPEAKERS pr. B. L. Wyman and pr. w. G. Harr- son of Birmingham Make Strong Addresses-Some Rules For
 Preventing Disease.
PROMINENT SPEAKERS
By FRANK V. EVANS.

aroused last night at meeting addressed by prominent physicians on the subject of tuberculosis
 A vigorous campaign against this dread disease is being pushed by the state board of health, and Jasper is the first point of attack
 Dr. B. L. Wyman, president of the state board of health, and Dr. w. G. Harrison, both of Birmingham, were the orators of the evening. Dr. A. M. Sto- wall, health officer of Walker county, pre- sided. The Methodist church. where the meeting was held, was crowded almost to its full capacity, thus showing an awak- ening of the people on this all-important subject.
 The condition in Alabama today on this subject was pointed out by pr. Wyman to be serious in nature and deadly in re- suits, and yet, he said, such conditions are entirely unnecessary and can be largely relieved and may be in the future entirely eradicated. Said he:
 If it were publicly proclaimed that there were 10000 cases of typhoid fever scattered throughout Alabama, 40O0 of
 
 would seize the people and every means known to science would be invoked to put an immediate end to the dreadful scourge Should it be announced that yellow fever had appeared upon the coast, although it has been beyond doubt demonstrated that it can be both controlled and estopped, the people would demand that the state quarantine be at once put in force and no money spared to protect them against this disease. And yet tuberculosis, or con sumption. as the pulmonary form is call ed, a disease far more destructive in it's consequences than typhoid, and which causes more deaths in one year than yell low fever has in the past half century in the state, is allowed to continue it's sad havoc, and we do not raise our voices in protest or lift our hands to stay it.'
 Discards TechnicaIites.
 pr. Wyman discarded technicalities in his remarks, as far as possible, coming down to the plain understanding of his splendid audience of laymen. He told them that consumption is caused chiefly by the filthy habit of splitting; that it js a disease of the lungs, which is not inher- ited, as many people think, although a tendency to the disease comes from a weak constitution, which may be inher- ited. It is taken from others and is not simply caused by colds; however, a cold may make 1t easier to contract the dis ease. He said that consumption is caused by germs which can be found in the spu- tum (spit) of persons suffering from the disease. These enter the body with the air breathed. The matter which the con- sumptives spit up or cough up contains these germs in great numbers. One con sumptive patient may discharge millions of germs in a single day. Said he:
 This matter of splitting promiscuously on the sidewalks, on the floors of their rooms, in street cars public places, or, in fact, anywhere, it is more than apt to become dry, floating in the air. is blown by the winds as a dust. This dust con tains the germs. These germs enter the system with the air we breathe, and should the system be weak, the person breathing such Is liable to consump- tion. This dust is especially dangerous within doors.
 "The breath of the consumptive does not contain the germs and will not pro- duce the disease. Persons catch the dis ease from consumptive by in some way taking in some matter given off by con sumptive.
 Consumption can be cured if it is early
 
 for its treatment.
 "In the majority of cases, especially those recognized early, consumption is not fatal. It is not dangerous to live with a consumptive if the consumptive himself is careful with the matter coughed up or expectorated, and if this matter be promptly and efficiently destroyed.
 This matter, as stated before, should not be spit upon carpets, walls or side
 
 purpose. This cup should contain water, so that the matter will not dry. A still better method would be the use of some antiseptic solution that will destroy the germs; for example, carbolic acid. The cup should be emptied at frequent inter vals, say three or four times day, and thoroughly disnfected either with car . bolic acid 6 per cent solution) or by boil ing.
 "A consumptive should take great care of his personal cleanliness. He should prevent his hands, face and clothes from becoming soied with the matter coughed up or with the spit. If they do become soiled, they should at once be washed with soap and hot water.
 "A man suffering with consumption should be clean shaven.
 If 1t Is necessary for consumptive to be away from home, he should endeavor to use one of the pocket cups or paper cups Ohat are supplied at almost any drug store) made for the purpose If, however, he must use handkerchief or cloth, 1t should be thoroughly disinfected or burned as soon as possible When coughing or sneezing, small particles con tain the germ and are dangerous when dried as the spit"
 Some Health Rules.
 For this reason consumptive should always hold a handkerchief or cloth to the mouth or nose during these acts Oth- erwise consumptive should avoid, when- ever possible the use of cloth or. hand kercb;ef, as these may be carelessly laid aside, and the matter dried upon them becomes a source of danger by the num- Der of dust particles they contain float ing in the air. Paper cups for this pur- pose are better than the ordinary metal cups, as they are cheap and can be burned with their contents after being used, they must not be carried loose in their rockets, but should be inclosed in . rubber receptacle for example, to- bacco pcuch), and should be frequently boiled. besides the ratient being careful that none of the spit gets on the outside of this pouch.
 A consumptive should by all means never swallow his expectoration It is ad- visable, in fact, where possible a con sumptive should always have his own room. This room should always have an abundance of fresh air and sunshine the windows be opened at night and day.
 The soiled clothes, bed linen, and other articles used by the consumptive should