Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30
DR. COETz ON WHITE PLAGUE
Shows It is Durable and Preventable
and Advocates Legislation.
PLENTY OF FRESH AIR AND SUN
Think General Government, states
and cities shouId work TO Pre-
vent spread OF the Dread
nfseape.

Consumption, It's Cure and Prevention $
was the subject of an interesting and In
structve lecture delivered by Dr. j. s.
Goetz Sunday evening at Crounse hall be-
fore the Jewlsh Radical National club.
Touching upon the extent. nature and i'm
portance Of the white plague" DR.. Goetz
said:
The greatest plague of all ages has been
the disease. tuberculosis. more especially
its manifestation In the form Of consump-
ton. Some idea OF It's ravases may be
had when / tell you that in this country
alone about $4,000 people die annually
from lt-about 900 a day.
I'VE have with us all the time in this
country a million and a quarter of people
affected. 1t Is strange how apathetic peo-
pie and ~governments have been to the
spread OF this dread disease. Should an
outbreak, of yellow fever or smallpox occur,
the country would be- thrown Immediately
into a state Of panic, business would be
stopped, and the greatest precaution taken
to prevent the spread of the disease. Here
we have a disease infinitely more serious
with us all the time, destroying an immense
number OF lives, and comparatively little
notice taken of II.
THE reason for this apathy, Is not far
to seek. Tuberculosis develops slowly, pro-
crosses insfduously and kills it's victims
gently. There are no dramatic features in
its spread. so people do not fear It as they
would an outbreak OF a more acute cpl
demlc. The disease extends all over the
world. following civilization mostly. At
least SO per cent OF all human beings have
tuberculosis some time or other. Twenty
five per cent recover without knowing they
ever had Il. The other Is per cent suffer
and many die from It.
1t Ii a Germ Disease.
The nature of the disease is an infection
that is dut to a certain germ discovered by
Koch in 1881, since which time we have
learned a great deal about 1t, both as to
its symptoms and course. Its durability and
prevention. Its Importance to us and to
the welfare Of our country is obvious.
Therefore. ell possible methods are now be-
ingt taken to prevent it's spread, and, II
possible, to stamp II out altogether. 1t
is not too much 70 say that II our present
methods and activity in this line are kept
up the next decade will show a large de-
crease In the death rate and the next hun
dred years will make II as rare and as
feared as leprosy is at the present time"
AOhelOhAh6 ~ EltCtnl LuDeTCulOHlS con-
gress In Omaha. and going on to a dis
cussion OF how the prevention and cure of
the disease is attempted. DR.. Goetz con-
tinued:
>, People should Know.
There is only one way an which to pre-
vent the disease, and that Is to educate
the people as to its nature SO they will be
able to assist US in our fight.
In the first place, people must be taught
that fresh air and sunlight are essential
to life and inimical to the growth of germ
life in the body. They must be taught that
ventilation and cleanliness are important
for the proper care Of our bodies and mus,
learn Of the dangers 5of association with
tubercular in~dividueIs. Especially is this
true in its relations to our public schools,
churches and home life, and TO all gather
ings in public places.
1T is obvious that to rid the country of
ale disease, the source Of Infection must
be removed. We must get rid OF the or.
gsnism that causes 1t. This will be DOS
sible only in one way and that is by teach.
Ing the people the Importance OF getting rid
OF all tubercular material and by teachins
them 70 take better care OF their bodies
100 7houiN ~ OTBdnlHm gain entrance
into the system the tissues win have SUI.
ficient vitality to Withstand the attack and
get rid Of the poison before it gains q
foothoId.
For this purpose, International, national
statewide and municipal societies are be-
Ing formed to discuss. ways and means OF
accomplishing this object and to teach
communities the extent of the plague and
the danger of allowing the disease to go on
unchecked.
In the course of time. with proper edu.
cation, the people will perhaps induce the
government TO take a hand In the preyen.
ton OF the disease, as they have done with
yellow fever and outbreaks or cholera. Per.
haps In the future the governments will in.
sist on the registration of all tubercular
cases and on quarantine and segregation n
sanitoria and hospitals"
D~isgraceful Conduct
OF liver and bowels. In refusing to act