The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-04-11
CONGRESS ON TUBERCULOSIS.
Great International Gathering TO Be
Held AT Washington Next Fall.

country.
Very gradually science has extended
It's sway over the ailments that veA
the human body until even the worst
of the contagious diseases have been
brought under control. while others
like the Cnce-dreaded smallpox, has
been all Tut eradicated. tuberculosis
is the last of the infectious diseases in
which ii has been been possible to dem
onStrate a cure as possible. No specific
has been found. but the application OF
the healing virtues of rest. good food
and life in the open air day and night
in suitable climate, have proven ef-
fecrire in restoring to health many per
sons for whom formerly there would
have been considered no possible hope
of cure. The development of the
sanatorium idea is a logical outcome,
and this was followed by the forma-
ton of a national association for the
study ami prevention az tuberculosis,
lastly there have been formed state or
gauzations. subsidiary to the national
and international associations. all
N'l Mis- Low al u lilf pHt 'lltl. tiit p!'-
vention and control of tuberculosis
One hundred and fifty thousand per
sons die each year in the United States
from this disease alone: an average OF
400 each day. II we were in the midst
of a war that sacrificed that many men
in battle there would go up from all
over this land a protest to terminate
the fearful carnage SO emphatic that
those in authority could not do other
wise than heed But, We nave grown
accustomed to this eXacting toll OF life
and it's train of attendant human mis-
cry. even when its victims fan az the
age of their greatest usefulness TO the
state. when their earning power is the
highest. when they mean the most TO
their family and to the community at
large. and when they have the most
to live for themselves.
The withdrawal from the ranks OF
industry by invalidism and death due
to tuberculosis represents money loss
TO the United States of over s4ho 600
600 per annum: an approximate loss OF
s. per year for every man. woman and
child in the nation. or $2o per annum
for the average family. From an eco
nomic point of view We educate chill
dren at public expense that they may
DC. OF Sfh value 10 lut Sldlt "hth
they attain to manhood and woman,
hood. and may be the better fitted 10
succeed IN whatever line of industry
they choose to take up. And yet, after
all the years spent in the public school,
the time spent on each one by trained
instructors. and the money spent in
perfecting this system of education, We
neglect to take the precautions that
will insure an adequate return for this
time and money spent. by our neglect
OF protective sanitary and hygienic
measures, the ignorance and careless,
ness that makes easy the contracting
of an insidous infectious disease like
tuberculosis. A business proposition
permitting such an annual waste either
in human life or money would not be
tolerated for a day, and prompt. effect
i've steps would be taken to correct the
condition that permitted such waste
fulnesa. The state is all of rs and the
oretically We strive to secure the great
est good to the greatest number. This
needless loss of life and economic
waste is preventible, but the prevention
is not the work of any one individual
nor even ali association composed of
few: it is the work of the state, of the
nation. Universal knowledge of the
existence of these conditions. of the alb
solute fact that three-fourths of the
deaths from tuberculosis are prevent
able, with resultant saving of millions
of dollars. must become general knowl-
edge throughout the country in order
to insure success.
The spread of tuberculosis is through
either a contaminated food supply, or
the inhalation of the germs of the dis
ease to be found floating in the air, at
tachcd to minute particles of dust.
In the lungs OF most consumptives
there is 4 process OF destruction taking
place all the time: the tissue broken
down by the action OF the tubercle ba-
cill finds its way into the bronchi Of
the lungs, and is there coughed up and
spit out This broken down, waste ma
terial is loaded with millions Of the
germs OF tuberculosis. Most perish on
exposure 10 light, air and sunshine, but
a large number on drying become at
tached to particles of dust and float
in the air, subject to gusts Of wind and
the disturbance created by traffic,
ready to be inhaled by the passerby.
Breathed into the lungs they lodge in
air cells little used, and here multiply
rapidly and begin their work of de-
struction that gradually spreads
throughout the whole body.
Some municipalities have laws that
prohibit splitting on sidewalks, in the
corridors of public buildings, public
conveyances and the like. In many in
stances these laws are but poorly en-
forced. # at all. Due to the indiffer
ence of officials and ignorance OF the
infectious nature of the disease, that
is almost criminal.
Associations, local, state and ma
tional, have been formed to correct
these conditions, and to enforce laws
that will control the spread OF the in
fection. An international congress,
with members in every civilized coun-
try of the world. meets once in every
three years. In September Of this year