Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-05-01

deslredT Then the mild winters during
which there is scarcely day when pa.
tients cannot be out of doors.
"It is an established fact that tubercu-
losis heals more readily in the higher
attitudes, where the slight effort nee.
essary to breath the lighter air, acts
as a gymnastic which opens the air
cells of the lungs and expands the chest.
"Tubercular germs cannot thrive in a
well ventilated lung; hence the advan.
tage of outdoor life.
Medication is of very little value In
treating this disease. Fresh air, nour-
ishing food and complete relaxation are
the agents necessary to restore body tbs.
sue. In proportion as the body is built
up, just in that proportion is the disease
conquered.
Tuberculosis is not contracted by
coming into close personal contact with
persons afflicted with it, as is smallpox,
measles and some other diseases, but is
taken into the system by breathing air
laden with the tubercular germ which
has come from the sputum of a consump-
tive. The sputum deposited upon the
ground dries there and later is waited
into the air as dry dust to be breathed
in by some hapless mortal. 1t is abso.
lutely criminal for consumptive patients
to expectorate upon the ground. or on
anything that cannot be cremated and
the germs 80 destroyed.
"The danger that lies in promiscuous
splitting is one of the most important
facts to be learned by the people. When
this useless and filthy habit has been
overcome, great part of the fight will
have been won.
"All Of the large cities now have ordi-
nances against it, which are being en-
forced as rigdly as possible, arrests for
infraction oft law being of daily oc-
currence.
'ro understand intelligently the tech
nique of the cure of tuberculosis one
must know something of the nature of
the disease.
First there must be seed (bacillus)
and the proper soil upon which to SOW
the seed. The bacillus is miscroscopi.
cally small when it first finds lodgment
in the lung; it grows to be tubercle,
which gradually softens at the center
and discharges inumerable bacilli. 1t
can easily be understood that wherever
these bacilli fall, in an air cell or on the
spongy tissues of the lung, that new
colony of tubercles developes. Hence
the importance of the early discovery
of their presence if we would effect a
cure. Of course the rapidity of the
development of the bacilli depends up
on the resisting power of the indivi-
dual.
''The seed may fall on rock soil, will
produce but few tubercles which soon
heal. Such cases account for the state
ment made by a prominent physician
that 80 per cent. of all people have had
or now have tuberculosis.
"On the other hand the seed may fall
on soil more favorable to it's develop
ment, with the result that the tubercles
multiply rapidly, and the entire lung is
soon infected. This condition often oc-
ours in growing young men and women
and results in the incurable form we
know so we'll.
'If taken in the incipient stage, there
is much hope of a cure, if patients are
willing to place themselves in the hands
of experienced medical advisers and
give up the time necessary to effect q
cure, which varies, of course, depending
upon the virulence of the germs, and
the recuperating powers of the pa
tients.
"The sanitariums will be a potent fac
tor in this war; by segregating the vic
Tins of tuberculosis, thus lessening the
opportunity of spreading the disease; by
affording better chance Of recovery
ehoh ahyOuO COuiu udFo III u pFlVdLe
home; and through the knowledge gain.
ed by patients while in the institu-
tions, which will enable them, after dis.
missal to spread the gospel of r yht liv.
ing and prevention among their fellow
citizens.
"On this point the following quotation
tation from a recent issue of the Chicago
Tribune is one with which all authori.
tiles agree and tells on what the hopes
of the workers in this great campaign
are largely founded:
Education is to be the all powerful
agency that will solve the whole prob
lem and will eventually win the fight.
This means that we must keep right on
repeating the essential things unit
everyone shall know them. We mus
continue to talk fresh air and sunshine
cleanliness and right living. In short