The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1909-02-19
WORTH CON
5SIDERING
DR.. Metcalfe Read Paper of
Much Importance

One of the best papers presented
at the meeting of the anti-tubercu-
losis exhibit in this city, was that
of DR.. Metcalfe, Of Winton and the
MINER produces it in the hopes
that the same will be accepted and
pondered over to the satisfaction
and benefit of those reading this
well written document. The DR..
says:
When we go forth to battle against
tuberculosis we are meeting no new
foe. Under different names and with
very many disRuisls the scourge. has
been abroad for ages. A greedy one
it has been and very democratic, in
fiuenced by neither aye sex nor con-
dition of life aud attacking even the
lower animals as well as man. AS
pthisis. consumption. going into de-
cline scrnffula. hip disease, white
swelling or great white plague it has
fiourished. Hippocrates described IA
class having the habitus ptlisicuS Or
Tuberculosis tendency which he
thought showed a predispOsiLion TO
the diseaSe-the mouth; the whitlsh:
the reddish; the blue-eyed; the fiaxen-
haired; those whose shoulder blades
stood out like wings. Some Of the sup
posed Iepers of Scriptural history ban-
ished and Stunned as unclean prob
ably suffered from one of the distigul-
| ing forms of tuberculosis. 1t WAS The
| fascinating disease OF the college man
of the age Of other ideals when the
haggard look. pale brow, lustrous eye
and thin white hand were the signs Of
we'll spent days and nights greal
learning and the spiritual life. The
great Emerson is said 10 nave been
such a victim. Larnnec to whom
medical men owe so much for describ-
| ing the PHYSICAL signs of its early
presence In the lung, discovered the
disease in himself and gave up his
| life.
Oh we have an enemv worthy Of OuI
best mettle in this dtsp hler and un
til recently the stricken have gone
down almost without hope. Tuber-
culOSis ranked with dancer in tile
dread which it inspired. TO the av.
erage mind within few years to say
that a man had consumption was u
warn him to prepare for the great
beyond" And ii by good fortune one
said to have ID survived, the very fact
| OF his recovery was considered proof
that his physician had made mis-
take in the>diagnOss. But it would
| be idle 10 present this gloomy view
but for the pleasure of turning to the
reverse side of the situation and see.
| ing it bright.
Within the last ten years remark
able, and we believe awell founded
curate knowledge of the disease, its
frequent Occurance its cause. early
recognition, prevention and cure.
Since 1882 when II. w. Koch discover.
ed that tuberculosis was caused by
living, growing and multiplying
germs there has been a constant argu.
ment between the white knight hope
and the black knight despair. the
former patiently gaining the ascend
ency. "These bacteria live; they are
expelled by millions by coughing, by
ten millions by splitting; they live
indefinitely when dry, and the wind
will carry them for US all to breathe.
Cattle are infected ana we shall gel
the germs In our meat, milk and but
ter "said Despair, This sounds bad
but let US investigate and see what we
shall do about it," said Hope. 1t was
found that besides heat, various drugs
| would kin the germs. Antiseptics
were given the patients. but to ne
avail. Fumes of substances were in
hailed with mo better result.
Attention was again turned to the
germ. Only when dry would it float
| in the air. Otherwise it would fall Il
the floor. Therefore, the thing to dc
was to keep the floors clean and free
from dust, preventing the germs from
drying. Then the germs and dus'
carriers of them were eliminated. q
was then found that sunshine would
kill the organisms; Moreover, patients
when taught, find that most of TIN
coughing Is "a useless habit, which Cal
be broken IL attention is directed to it
When necessary, he can cough in
1 cloth and he can expectOrate In a pap
er cup, which can be burned. Thus,