The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-04-07
SCIENCE WAGES WAR
ON TUBERCULOSIS
Proper Precautions Needed
Cause OF the Disease How to Fight II
When Attacked - Philanthropists
Contributing to the Good Work.

are being taught how TO prevent and
how to cure the dread disease. 1t is
the most deadly disease known to the
human race and its victims are num-
bered by the millions every year
The city of Newark has committee
of one hundred, composed Of leading
citizens, which is allied with a number
of hospitals and charitable institutions
Statistics show that about one of every
tour babies dies in its infancy In the
nine months that the Joint committee
has been in operation the death ratio
OF babies IN its charge has been reduced
to one IN twenty. There are five sta
tons in Newark In its circular the
committee says:
Take your baby to your own doctor,
to district physician, or to clinic
and get an order for the milk Present
this order at any of Il number OF sta
tons.
Two trained nurses are employed to
distribute the milk and visit the homes
of the children.
Sixty thousand circulars similar to
the one used by the New York Health
Board, and printed in SIX different Ian
guages, dealing with tuberculosis, its
causes, and how it may be cured, we're
distributed in Newark within few
days.
Nathan Straus, the New York phil
anthropist, who has been fighting con
sumption for years in the metropolis
through the medium Of pasteurized milk
which he supplies iree OF charge, has
sent the following letter to the Newark
committee:
at is encouraging to learn OF your
plans for an active fight against the
scourge that causes such an overwhelm-
ing proportion of the deaths and sor-
rows that afflict mankind.
"With the present day knowledge of
the causes of tuberculosis, | am sure
that your committee will direct its at
tcntion not alone to the dangers of in
lection from contact with tuberculosis
patients, but will 60 forward along the
lines suggested by the warning of the
International Congress OF Tuberculosis
that measures are to be continued
against bovine tuberculosis and that its
ed
From seventeen years practical ex-
perience in preventing the spread of
tuberculosis by pasteurization of the
milk that is the common cause of the
disease, | am convinced that this is the
most fruitful OF all methods Of control
ling the plague, and l hope that your
committee unhampered by traditional
errors that circumscribe the usefulness
Of many such organizations, will set the
example to all the rest by attacking the
tubercle bacillus in its stronghold---the
dairy farm.
"Once the milk supplies are deprived
OF their power to spread the white pla-
que, we will have the scourge under
control, and will be in tair way to-
ward driving out tuberculosis.
"I'he success Of the now worldwide
crusade against tuberculosis is depend
cnt upon the various agencies engaged
in this warfare adding pasteurization to
their programs of fresh air, cleanliness,
better housing conditions and medical
treatment. This measure is absolutely
necessary to make the movement really
effective, not merely to diminishing the
ravages of the disease, but in stamping
It out.
"That heat sufficient to kill the tn
bcrcle bacilli in the milk does not i'm
pair its taste or nutritive qualities is
fact now well established, the public
health service of the Federal Govern
ment, in its recent thorough investga-
ton ofthe milk problem, having scien-
tifcally verified the results of my prac-
teal work, and in the pasteurization OF
milk, we have the practical means for
the prevention OF the dissemination of
tuberculosis through the milk of disea-
sed cows.
at is inspiring to think Of how much
sickness and suffering YOU can save the
people OF your city by this means, of
how many young lives you can protect
from the dreaded infection, OF how
many homes you can shield from the |
pail of suffering and DEATH"
How CONSUMPTION Is CONTRACTED.
Physicians agree how tuberculosis is
contracted. First the tubercle bacillus
must get into the human system. Gen.
orally it enters the lungs with the air
we breathe. Sometimes it gets into the |
stomach with our food. Infequently
--rp the blood through wound.
the system offers the least re-
E there the deadly ''bug" settles
says the Metropolitan magazine.