The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1910-05-04

factors NAV be mentioned weak =
ened physical condition, alcoholism
and o.hed forms of dissipation
which scatter the vital forces and
lower nervous tone. Certain dis
SEES as pleurisy, grippe,
pneumonia, typhoid or other ex-
hausting conditions, also measles
and whooping cough, WHICH are
prone to have bronchial compil-
cations, may take suitable soil
for the implantation and growth
of the tubercle bacillus. Bad liv-
ing and working conditions-es-
peciallv defective and insufficient
food, associated with, impure air,
| danpness, darkness, DIRT and dust.
Privation, grief and over-work are
important causatiye. factors.
The exciting cause is always the
tubercle bacillus. The disease
is always acquired-never inherit
ed. The commonest method of
infection is by Inhalation. Dried
germs from sputum of consunptiv-
es float in the air and are breathed
into the lungs. Hence the necess-
/ ity of destroying all sputum and
of special precaution in coughing
and sneezlng. tuberculosis may
also be acquired by ingestion. i. e..
by swallowing the germs with in
fected milk or food, and more
rarely by nocculation through
cuts and wounds.
tuberculosis is never inherited
by children from parents. They
acquire the disease by constant
contact with it. 1t is possible
that in some instances they inherit
a weak constitution which renders
them susceptible. There are many
however, who doubt this: f or
everywhere Natures laws conspire
to preserve the offspring. On all
sides we see Her beautiful solicit
tude for the young and helpless.
Some go so far as to state that
there is sort of natural immunity
handed to the child by reason of
the fight the parents have made
against the disease. Be that as it
may, the fact remains that every
case of tuberculosis is acquired by
association and contact with the
germ. How often do we see people
who willrun with horror from a case
of measles or sdarlet fever, and
at the same time lie down night
after night in blissful peace and
quietude alongside an individual
who by constant acts of coughing
is decorating the wall and festOon-
ing the draperies of the room
with myriads of death dealing tu-
bercle bacillia which are so prone
to find fruitful soil in other lungs.
There is great danger from chill
dren playing on the hoorin home
where there is tubeculous patient.
In such homes guinea pigs have
been caused to inspire with positive
results, the dust which came from
beating the carpets.
No race is immune to the raw
ages of this disease, but the colored
race is especially predisposed as is
also the American Indian when
brought under the influence of
civilization. On the other hand
the Russian-Polish Jews are re-
markably exempt, and next to
them are the native American
whites.
tuberculosis is prominently
house disease. Dirty, damp dingy,
foul-smelling tenement houses
where sunlight is never admitted
are it's best breeding places. 1t is
almost beyond the grasp of the
human mind to realize to what an
extent this disease exists in people
of the lower walks of like. Au-
topsies upon dead bodies of poor
people who have died in charity
hospitals from other diseases than
tuberculosis reveal the existence
of tubercular implantation in vast.
ly the majority. Indeed, it is
highly probable that among such
people all get an implantation of
bacilli at one time or another.
Climates characterized bv fre~
quent rapid changes of tempera-
ture favor the development of tu-
berculosis. Such are the temper
afn. a ,>n,Yo, TN, dicoocof ncnurc