The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1910-07-29
HEALTH BULLETIN.
Mississippi State Board Of Health

1t is estimated that two hundred
thousand people are killed each
year in the United States from tu-
berculosis. One q cath out of every
seven the world oyer is due TO this
disease. Between the ages OF fifteen
and forty-fve years. one third of all
deaths are caused by consumption.
From the ages of twenty to thirty
five one half of all deaths is the re-
suit of this scourge of mankind.
Unfortunately this disease most
often attacks one during the most
productive period of life, between
the ages of twenty TO forty five. the
time when a person could be Of
most use to his family and Of great
est service to his fellow man. When
person is told that an individual
dies every two and a half minutes
during the day and night from the
rayages of this disease it would seem
that the fight which is being waged
against tuberculosis would enlist
the interest and aid Of every patri-
otto citizen, and yet these state
ments so frequently make no i'm
preston. An abstract idea leaves
no image on the average mind; but
when several mem bers OF the family
of your next door neighbor die Of
consumption it causes one to think.
and one gets an insight to the depth
of human sorrow and realizes as
never before the value of human
life. What would this experience
mean to you when il is known that
by the proper precautions it could
have been prevented?
There are values in life that mean
infinitely more than dollars and
cents and one will do we'll to stop
for few moments to consider how
to protect himself and members of
his household against a disease
which deals out its merciless blows
without warning or favor.
1t was not until 1882 that the
real cause Of consumption was dis
covered. In that year Robert Koch.
a distinguished German scientist.
announced that it was due to an
organism which is called the Germ
of Consumption. or the Bacillus
of tuberculosis The germ is so
small that it can be seen only by
the use of the microscope. 1t is a
tiny, rod shaped plant which grows
best in warm, moist. dark places. 1t
may get into the body through a |
wound of the skin, the food that is
eaten, or the air that is breathed
into the lungs. When breathed into
the lungs on finding a suitable soil
it grows and multiplies with rapid
ty. As they multiply a poison is
secreted which causes the living It's
sue about them to harden into a no. !
dule or tubercle which in time.
varying with circumstances softens
and breaks down. In this way the
lungs are gradually destroyed and
the person presents the sickly pic
ture OF consumption.
The germ may get into the glands
of tine neck or attack the throat.
bowels. kidney. brain, bones. joints.
and practically any part OF the
body. But it more often lodges in
the air passages of the lungs. It.
has no respect for age, race. sex or
class. It was at one time thought
to be inherited but this idea is false
and should be dropped. 1t il true.
a person may have weak lungs just
as he may have weak eyes. This
would be a predisposing factor to-
wards the disease. And in living
under improper conditions. such -
bad air. filth. poor food undue ex-
posure and irregular habits. the dis
aaae NAV be readily cOntrncted.
Where whole families have con-
sumption it has been shown b. care
full investigation to be due to tntec-
zion. one from the other.
Il i . fact that the Rerms At tn |
are the sole canss a the
disease and yet one must not b die
reeardful Of thoss aGencies uhieh !