Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-06
STATE HOUSE.
State Board Of Health
Issues leatIet No. 6
Containing Valuable |ntorma-
tion Relative TO tuberculosis.
State Supt. Smith Recommends
lArbor Day Observance by Schools.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting of Governor and Council
Friday, April 20, at 10 A. M.

The State Board of Health has just
issued it's sixth leafiet in the Health of
Home and School series, which is now
ready for distribution. The text of the
bulletin. the subject of which is tuber-
cuIosis and which is in view of the
general crusade which is being waged
against the great white plague OF
especial interest at the present time
given below:
What everybody should know about
No. 2, told about
the terrible cost and waste and suffer-
ing caused by tuberculosis. This VIII
teach briefly how to avoid and how TO
prevent tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease.
1t is not rapidly infectious. as are
many of the communicable diseases
but there are about 5000 persons in our
state who at any given time have tu-
bcrculosis. recognized or unrecognlZed
The infection from them, under CIR
cumstances which are favorable to IT,
NAV remain virulent months or years
and so many of use are exposed to in
lection under varying circumstances
for these reasons. 1000 or more of us
in Maine every year die the death OIL
consumptives.
Whence comes. the infection MOST
cases of human tuberculosis comes
from the infection from other human
beings. The infection in d much small
Ter number, in children particularly,
comes from the milk Of tuberculouS
cows
How the infection is spread.-tlX
distinctly in mind that there are three
principal ways in which human infec-
ton goes from the sick to other per-
sons:
l. What is spit out by the person
who has tuberculosis gets upon the
floor. furniture, bedding. clothing,
handkerchiefs. and. after it becomes
dry, is pulverized. is whisked into the
air by brooms or busters or by human
movements, and is then breathed down
by other persons.
= When the patient coughs. he
sprays minute droplets into the air and
the infection in these while still float
ing in the air is breathed down by 9TH
er persons near him.
3 Spoons. forks. cups. pipes. pencils.
or any other things which have been
to the lips of a person with tubercu-
losis. are extremely dangerous to other
persons and unless they have been
scaldcd or otherwise stcrliZ"d most
easily and quickly give the disease to
others
PredSpOsing cauSeS.-The infection
(bacillus) is the real cause. the indis-
pensable cause. When d person re-
ceives infection into his system. a bat
tie begins between the invading bacil-
lus on the one hand and the defensive
forces of tho body on the other. If the
dose is massive enough. it may bring
down the strongest. the most resist
ant person. but almost always the is
sue of the battle. whether in recovery
or death. will depend upon the outside
influences which are brought to bear.
Pure air. good nourishing food. and
not too much exercise. help toward re-
covery.
But. on the other hand. impure,
heated and dusty air. insufficient or
unsuitahl" food alcoholic drinks, over
work. and excuses of any kind. are
some of the influences which help the
infcct ion to overcome it's victims.
Thes" or anything which tends to run
down tn" system may act as prediS-
posing causes.
tuberculosis is preventable dis
ease, -Evcrywhere--in nation. state, or
city-where the people have engaged
in earnest work against tuberculosis,
the death-rate from that disease has
been reduced In Maine. the tubercu-
l"SiS death rate is now one third less
than il was in 1892. Taking into ac-
count the estimated increase in the
population of our State in the interval.
there are now 500 fewer deaths from
tuberculosis than there would have
been If the death-rate had not been di-
minished. This fact should encourage
us I" a more vigorous fight against this