Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-07

compelling him to wear a badge on
the lapel OF his coat; nothing could be
further from the truth. Such a law
would work no hardship to any one as
he would be known only to the con.
stituted authorities and such meas
ures established as would prevent the
spread OF his infection to other mem
bers of the community.
Among the consumptive poor many
are irresponsible, ignorant and some
times vicious This irresponsible class
should be under the control OF the
health authorities, and am sure that
If such a proposed law should be In
vestigated that there are many.
The Open Air Treatment.
I'm the treatment of tuberculosis an
open air method is the only reliable
one known to the medical fraternity
today. There is no sure cure for con-
sumption so far as medicines are con-
cerned Very little medicine is used In
its treatment and where indicated
should be given by a competent
physician. Consumption Is q house
disease and it's cure is dependent on
an abundance of fresh air; thus one
must invite the air into his home or
must move out into the air. Avail
able methods for this purpose are a
tent or shack or screened porch, act
ing as sanatorium in which treat
ment may be. taken. If this disease Is
taken early 1t Is a most durable one,
and an early diagnosis is a most i'm
portant thing if cure Is to be effect
ed. I do not offer hope to the ad-
vanced case, though know of numer-
GUS arrests of the disease, but II taken
early this disease is very durable and
in any climate.
"Climates west and south may be
preferred but II the patient does not
have an abundance of money SO that
he may not have the other necessities
in the treatment OF his disease, he
should not go west or south. 1t Is q
crime against the consumptive poor to
send him west or south and crime
against the community to which the
unfortunate may be sent.
Early Diagnosis Of Disease.
1.-THE Importance of the early
diagnosis where one Is afflicted with
tuberculosis is of untold value to him.
Consumption is a durable disease IT
taken early. The difficulty however,
is to get the case early enough. The
rule is that when a doctor makes q
diagnosis the patient will not believe
him, and urge that the people of the
state become so thoroughly educated
that when case of tuberculosis has
been discovered, that person shall be
Immediately notified and measures OF
treatment adopted.
Consumption Is about fifty per cent
durable if taken in time, and the per-
centage' of cure is about the same In
any climate if the disease is taken
early. Let it be understood, however,
that the early diagnosis Of this dis
ease is sometimes difficult to make, as
there are other diseases which present
symptoms similar and which may de-
ceive even the experienced physician.
Much will depend upon the patient
who is in the early stages Of tuber.
culosis. We have come to time in
our evolution, as race, which de-
mands that the physicians function
shall be to keep us well rather than to
cure us after we are sick; and be it
said to the credit Of the splendid med
ica1 profession of Iowa that it has
brought to this state an educational
campaign the results of which will be
to teach the people how to prevent dis:
ease The most profound obligations OF
humanity are due to the medical pro-
fession and the scientific world"