Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1910-12-02

Bulletin to Herald from Miss. Board HEALTH
1t is estimated that two hundred
thousand people are killed each year
in the United States from tubercu.o-
sis. One death out of every seven
the world over is due to this disease.
Between the ages of fifteen and for
ty five 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. Un-
fortunately this disease most often
attacks one during the most produc-
tive period of life, between the ages
of twenty to forty-five, the time
when person could be of most use
to his family and of greatest service
to his fellow man. When a person
is told that an individual dies every
two and half minutes during the
day and night from the ravages OF
this disease it would seem that the
fight which is being waged against
tuberculosis would enlist the inter-
est and aid of every patriotic citizen,
and yet these statements so frequent
ly make no impression. An abstract
idea leaves no image on the average
mind; but when several members of
the family of your next door neigh
Dor die OF consumption it causes one
to think, and one gets an insight to
the depth of human sorrow and real
ICES as never before the value of hu-
man life. What would this expert
ence mean to you when it 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 well to stop for few
moments to consider how to protect
himself and members Of his house
hold against disease which deals
out it's merciless blows without warn
ing or favor.
1t was not until 1882 that the real
cause of consumption was discover
ed. In that year Robert Koch, a
distinguished German scientist, an
nounced that it was due to an organ
ism which is called the Germ of Con.
sumption, or the Bacillus of Tu-
berculosis. The germ is so small
that it can be seen only by the use
of the microscope. 1t is tiny, rod
shaped plant which grows best in
warm, moist, dark places. It may
get into the body through wound
of the skin, the food that is eaten, OF
the air that is breathed into the
lungs. When breathed into the lungs
on finding a suitable soil it grows
and multiplies with rapidity. As
they multiply poison is secreteo
which causes the living tissue about
them to harden into uodule or u
bercle which in time, varying with
circumstances, softens and breaks
down. In this way the lungs are
gradually destroyed and the person
presents the sickly picture of con
sumption.
The germ may get into the glands
of the neck or attack the throat, bow
els, kidney. brain. bones, joints, ant
practically any part of the body. But
it more often lodges in the air pas
sages of the lungs. 1t has no respect
for age, race, sex or class. It was al
one time thought to be inherited
but this idea is false and should be
dropped. 1t is true, a person may
have weak lungs just as he may have
weak eyes. This would be predis-
posing factor towards the disease.
And in living under improper con-
ditions, such as bad air, filth, poor
food, undue exposure and irregular
habits, the disease may be readily
contracted. Where whole families
have consumption it has been shown
by careful investigation to be due to
infection, one from the other.
1t is fact that the germs of tu-
berculosis are the sole cause of the
the disease and yet one must not be
disregardful of those agencies which
render one susceptible.
Every person may breathe the
germs of consumption into the body
some time during life but fortunate
ly a healthy, vigorous body is safe
guard against the disease. Other
wise whole communities would be
swept sway in a relatively short
time.
Tuberculosis is then not inherited
but person owing to some inherent
weakness may be predlsposed to 1t.
1t is not contagious, like measles, but
it is communicable. Remember that
the disease can and should be pre-
vented and that the most successful
treatment of consumption depends
upon an early diagnosis by a compe-
tent physician. It is therefore, q
communicable, preventable, and cur.
able disease.
Not Sorry For Blunder.