Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-06

death rate 1.-The following NAV be put
down as the most important things to
do:
l. The further extension of the ed
ucative work is the first thing. The
teaching that tuberculosis is an infec-
tious disease, but that it NAV and
should be controlled and prevented
should be presented to every family in
the land until this is grasped as
truth to be acted upon.
2. Every person who has tuberculo-
sis should at all times strictly carry
out the rules laid down by the State
Board of Health to guard against Civ
ing the infection to others. He should
do it voluntarily or be compelled to do
it. The careless cougher or the care
less splitter endangers himself and ev-
erybody else near him. On the other
hand. the ntellgently careful one
need not be stunned, but should re-
ceive the help and sympathy which he
deserves
3. 1t should be felt to be every
body's interest to insist upon compli-
ance with che provisions of the new
and good law of the State of Maine
against tuberculosis.
4. Sleeping with open windows at
all seasons of the year should become
general custom.
Some special rules.-For the preven-
ton of tuberculosis the following rules
should be remembered and observed:
l. The person who coughs should.
when practicable, and when near other
persons. hold before his mouth a piece
of paper or cloth to be burned after
wards.
2. For the reception of the sputum
paper cups, which with their contents
may be burned, are the best. Local
boards may furnish them to needy per-
sons at the expense of the town.
3. Splitting on floors of living rooms.
factories, public buildings and cars is
too dangerous to be allowed. The sput-
UNI of many persons unsupported of
having tuberculosis is dangerous.
There should be strict enforcement
of the penalty of the law for such prac-
tees.
4. Public drinking cups in schools,
railway trains and elsewhere, are dan
gerous and should be avoided.
5. The eating and drinking utensils
used by persons with tuberculosis or
with cough should not be used by other
persons until they have been washed
by themselves and scalded with boiling
water.
6. A tuberculOuS patient should
keep his hands scrupulously clean. In
fected fingers carry infection.
Z. Sputum should not be exposed to
flies. The first flight therefrom may be
to food products or food preparations.
8. Children associating with tuber-
culous persons are especially endan-
gered particularly infants in arms or
upon the floor Their fingers wipe up
infection from various sources and car
ry it to their mouths.
8. tuberculosis is a house disease.
Indoors, the infection may remain viru-
lent long time. Outdoors, the direct
sunshine is pretty rapidly destructive
of the bacillus. Thorough disinfection
of infected rooms and things as the
law provides should be the invariable
rule.
Tuberculosis is a durable disease. In
the earliest stage, nearly all cases of
tuberculosis might be cured. But there
are four great mistakes which are every
year drawing hundreds of infected per-
sons into the maelstrom from which
there is no rescue: (a) Waiting for the
symptoms of consumption" (the adj
vanced stage) before suspecting tuber-
culosiS is present CO. Failure to seek
competent medical advice and treat
ment early. (c) Failure of the physi
clan frankly to say that tuberculosis
is present or suspected. The person
who knows early and accepts the truth
is he who has the best chance for
speedy recovery. (d) Trusting to pa
tent medicines. And these four resolve
themselves into one fatal error, loss of
time.
The symptoms which should lead to
a suspicion of tuberculosis, particular
ly if there has been exposure to tuber-
culous infection, are: a run down"
feeling; loss of weight: cough lasting Il
month or more, even if slight. or no
ticeable only mornings; increase Of
temperature afternoons; splitting Of
blood or streaks of blood in sputun.
night sweatS.
In connection with the observance of
Arbor day. the date of which is Friday.
May Il, State Supt. Smith of the pub
lie schools of Maine is sending out to
the superintendent of schools in the
various cities and towns of the State
the following letter of recommendation
for the observance of the day:
My dear Sir:
The best observance of Arbor day will
consist of the planting of trees, not
one, but several. Arbor day was cs
tablished in Maine in 1887. After %
years Obsel vance there are still scores
of school grounds that are without
ornamentation of trees or shrubbery
If any of these trceless school grounds
are in your town. will you not arrange
for genuine observance of Arbor day
by the planting of trees?
Literary exercises emphasizing the
usefulness of forests to man. the mean
ing and ljIIrUOSe of forest conservation