Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-07
.DANCERLURKS|N
DRINKING CUPS
A. E. kEPFoRD DE-
K LINERS ADDRESS ON TUBERCU-
Losls AT LABOR RALLY
KISSES SPREAD GERMS
Fairly Good Sized Audience Hears
Expert Tell Of the Ravages Of the
Great White Plague and
How to Stamp It Out.

now 10 stamp II Out.
"The common drinking cup should
be abandoned, especially where used in
school buildings" declared Professor
A. E. Kepford, state tuberculosis ex-
pert in his address at the Labor rally
last night. There was an increased
attendance at the meeting in spite of
the inclement weather, many people
coming out to hear the man who has
done so much to stamp out the great
white plague in the state of Iowa. His
lecture was illustrated with stereop-
ticon view. In his lecture Prof. KEEP
ford stated that the drinking cups were
a great aid in the spreading of the
white plague, especially in schools
where the children are obliged to ac-
cept conditions and may not elect
their own methods Of Stacking thirst.
Germs In Kisses.
Occulation or commonly known as
kissing was declared by the speaker
to be another aid in the spreading OF
tuberculosis. He declared that the
intimate social contact OF the kiss may
also readily transmit the germs. He
declared that the habit of kissing
babies on their mouths should be dis
continued. "And 1 am convinced" said
the lecturer, that the tuberculous
dairy COW is responsible for large
amount of tuberculosis in our state. In
more than two and one-half years OF
work throughout the state, on this dis
ease, find that whenever come into
dairy district I invariably find an in
creased amount of tuberculosis among
the people.
Milk Should BE Pure.
milk constitutes such large ar
ticle of diet, especially Of babies and
children and invalids, that it's purity
should be guaranteed to every COM
munity. Not only should the proper
Environments surround the dairy and
the COW, but the animal herself should
be free from any disease; advocate
that all dairy COWS should be tested
with tuberculin. Pasteurization OF
milk will effectually destroy the germs
of tuberculosis but so long as the
source remains the danger exists; In
order to remove this danger from the
community the COW must herself he re-
moved.
Consumption Germ Disease.
Consumption is germ disease, and
is caused by vegetable rod shaped.
living micro-organism which was dis
covered by Robert Koch of Germany
in 1882. He called it the bacillus OF
tuberculosis. The tubercle bacillus is
present in any form of tuberculosis.
There is tuberculosis of the brains,
bowels, kidneys, liver, bladder, stoln-
ach, bones, Emphatic glands, and the
lungs, all caused by the same germ.
But | speak with particular reference
to tuberculosis of the lungs for there it
exists more frequently and is trans
MISSILE.
There are three avenues OF invas-
ion: incubation, ingestiOn and inhala-
ton The last named is believed to be
the most common way by which this
germ enters the lungs, although be-
lieve much more tuberculosis is caused
by ingestion of food in which tubercle
bacilli are present than is generally
apprehended. Once the germs enter
the lungs, if the resisting power OF
the body is low, they Immediately
fasten themselves. Irritation follows
the invasion and little hard lump is
formed which is called tubercle. The
tubercle is eventually softened into
pus and the bacilli are released and
multiply with incredible rapidly. Ger
tain symptoms then appear which are
significant, among which are fever in
the afternoon. loss Of appetite with a
consequent loss of weight in the body,
and hacking cough which is ag-
gravated in the morning. The hacking
cough is caused by the effort Of the
lungs to eliminate the broken down
tissue, which is finally coughed up and
expectorated out of the mouth and in
the sputum, or spit, the germs of tuber
culosis are found.
Tuberculosis Not Inherited.
"Tuberculosis is not inherited but Is
on infectious disease which is spread
in various ways and depends entirely
on social contact.
'The chief danger in the spread OF
tuberculosis lies in the habit Of care.
less expectoration on sidewalks, street
cars, and public places Of resort An
advanced consumptive will expectorate
more than seven billions of germs
every twenty-four hours. The mucous
around the bacilli in the matter cough
ed ND from the lungs forms d cache,
Theoretically sealing the germs in,
making them impervio,ls to both the
air and sunlight. In the open air and
sunlight they would die in less than
two hours, but sealed in they remain
potent for michief indefinitely. The
sputum dries, becomes triturated and
mixed with the dust and carried by
currents of air to be breathed by the
men, women. and children.
Legislation is Needed.
I'm the combat against consumption,
which is a disease of the masses, it is
apparent that certain restrictive meas
ures be established by the state, which
will control the movement of its tu-
berculous population.
Consumption is disease among
the moor It attacks the overworked,