The Dickinson press., 1911-02-11

MA PING
GOOD CAUSE
DR.. Stickney Spoke in Joint Session
Legislature on i-Tubercu-
losis Subject. Gov. Burke
and Others Took Part.
The following is in part the address
given by DR.. v. H. Sticknev of Dlckin-
son at a joint session of the house and
senate in Bismarck on Tuesday after
noon for the purpose of enlightenment
on the anti-tuberculosis question:
1T is only in recent years. compare
lively speaking, that we have come
into an accurate knowledge of tubercu-
losis. A quarter of a century ago this
was thought to be the most hopeless of
all diseases with which mankind had to
contend. 1t was supposed to be heredi-
tary as we'll as incurable, and nothing
was known OF its communicability.
Persons were warned to avoid %draughts.
cold weather and damp weather. and
were kept confined to houses. Nothing
was known either of the segregation of
patients but those afflicted with tuber-
culosis were housed with the we'll and
the disease went on to it's grim fnality.
In the light Of our present knowledge
we may be hopeful of treatment. We
know that tuberculosis is not an heredi-
tary disease; we know that many cases
may be cured. and that in many more
cases the disease may be arrested !; we
know it to be a communicable disease.
and know how it is communicated and
we know it is %preventable and how to
prevent it."
DR.. Stickney then told of the history
of the disease. and of a physician who
lived 2, 1000 years ago who described
the disease and told his patients to 60
up into the mountains. He told of the
advent of the microscope, and Of the
discovery in 1882 by DR.. Koch of the
bacillus tuberculosis.
This was the first step in our definite
present day knowledge of tuberculosis.
At first the discovery was not accepted
by the medical fraternity. but after a
time they recognized that an absolute
and accurate knowledge of the disease
was to be had. But the e discovery
brought mankind no nearer to a cure"
The speaker then told of the case of
DR.. Edward L.. Trudo of New York, a
physician who, in 1878, was pronounced
a consumptive himself. He was a great
lover of hunting and fishing and outdoor
life. and when told that he had only a
few months to live decided to wrest
what pleasure he could out of the short
time allotted to him. He established a
camp at Saranac Lake. New York.
tramped through the woods. breathed
the fresh, pure air, ate only simple
wholesome foods, and much to his sur
prise found that he was gaining in
strength and weight. and was becoming
cured of the disease. In the winter of
1894 he built a cabin in which to
spend the winter, despite contrary ad-
vices from physicians. and demonstrated
to the world that a cure could be
effected. in time. outdoor treatment
was adopted generally to cope with this
disease.
The speaker also told of the new social
problems which have arisen and of the
laws of restraint that have been passed
in some states. These have had a
salutary influence upon the condition
of those having tuberculosis throughout
the country. Their good resulted
principally through the education of the
masses, as practically the only good the
laws do is to call the attention of the
public to their provisions:
I'm our own state little or nothing
has been done to check this growing dis
ease, and it goes on uninterrupted. Out
of every 100 deaths in the state of North
Dakots ten people die Of tuberculosis
and this condition is due, in no small
measure, 10 the almost criminal neglect
of the law making bodies whose pri,ci-
pal duty is to look after the welfare of
the people. The legislature is too busy
appropriating money looking after the
health of g%landered horses. tubercular
cattle and sheep and has done little for
the afflicted men, and children"
The speaker concluded his remarks
with an appeal for more legislation
looking for the bettefment of the public
health.
DR.. Grassick of Grand Forks and Gov.
Burke were other speakers on this
subject.
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