Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-11-02

In order to understand anything it is
necessary to know all we can about it.
tuberculosis is wide subject and one
that is little understood, especially by
the masses. feel it duty to give you
what little assistance can in helping you
understand more about it. have devoted
a great deal of time to the study of
tuberculosis and know how many difficult
problems there are to solve in the fight
against this dread malady.
First of all, what is tuberculosis? 1t
is chronic, infectious, communicable,
preventable and durable disease, ordinar-
lily called by the laity consumption, the
one disease which carries off more people
than all others.
In the United States alone more than
$50, 900 persons die each year from tuber-
culosis. The great majority of these
persons are in the prime of life,.- many
are married and heads of families and
their untimely deaths mean dependent
families to be cared for by relatives or
the state. The loss in money to the
United State from these preventable
deaths each year amount to more than
$500, 600, 10000 The suffering. caused
thereby is impossible to estimate. So
you can see at glance what tuberculosis
means and how important it is for every
body to assist in preventing it and lend
ing helping hand in the warfare now
on in this country.
In order to prevent. we must know the
cause. tuberculosis is infectious, that is,
communicated by means of germ. This
germ was discovered by DR.. Robert Koch
of Germany, in 1882; and is the only
direct cause of tuberculosis, and without
It's presence it is impossible to have tuber
culosis. DR.. Koch called this germ
bacillus, which means rod; because under
powerful microscope, when properly
stained, look like little red rods. When
these germs enter the body or any living
organism they multiply and by irritation
cause small elevations called tubercles,
hence the name tuberculosis.
The bacilli may be found in countless
numbers in the lungs or organs affected;
if in the lungs many millions are thrown
off with the expectoration. The bacilli
or germ of tuberculosis is a little para
site and belongs to the lowest scale of
vegetable life. 1t not only destroys the
lung substance by liberation but gives
off poisonous substances called toxins
and endotoxins which cause serious
symptoms. The manner in which man
is infected is from bacili-laden dust.
Patients with tuberculosis expectorate
on the street, in public halls, churches,
long as it is moist or wet there is but
little danger, but when it becomes dry it
floats with the dust in the air which we
breathe, and it is estimated that one
grain of dust alone can carry several
thousand of the germs, so you see how
easily one can be infected in this way
Again. persons tramp IN expectoraton
and carry it on their shoes in the house.
Ladies soil their dresses and carry the
germs in their homes in this way. The
carpets hold them fast, the faithful house,
wife comes along and sweeps the germ
laden carpet, breathes the dust and be-
comes infected. After the sweeping she
dusts the room and again stirs up the
dust and gives the germs another chance
to gain entrance to the lungs. The baby
is put on the carpeted floor to play, it
soils its hands, puts them in its mouth
and is infected. So you see how careful
we ought to be about expectoratng.
Another frequent source of infection
is the common house fly; they carry mil
lions of germs on their feet and contain
mate our food. A single fly speck has
been known to contain 5000 tubercle
bacilli. First, don't have flies by keep
ing the place free of filth; secondly, keep
the house we'll screened, it will save
eventually death in the family.
Another source of infection is from
infected milk. See to it that the cows
are free from tuberculosis and the stable
kept in a perfect sanitary condition.
Babies are very susceptible to bovine or
cattle tuberculosis.
Another source of infection is cough
ing or sneezing without covering the
mouth or nose with II handkerchief or
cheese cloth. The spray from cough
or sneeze contains germs of various kinds
and If tubercular, tubercle bacilli are
frequently sprayed out in the air and it
has been demonstrated that the spray
will remain in the air four or five hours.
1t is impossible to estimate correctly the
relative Importance of this source of
danger.
Heredity heretofore was considered
as an important factor, but careful re-
view of the literature on the subject
leaves us in doubt as to just how much
heredity plays as prime factor, for
tuberculosis is rare the first few months
of life.
Another source of infection is from
contact with cattle and birds who have
tuberculosis. 1t is comparatively rare
but of sufficient importance to have oar
attention called to it. Hogs are often
infected if allowed in the same barnvlrd
with tube .ulo Is ca tie, AID $ a pint
to b. considered
have tried in this article to show you
what tuberculosis is, and its use. Mkt
week will tell you how to prevent it.