The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-02-21
THE WHITE PLAGUE
MI ITSTREATMENT
tuberculosis Not Only
Durable, but Preventab'e
BY DR.. BROOKS

An Able Discussion of tuberculosis,
Its Prevention and Its Cure, by DR..
j. f.. Brooks. Recognized as an En-
thusiast and Expert Oh the Dread
Disease.
in last Sundays issue OF the News
and Observer, was published n sec
ton of a remarkably strong paper on
general health conditions and the
popular demand as Well as d
necessity for the observance OF COM
mon sense primal hygeinic laws.
This paper. which was delivered by
DR.. J. E. Brooks before the State
tuberculosis convention, held in Raj
eigh January 31st, attracted univer-
sal comment and appreciation of the
physicians who heard it, and since It's
publication last Sunday in h News
and Observer. has attracted wide at
tention. Following his line Of reas-
oning on sanitation in general, DR..
Brooks proceeded to discuss the spe-
cial disease Of tuberculosis, its pre-
vention and cure. Recognized as an
enthusiast on this subject, the many
distinguished physicians present, soon
recognized. that DR.. Brooks had be-
come an expert, and a powerful ad-
ditiOn to the ranks of forefrOnterS on
the study Of this greatest Of all dis
tressing n disturbing problems Of
this complex age. BY resolution, the
convention ordered that the address
be published in full for general dis
tribution.
Following is that part OF it devoted
to tuberculosis:
tuberculosis a Durable and Prevent
able Disease.
Over twenty-five hundred years ago
Hippocrates, the law-giver Of medi-
cine, announced to the world that all
persons suffering from tuberculosis
were doomed to die. This statement
to the present time is considered true
by a vast majority OF the people.
Even the medical profession as a
body has subscribed to his conclusion.
The conclusion is wrong. Hippo
crates drew his conclusions from the
advanced cases which came under his
observation Insipient n moder-
ateiy advanced stages Of tuberculosis
neither he nor his fellows recognized,
therefore, in a manner, Hippocrates
was correct in his statements. because
even consumptives in the last
stages do not recover. These cases
are fatal, have always been fatal. and
ever Will De. AS a matter Of fact.
tuberculosis Is ~ Of the most cura-
bic of all chronic diseases. Even
without medical aid, It is a known
fact thai more persons recover. than
die, OF this malady. When the world
and the medical profession are con
WINGED of this fact many thousands of
lives will be saved annually tina, now
go to premature graves. Osler. the
law giver Of medicine Of TO-DAY and
as great in his day as Hippocrates
was in his. declares that. .although
the ultimate eradication Of tubercu-
losis is problematical, it is within o,1,
power to make it an uncommon dis
ease. AS 1t is. the poor victim is
abandoned to his fate by the nhv-
stefan. or worse still. is given na1s |
tive drugs to smooth his ownuar ri
path and to keep him in Ignorance Of
hn,,a. ui.loh. Fortunately,
edge concerning tuberculosis has st;r-
red the very heart of the world ana
is resulting in changing not onjv 49,
view OF the laity, but OF the nroras1
sion as we'll. eoAcS
The fact of its becorninp know
that tuberculosis is infectious. that II