The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-11-02

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over. In Boston, New York, Philadel-
phia, Baltimore, Chicago, and many of
the other large cities of the United
States. in the past twenty years the
death rate from tuberculosis has been
reduced on an average of fifty per
cent. 1t has been brought about by
means of the campaign of education
that vas -inaugurated about twenty
five years ago, and which is today be
ing waged with greater Yigor than
ever before. There are many indica-
lions that tuberculosis will be stamp
ed out by this campaign.
To quote you the words of the cele-
brated DR.. Osler:-"A Winning Fight
this is not a battle of a rear or a
generation. The probabilities are
that it will take two or three genera
tions at least before We have the NOR
tality from tuberculosis reduced to the
rate, say, of typhoid fever in we'll reg
ulated countries. This will probably
be a matter of two or three genera
items. Whether tuberculosis will be
finally eradicated is an open question
1t is a foe that is deeply ~intrenched
in the human race, but when we think
of what has been done in n genera
ton, how mortality has been reduced
in some localities so CIR even 100 per
cent we at least feel that we can con-
tinue the battle with hope, and so long
as we are fighting with hope, the VIC
tory is in sight"
We are teaching the masses con-
corning predisposition tc tuberculosis.
1t is being taught that predisposition
is divided into three kinds-individu-
| al, family and dracial. Some families
are undoubtedly more prone to tuber-
culosis than others. This is likewise
true of races. Individual predisposi-
ton is usually brought about by i'm
proper living, and by excuses in eat
ing and drinking, as well as by not
eating enough. 1t may be said to the
ladies that if they will spend less
money on straight fronts. hobble and
harem skirts" and buy more butter
and spread it a little thicker on their
cracker, it will be far more difficult
for the tubercle bacillus to obtain n
tire into the society of their tissue
| cells; and even if an entrance is OBJ
tanned, it will meet with resistance
Sc powerful that the disease can not
develop.
Family predispositfon may be due to
inherited tendencies or to environ
ment under (which the family lives
You have seensfamilies in which the
aFtadraaaare}Poorly developed and I'M
ie -nourfshed. With small and con-
tracted chest, poor expansion of the
lungs, shallow breathing, many of
of them mouth. breathers due either
to sadenoids or tonsil trcIble, they r
peculiarly prone to contract tubercu-
Iosfs. They should be placed in the
careSof a skilful physician, and their
bodies built up in a way indicated by
the conditions found. The sooner it
is done, the easier and cheaper it will
be to correct, and the predispositfon
to tuberculosis will be removed. : En-
vironment is principally a question of
sanitation and personal hygien. 1t re-
quires but little labor each day to keep
the home in a sanitary condition. 1t
should be done not only to obtain bet
ter genral health for the family; but as
a matter CT pride as well. We should
direct our attention with no less de-
gree of care to bodily sanitation. or
hygiene. Proper care of the mouth,
skin, stomach, bowel and the kidneys
should receive careful attention; and
i it is done, many of the aches and
ills that man is, heir to will disappear.
And with it, will disappear the predis-
position to tuberculosis.
Racial predisposition seems t. hinge
upon, the length of time to which the
race has been exposed to the disease.
You are familiar doubtless, with the
fact that tuberculosis is very common
in the Indian and negro races; and
once contracted by them, it seems to
be more fatal Tuberculosis was prac-l
tically unknown in the Indian until
the white man brought the disease
here from Europe. The mode of 1iv-
ing and the habits of the Indian up to-
that time were such that the disease
had but slight chance of a successful
attack. But when the white, man
brought him his fire water" and
taught him to closely house himself
(and other bad habits), and at the
same time brought and sewed the
germ of the disease in his lands, then
he developed the disease rapidly, sue
cumbed to it easily, because he had
no inherited immunity handed down to
him by former generations.
The same is true of the negro. In
the days of slavery tuberculosis in
the negro was almost unknown. He
was the white mans property, and re-
ceived a care from his master that
kept strength, health and Vigor in his
body. But with the coming of free
dom, the negro no longer received the
care OF the white man; and by his ig- |
norance and poverty, he drifted into
improver living, and with it came the
predispcsition to t tuberculosis. To-
day there is a frightful mortality from
tuberculosis in the negro ace Like
the Indian the negro has not the in
herfted Immunity to the disease that
the white man has; and he contracts
and develops the disease easier and
succumbs to it more readily.
We are teaching the symptoms and
signs Of the disease. he laiety should
know them as well as the doctor. The
important reason for this is that there
may be an early recognition of the dis I;
ease. which is of the greatesttnecessity1