Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-11
ruBERcULosls WEEK.

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The week, ending tomorrow, has
been known all over the nation AZ Tu-
berculosis Week, week set apart by
all the religious and educational So
cieties for the purpose Of discussing,
and presenting to the people the best
information regarding the question,
the preventibility and durability Of the
dread disease known ~ consumption,
or the white plague"
For many years the disease was be-
iieved to be transmitted from gen.
Grafton 70 generation, that q legacy
OF this kind was In reality a death
warrant and that escape was impossi-
BILE, but, in the light Of later day
developments. 1t has been found that
the dread disease is no more heredi-
tray than Is broken leg or broken
purse, excepting the fact that an In
herited weakness Of the general sys-
tenn leaves the heir more liable to fall
beneath the attacks of the dread bac-
tt-hIa tiiOoC WIZ 0AC AOAA w a
strong and robust constitution.
The fight against tuberculosis, as
taken up by society, is recent one,
the old idea that "if your blood car
ried the germs there was no escape"
prevailed until the very recent past
We, however, no longer regard the
disease as a God-sent affliction from
which there is no relief but have ta
ken up the work as sanitary condi-
ton and, instead of bowing the head
in prayer for the afflicted and preach
ing resignation to the inevitable, we
take up the fight on the proposition
that It is sin for an individual To be
afflicted and that only violation Of
Gods and natures laws, bring It
about.
Medical scientists Of today tell US
that, regardless Of the fact that q
persons ancestors may have every one
died from this awful disease, If per-
son will take proper care of their
body no tubercular germs can find
Judgement in their body, that the dis
epse is the result Of unsanitary and
uDhealthful conditions instead of an
inevitable result Of an inherited cause.
Not only this but they 60 farther, 30
far as to claim that even when the
germs have staked out claims and
have full possession Of = persons
lungs, the disease may be stayed, even
cured.
The cure for this infection seems
to be more surely derived from edu-
cation than from the use Of drugs,
from right living more than from
remedies, but it is true that the two
should always 60 hand in hand. The
patient Of today who has contracted
tuberculosis is no longer doped with
sickening oils and confined where no
breath of air can possibly reach, in
stead of this they are moved out into
the open air and allowed to face the
sweltering sun and the freezing win
ter winds, they are fed upon the most
palatable and nourishing foods and
nature, more than medical skill, is re-
lied upon for the cure.
The state Legislative bodies, in most
of the states, have taken cognizance
CT the danger, there are few states
nowadays but have anti-spit laws
which prevent the spread Of the germs
through the filthy medium Of the ex-
pectorations Of the diseased, few
states but what exert some degree Of
control over the food eaten by its peo-
pie and the sanitary conditions which
surround them. and it is By these
means that the inroads Of .he Pale
Rider are checked.
The work, as taken up by the
churches Of the nation, is an educa-
tional one, they neither attempt to
place the blame upon the Adversary
or to claim that the interposition OF
divine Providence is essential to
cure, they teach that the right treat
ment of the body, the proper advan-
tages which He has given Us will al
ways prevent, and often cure. They
teach the doctrine Of pure and whole
some food. Of breathing pure air and
of living near to nature, of keeping
good hours and Of taking proper
care of the body, the doctrine Of max
ing the best possible use Of the talents
given and then trusting Him for the
result
Many Of the churches Of the city
will hold appropriate services tomor-
row, attend some one Of them, II mat
ters not particularly which one, for
any one will be vastly better than
none.