Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1914-12-17
FRESH AIR AND TUBERCULOSIS.


rugged lives without fixed habitation
In the mild climate where the species
first developed is highly improbable.
The disease undoubtedly made its first
appearance only after men began to
herd together and live a communal
life; the evidence seems to prove that
1t tends constantly to increase pro-
gressively with our advance in mater
ial wealth and culture as the indi-
vidual is more and more removed
from the fundamental source Of ener-
gy.
In the writings OF Hippocrates, the
father Of medicine, who lived 400 to
359 B. c., are directions for the care
Of a case suggestively familiar to US.
for he describes something suspicious
ly like modern tuberculosis, correctly
interpreting 1t as fever and recon-
mending for It fresh air, change Of ell
mate and hygienic living.
From the fact that Celcus, a Rom
an medical writer who lived In the
first century A. D.. and Claudius Gal
en-. q Greek physician and medical
writer "a. D. 131 to 2O0), approve Hip
pocrates advice in their writings. It Is
reasonable to assume that the pray
ers and incantations customary among
the priests and people generally from
the dawn of history we're still depend
ed on in that day to combat the dis
ease. Galen in his writings recog-
nized tuberculosis to be contagious.
In general from the birth Of the
tribe down through the centuries when
the physician was half magician and
half priest, and to doubt his skill was
an act of impiety, the demand has
been for pure magic. and. of course.
strenuous efforts have been made to
supply the demand. This effort will
continue until an enlightened people
cease to ask the impossible. Invalids
have been bled to death and dosed
with poisonous elixirs OF life to no
avail, but the people have held stead
lastly to their faith in magic
But with the cultivation of a pecul-
lar greenish-gray scum, fungus or
mold on egg albumen by Klebs in 1877
there began an era of sanity. From
this beginning Robert Koch in 1882
succeeded in isolating and staining
the tubercle bacillus. from this point
step by step we have advanced along
the road leading to control of the
disease and after all the wandering
and experimenting are finally today
back where that keen eyed, thought
full old Greek, Hlppocrates. stood $500
years ago. Fresh air and hygienic
living are the key which modern sci
ence holds out for the release of hu-
manity from the bondage Of tuber-
culosis. Healthy blood is the most
certain and vigorous Of all germicides.
and 1t is very certain that there never
will be discovered any method for the
of healthy blood superior
to the natural one Of drawing an abun-
dance OF fresh, clean air into the
lungs. introducing plenty of simple,
wholesome food into the stomach.
keeping the skin clean and active. and
In general living a sane. normal life.
Just recently have been asked by
the mother of delicate girl II night
air was safe for her to breathe. The
results secured among the snow COW
cred peaks Of the Alps In cases Of sur
gical tuberculosis of the bones furnish
the answer to this question. Cases OF
tuberculosis have been
carried to the point OF treatment be-
cause the invalid was too weak to
walk, and heliotherapy has been tried
IS the last resort before the amputa-
lion that had been recommended by
competent authority. In the course
Of a few months the victim. with the
skin from head to foot tanned to the
color Of a piece Of rare mahogany, has
recovered sufficient vitality to enjoy
yoing out in the cold, crisp air arrayed
n nothing but breechcloth and play
ng games in the snow. Good food,
resi- air, and the general tone nc
luired from coming close to nature
ire what Is responsible for the won
Ierful results secured in those insti-
utions.
Very obviously the lesson to the
est OF US should be that II is our in
liyidual duty to our family and the
to make such good use
4 this knowledge Of natures work
ncs that we shall not become infirm
md a burden. No one is immune un-
ess he lives a rational normal life and
zone is go strong that he may not
Iuickly become weak. It is In these
periods OF weakness that infection
nav seize us, to be subdued only
through the regaining Of vitality. But
he trouble IL not cured" II Is simply
atent and ready to fare mp again the
Instant we permit our vital powers to
lrop below q certain point
Loss Of ambition and energy, q c.
,ricious appetite. dyspepsias Of all
iorts are to be viewed with suspicion.
md a careful examination should be
aade by one competent to locate any
nbercular focus one may have tuekS4
lWay In some corner