Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-12-23

ing from the existing LESSONS, and due
to disease, trauma, overstrain or any
cause of lowered vitality, whatever
that may mean. 5. Finally, as a cor
allory ADULTS ARE VERY LITTLE
BY CLOSE CON-
TACT WITH OPEN TUBERCULOSIS
is, AND NOT AT ALL IN ORDIN-
AIRY ASSOCIATION.
Qualify these statements as we may, |
it is time for reaction against the ex-
IRENE ideas Of infection now prevail
ing. There has been too much read
into popular literature by health |
boards and lectures that has no basis |
in facts and that needs to be dropped |
out or revised" The editor adds, 1.-THE |
statements which we quoted represent
not one mans views, but what seems
to be the growing conviction of many
of the most progressive and thought
full students of tuberculosis at the
present time"
The common doctors have of course
known all the time that this hue and
cry about the danger of infection in
tuberculosis was very exaggerated.
can recall case after case of one con-
sumptive dying in the family and the
rest of the family remaining healthy,
and my practice goes back IS years.
l recall one case particularly, few
years ago in this city where one very
open case laid year with a houseful
of young and old all around him, and
no precaution to speak Of had been
taken. saw him first few days be-
fore his death, and I said to myself,
that whole family must be doomed.
Was it? No, the whole family is to-
day as healthy as crickets. If this
person had had measles, scarlet fever,
humps or smallpox, all in the family
would have been down presently. So
while pulmonary tuberculosis is a con-
tagious,-or rather, communicable dis
ease it cannot be classed as contag-
ious in the same sense or degree as
measles or smallpox.
There is no doubt that children are
much more liable to infection than
adults, and therefore DR.. Baldwin
says: adults are very little endan-
gered by close contact with open tu-
berculosis, and not at all in ordinary
Association" And that points out 4
safe, rational and practical procedure
to handle our tubercular, open case:
Keep children away from them and
let sensible adult render the neces-
sary attention in the sanitary way or.
dered by the up-to-date physician
Handled in this way the "open case
is no more a menace to his attendant
his family or society in general, and
less so, than if incarcerated in State
controlled detention hospital.
Space forbids that I should answer
all the rambling illusions, hints and
suggestions of DR.. Hill. One or two
points I will touch on.
Has poverty anything to do with
tuberculosis? DR.. Hill doesn't seem to
know so I will tell him where to read
up. DR.. Kruse of Bremen, Germany
studied this phase Of the question a
few years ago. He found that 10000
population of we'll to do people had a
mortality from tuberculosis of 5 per
annum, while 10000 population of the
poorer classes had mortality from
tuberculosis of SO per annum. Jour
A. M. A., March 8, 1913, Page 1927.
The poor has several times the NOR
tally Of the rich.
Don't the rich die of tuberculosis
Yes, the rich dissipate, live fast lives,
break down in health and fall victims
Of tuberculosis. And hereditary pre-
disposition exists among both the we'll
to-do and the poor.
Why do some suffer all kinds of
poverty, privation and exposure and
still do not die Of consumption? Be-
cause their system is immune to the
germ; very likely hereditary immun-
ity, but may also be acquired.
The above is not written for the in
formation Of DR.. Hill, (he knows of
course) but so that the common read
er shall not be befuddled by his funny
Questions
Finally. We people here in Randi
vohi county can reduce our tubercr1-
losis death rate to a vanishing point
by resolving: list, those of us who are
Dredisposed to tuberculosis, not to
bring any children into the world: and
End, all of us lead sanitary lives. That
is the solution of the tuberculosis
l NJ T0rYA7c1AY