The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-27

which were taught ages ago and which have never lost or never can Jose their compelling force. because they are predicated upon eternal truth :. SOME IMPORTANT ACCESSORIES
 IN THE OLUT4ON or THE
 TUBERCULOsIS PROBLEM By Jonathan Godfrey, Member of
 State Tuberculosis Cornmission.
 Bridgeport.
 We are becoming in general way farniliarized with some of the funda-
 mental facts concerning the worId-l wide struggle for the eradication of tuberculosis
 We have learned much Of the Tu- bercle Bacillus discovered by Koch in 1882. For example, twenty-four thousand of them placed end on end, would extend but one inch A mag nif1catfon Of about one-tholisand di-i an1eters is necessary for their proper observation, which is equivalent to saying that it would require in the neighborhood of one million of these bacteria hudd1ed together in one spot to be seen with the naked eye To render the problem still more diff1-f cult, they are almost transparent We are furthermore aware that these baciln have tough wiry skin or covering. and 1t fs a complex prob- lem to produces a toxin sufficiently ef- fsctive to pierce this coating and to destroy their activity.
 We are also. aware that they are very tenacious of life in dark and damp surroundings. and 1t is almost incredible how long they preserve their power of infection dried up in the ordinary dust of a room. while on the other hand. direct sunlight in d few hours will destroy whole colo nies notwithstanding the favorabls media in which they may be placed. SCIENTISTS BUsY.
 It would .bS presurnptious in me, however, to base my remarks on the, toxins, anti-toxins. the behavior of the individual bacillus, the anti bodies, the acid fast rods and other intricate parts of this great problem which trained professional men of this state are spending their lives in studying; those bacterIologfsts who have count less hosts of these baciIlf, in different media. in their incubators. deliver from time to time before learned so- cteties treatises necessarily Of the most technical character which ars usually published So as to be within the reach Of those Interested
 To these gentlemen. then we will leave the discovery of further means for eradicating these bacteria in the full hope and confidence that the tt1ne 1 is not far distant when their Iabors will be rewarded; and may we not arl- ticipate faccording to the suggestion Iference) that the honor of Informing the world how to destroy this plague 1 may come from Connecticut.
 Segregation and general isolation would probably in time practically eradicate this scourge but this radical method in tie present state of public opinion would be- Impractical so therefore wish to draw your attention to a few facts which from a purely practical and Business standpoint jsseem to me most important HOSPITALS PROyIDElD l You are aware that this state has generously provided for the benefit of those suffering from this disease, four tuberculosis hospitals under the di- rection of the Tuberculosis Con1rnis- sion Tn connection with the work of 1 this commission, my attention has l been directed to the large nurnb Der of hopeless cases of such advanced char acter that some patients die the day after their arrival at the hospital We know that if the trouble had been diagnosed and treated properly while in its Incipfent state, numbers 1 of these cases could have had the dis ease arrested and gradually, regained Ihealth and strength. Is 1t due to l the stupidity or the obstinacy of the I patient that this condition obtains By no means. It is usually ignorance of | the nature of his ai1ment and lack of knowledge of how to take care of him self; the reluctance in calling for a I physician; the prevaIence or persist ence Of the ideas that some qliack nostrum will cure D cough, and other
 causes which usually result in delay l that is disastrous.
 1 All the steps being taken for the I eradication Of tuberculosis should be l systernatized and made to work har- moniously together. and while the l bacteri ologists are continuing their
 work in the laboratory, we. on the outside. must apply the knowledge we l already possess. We must educate l the fncipient patient and Il of his l friends to report immediately to the authorities any threatened appearances l of the disease.
 CITY CLINIC NEEDED. ] There should be established and maintained in every municipality, per I haps in every town. Tuberculosis dispensary conveniently located for accessibility, fully equipped with every Unnecessary appliance now known to us
 ind under the care Of the ablest p1ay- I stefans who should be adequately paid I fcss their services, and be on duty on
 special days and special hours veery I weess. l Tlis sdispensary should be the head I squarters of the fight against tubercu-
 Iosis There has been some fear that I the dispensary will run contrary to ] the interests of general practitioners,
 but the result has proven to be the
 contrary.
 Any person suffering with a cough 1 or chronic cold should be sent to the F1eS l mentt-
 Atsthe dispensary a patients home
 conditions and contacts should be ex-
 anined and insa nitary condition care I fully looked into.
 The medical officers of the dispen- | sary should examine contacts of an