Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-07-31
(C0pyhshk 1914 b. A s. Grsy)
RRICHT's DISEASE.

(C0pyugh, 1914 b A. y Cfxy)
eRIcHT's DISEASE.
Last year approximately 100000
Americans died. from Bright's and
other diseases Of the kidneys.
Had a railroad wreck or q Titanic
disaster killed one-hundredth this mum
Der the world would gasp in horror
and the newspapers of the country
would be taxed to issue special
editions in sufficient number to meet
the public demand for information on
the subject, and senatorial or con.
gressional committees would be ap-
pointed to investigate the cause and
formulate laws for the prevention OF
like disasters In the future.
But because We are used to 1t and
because they are snuffed out only q
few 1t . time we ignore this appalling
sacrifice Of 100000 human lives and
take 1t as . matter of course. And
the absurdity Of this position II the
more startling when we know that
fully so per cent Of these deaths. or
$4,000 could be prevented or at least
postponed for many years with greater
ease and certainty than q Titanic dis
aster can be prevented.
Our stupidity becomes still more
amazing In the face Of the fact that
deaths from these diseases are stead
lily increasing at an enormous rate. In
the vital statistics registration area.
now covering approximately so per
cent Of our population. deaths from
kidney diseases have increased u per
cant In 20 years and % per cent in
last ten years In the city Of Chicago
the increase has been ~ per cent in
the last ten years.
Bnght's and the allied diseases are
clearly diseases of civilization; they
advance together. They are the dis
eases Of highly seasoned food. or drink.
Of indolent habits Of body and mind.
and of mental strain" commonly
called worry.
Tho 1910 census gave the United
States . population increase OF II per
cent in the ten-year period between
1900 and 1910 and showed the rural
population to number "a per cent and
the urban population 4e per cent of
the whole.
Within this ten-year period the rural
population increased only II per cent
while the urban population increased
- per cent and this very material
change In the ratio between the pro
duoers and the consumers Of the neces-
stiles Of life must become . powerful
factor in the health Of our people for
two reasons: first. because Of the
change In proximity to food supplies.
Less fresh food IL being consumed BY
the Increasing numbers flowing into
our cities, and It II self evident fact
that the longer food II held the greater
u the danger of contamination. Sec
ond. the increase in the ratio Of con-
sumner to producer Of the necessities Of
life means perfectly logical increase
In the cost Of the production. hence an
inevitable increase In the cost Of lv-
ing and the worries incident thereto.
The subject of the preservation and
transportation Of food 10 Of vast i'm
portance and u now receiving the At
teution Of the federal and state au-
thorities. but It II . subject on which
the individual citizen must seek en-
liShtenment II We are to make any
progress towards happier humanity.
The very prevalent summer COM
plants" and other digestive troubles
Of childhood and Of humanity in gen.
sral are traceable directly to Q COM
mon causs-nlth. High infant NOR
tally goes hand In hard with Nth.
Food may be easily contaminated By
washing dishes and other containers
with polluted water. and fresh vege-
tables. such - are eaten raw. are open
- the same danger frcm the use Of
impure water on them. Dirty hands
and the general ignorant Indifference
Of those handing and preparing food
materials; partly decomposed fruit.
vegetables and meat; flies on the but.
ter. on the bread and In the milk. di.
rect from the stable or gutter: dust
from the street composed Of finely
ground horse manure-all contribute
their quota Of hlth, and 1t II this ele-
ment Of things too small to be seen
that 10 allowed to accumulate ON the
surfAce Of foods. rather than the foods
themselves. that 10 the cause Of many
Of our troubles immediate and remote
Undoubtedly IN the near future II
WIN b conclusively demonstrated that
Brighfs disease and the dsgsnerativs
diseases OF the kidneys. heart. arteries
and brain In general. including apo
plsxy. now assumed to be caused BY
dsrAnged metabolism. the diseases
now responsible for Our heaviest and