Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1914-07-16
(copyright. 1914 By IS. Gny)
BRIoHT'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 num-
Der the world would gasp in horror
and the newspapers Of the country
So 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 It and
because they are snuffed out only
few at a time we ignore this appalling
sacrifice OF 100000 human lives and
take It as q matter Of course. And
the absurdity OF this position is the
more startling when We know that
fully 60 per cent Of these deaths. or
10000 could be prevented or at least
postponed for many years with greater
ease and certainty than a 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
fly increasing at an enormous rate. In
the vital statistics registration area,
now covering approximately GO per
cent of our population, deaths from
kidney diseases have increased ~ per
cent in 20 years and % per cent In
last ten years. In the city OF Chicago
the increase has been AZ per cent In
the last ten years.
Bright'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.
The 1910 census gave the United
States a population increase OF p per
cent in the ten-year period between
1900 and 1910 and showed the rural
population to number 81 per cent and
the urban population 46 per cent OF
the whole.
Within this ten-year period the rural
population increased only II per cent
while the urban population increased
"a per cent and this very material
change in the ratio between the pro-
ducers and the consumers OF the neces-
sites OF life must become a powerful
factor in the beaiih of our people for
two reasons; first, because OF the
change in proximity to food supplies.
Less fresh food is being consumed by
the increasing numbers flowing into
our cities, and II Is a self evident fact
that the longer food is held the greater
is the danger Of contamination. Sec
ond, the increase in the ratio OF con-
sumner to producer OF the necessities Of
life means a perfectly logical increase
in the cost Of the production, hence an
inevitable increase In the cost OF liv-
ing and the worries incident thereto.
The subject of the preservation and
transportation Of food is Of vast i'm
Dortance and is now receiving the at
tention Of the federal and state au-
thorities, but 1t is subject on which
the individual citizen must seek en-
lightenment II we are TO make any
progress towards happier humanity.
We are fairly we'll informed through
the daily press as to the dangers OF
chemical preservatives in foods, and
because of these dangers cold Is de-
pended on to keep foods in fit condi-
ton in the average home. Cold does
not kill bacteria, but It does inhibit
or check their rapid growth, and in
this fact we find the need Of and the
reason for public ice fund subscrip-
lions in the battle against disease
among the poor in our cities. But 1t
must be carefully noted, however, that
ice can be, at best, but little superior
IN purity to the water from which 1t
is made, and therefore ice Is itself a
factor Of enormous importance in the
development and spread of disease.
As increasing intelligence opens our
minds to a comprehension OF the
cause underlying Ill health, particu-
larly OF the gastric disturbances of
childhood, we learn that most Of our
fills are due either to insufficient or
badly prepared and tnclean food
rather than to any excess in food
values or quantity.
The very prevalent summer COM
plants" and other digestive troubles
of childhood and OF humanity in gen.
eral are traceable directly to a COM
mon cause-filth. High infant NOR
tally goes hand in hard with filth.
Food may be easily contaminated by
washing dishes and other containers
with polluted water. and fresh vege-
tables. such as are eaten raw. are open
TO the same danger from the use Of
impure water on them. Dirty hands
and the general ignorant Indifference
OF those handling and preparing food
materials; partly decomposed fruit.
--,t.h lao o1d mat. Afaa on the huf.