The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-08-22
TUBERCULOSIS
PELLACRA AND
EPILEPSY
ALL HAVE VICTIMS IN STATE
WHO DESERVE ATTENTION -
DOCTORS CONTEND THAT col.
ONlES ARE NEEDED.

Oklahoma City, Aug. 21.-OElahoma
needs a tuberculosis colony more
than anything else, according to sew
eral physicians who have lately dis
cussed it, The state should also have
pellagra hospital and an epileptic
colony. On the east side of the state
there are many cases of pellagra; tu-
berculosis and epilepsy are common
in all parts of the commonwealth.
Oklahoma City physicians have late
" been discussing the drinking foun-
tains in different parts of the city
and for the most part they are to be
condemned the doctors say. They
are pronounced a greater menace to
health than the common drinking cup,
especially the kind where the lips
are pressed down upon fountain
and the water bubbles up.
One physician recently stood within
sight of such a fountain for a con
siderable length of time and took
note of those who used it OF the
forty who drank from the fountain,
four were negroes, three plainly had
tuberculosis and several others had
eruptions on their faces. In every
instance the lips were placed well
around the porcelain KNOB from which
the water spurted up. The secre-
tions from the mouth wera left there.
1t is doubtful, the physician says, if
the water washed them away.
The state is doing little or nothing
for its consumptives and the white
plague is likely to spread in the fu-
ture more alarmingly than it has in
the past. The physicians of the city
advocate more rigid rules for the eX-
animation of pupils in the schools,
and especially in the high school.
During the past two years there
have been several cases Of tubercu-
losis in the high school. One case
was that of a bright girl whose work
showed that she had an exceptionally
good mind She was plainly the vic
tim Of tuberculosis, but she was pass
ed by the physical examiners and
permitted to attend the school.
Before the term was out she dis
appeared from the school and when
inquiry was made for her the teach
ers found her at home, dying OF the
disease, with no possible hope of re-
covery.
1T is not to be understood that tu-
berculosis is more common in Okla
homa than elsewhere, but it is be-
coming more frequent as the popula-
ton of the cities increases. The ply
sicians may in a short time head
a movement for tuberculosis colony,
where patients may be sent at the
expense of the state when they are
not financially able to pay for treat
ment
On the east side of the state, it is
reported, there are more cases of pei
legra than have ever been known
there. The investigations of recent
years have shown that pellagra is
not an ailment that needs to be
stunned, for unlike tuberculosis it is
not infectious. Neither is it conta-
gious. There is no reason for being
afraid of it. 1t is found among the
poor and usually they are Stunned,
in the belief that they arl likely to
spread it among those who come in
contact with them.
Investigations made by government
scientists. the McFadden commission
and the commission of the Rockefel-
Ter Foundation have shown that the
disease is not communicable. Neither
does it come from contact with the
soil as the first investigators be-
lieved. 1t is now settled that it is
the result of an insufficient variety
in diet.
In a recent discussion among ply
sicians, the subject of the strange
disease that attacked the prisoners
Modern physicians who have read
much on the subject now believe that
those who died in Andereon.i!,e pris-
on were the victims OF pe'laera. They
had all the symptoms, but the dis
ease was unknown then and no treat
ment for it had been devils d.
Drink pdre distilled water. delivered