The Irish standard., 1915-05-08

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tuberculosis of the lungs among per-.
sons who had had pleurisy Within five
years prior to insurance were three
times the average number. The public
should be told that an attack of pleur-
lsy is followed in many cases by tuber-
culosls, and that, accordingly, after
an attack of pleurisy every precaution.
should be taken to guard against in
lection from tuberculosis and against
run down condition which is favor.
able to that disease.
Family Records Of tuberculosis
twenty years ago it was believed.
that tuberculosis of the lungs was di.
rectly Unbeatable, and, accordingly, it
was the custom of most companies to.
decline to grant insurance on appli-
cants either of whose parents had died.
OF tuberculosis of the lungs. After it
was ascertained that tuberculosis was
apparently due to contagion, the COM
panies liberalized their treatment. It
was noted, however, that there was an,
excess mortality among persons with
family history of tuberculosis even,
when care was taken against conta.
gion, and many physicians were led to-
oeheve that a predisposition to that
disease could be inherited. In the lat
est Investigations it has been feasible
to make subdivisions with view to-
determining the types of persons among
whom mortality had been high, and
thereby to arrive, if possible, at the
reasons for the apparent predisposition.
TO tuberculosis. Among light WEIGHT men
who had parent die of tuberculosis
the mortality was high at the younger
ages, but normal at the older ages, It
may be said, in general, that, except at.
young ages, the longevity of persons.
above the average weight is not affect.
ed by family history of parent dead
from tuberculosis. The mortality
among men who had brother or a.
sister die of tuberculosis was not ma
terially different from that among men,
who had parent die from that dis
ease.
Unfortunately, these statistics do not
show definitely whether or not a pre-,
disposition to tuberculosis is heredi-
tary, but it has been indicated that
there Is a predisposition to light
weight, which is a condition favorable.
to the development of tuberculosis.
Among young men who had a parent.
brother or sister die from tuberculosis.
out of every ten deaths five were due
to tuberculosis. This is an appalling
waste of life, which could be greatly
decreased by proper care and sufficient.
nourishment Among young men with.
the same family record of the disease.
who were slightly overweight, three.
out of every ten deaths were from
tuberculosis; while among those dis
tlnctly heavy, out of every ten deaths
only one from tuberculosis. A we'll.
nourlshed man, taking reasonable pre-
cautions against contagion, has little.
to fear from tuberculosis. The lesson
to be drawn by the community from
the experience of the insurance COM
panles is that the inhabitants should
be well nourished in order to reduce.
the great economic waste which comes.
from tuberculosis. That this waste.
Is very costly there can be no doubt.
Dr. Hurry, the Indiana Health Commits
sloner, states that "the cost of prevent
able consumption to the people of In
diana is not less tina ten million dol
lars year."
Among persons who were very light
IN weight but who had not a family
record of tuberculosis, the death rate
from that disease was high.
Duty Of The Community.
Comparatively little attention is paid
to the dependents of those afflicted with
tuberculosis, frequently acquired as
the result of conditions which the gov
erment could prevent. There is un-
questlonably. great need for the
state or the community providing
means of subsistence for the families
OF the breadwinners under treatment
Tor tuberculosis. AS great need also
exists for suitable employment for those
who have recently been cured of tuber-
culosis and who are not yet fitted for
their regular occupation, or must
change from indoor to outdoor work.
1t is beginning to be recognized that
the man or woman afflicted with tuber-
culosis should not be hindered from re-
covery by anxiety about the conditions
of their dependents.