New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1915-11-20
CONSUMPTION, ITS CAUSE,
PREVENTION AND CURE.

nature, Its extent, SioN III
snread too, IFS cure and proven
,ion will be discussed. FIRST us
nature: the disease Is known
technically as "pthisis and is
caused by a living germ or plan'
called the "hacillus tuberculosis >,
This germ mi ltipIies with great
rapidly in the living TISSUES OF
animals. The name bacillus
was given to the germ on account
of its resemblance to little rod
that being the meaning OF the
word. OF course. this germ can
not be seen by the naked eye, but
only by the use Of a microscope.
Outside of the body, the germ
NAV live in moist dark warm
places for long time, but by d.
rect sunlight it is killed i'll a few
hours. 1t is killed in few days
by ordinary day light, and I'M
mediately by boiling. If the
germ should find its way into the
lungs, it becomes attached, and
rapidly increases in numbers. "A
strong healthy person may sue
eessfully combat the disease, but
an individual who is weak and
sickly will not ordinary repel the
germs. In this latter instance
the germs rapidly multiply until
the lungs are consumed and the
person dies. The way the germ
gets into the body is through the
mouth and nose and most FREQ
uently lodges in the air passages
of the lungs. 1t may however
get into the glands of the neck,
attack the throat or the bowels,
or the kidney, the brain, or any
other organ of the body, as well
as thebones and the joints. Fort
unately, strong healthy people
possess the power of resisting
these germs otherwise it is likely
that the disease would kill off
whole communities. Nearly ev-
erybody, at some period of his
life, breathes in the living germ
of this disease, but owing to the
power of resistance Of his healthy
body, the germs are not able to
multiply. If these germs do not
die, of course they continue to
grow, and produce little Jumps
about an eighth Of an inch in di-
ameter called "tubercles from
which comes the name "tubercu-
losis.' After while these lit
tie Jumps soften, break open, and
are eventually expelled from the
body. Should they be coushed
up, it can readily be seen why
the sputum or spit Of a con-
sumptive is a dangerous PROPOSE
ton.
In the early stages Of the dis.
ease the germs are found is small
numbers and in larger numbers
as the disease progresses; and In
countless numbers in the latter
stages. These are good leasons
why disinfectants should be used
or the sputum burned.
Consumption is not inherited,
but a constitutional state can be,
and in consequence children of
low vitality and poor physique
come into the world. This does
not mean, however, they are
bound to contract the disease
and become consumptives. 1t is
possibly that these children, by
proper care and treatment, will
have bodies that can successful
ly combat the germ; but should
they remain weak, in all likeli
hood the disease will claim them
1t is possible to have the dis
ease and not know it or even sus
pect it. An examination of {
patients chest by a doctor and ;
microscopical examination of thu
sputum may discover it, but i
both Of these tests fail, it doe
not definitely mean that consump
ton is not present; repeated ex
animation should be made from
time to time if the earlier sign
OF the disease are present. AM
these are as follows: Sigh
cough lasting month or longer
lossof weight; slight fever in tn
afternoons; bleeding from tn
lungs; and that tired feeling.
these symptoms are present. d
not delay but consult a physical
at once.
From what has been said, it ca
be seen that as consumption is
germ disease, it can be commun
Gated, and as such. it is a pr,
yentable disease. If treated in i
early stages properly. it is ofte
cured. The disease is the grea
est of mid-life: One-third of ii
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