The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1915-01-30
THE PLEAsANTvILLE PRESS SATURDAY, JANUARY 80, 1915.

glands.
There are a number of familiar con-
ditions illustrating this limiting pro-
cess in disease, and probably the most
common example is the enlarged
glands occurring under the arm fol-
lowing al infection of the arm or
hand. The germs, making their es-
cape from the abscess, are arrested
bv the axillary glands resulting in
q swelling of the glands. Sometimes
the germs so arrested are destroyed
without damage to the glandular It's
sue, but if the infection is severe an
abscess of the glands may result.
When micro-organisms attempt to
rain an entrance to the body an eff
ort is made to limit the invasion to
the point of Judgment, but if that
fails they will travel along the lynn
phatic canals until they meet a gland
In children the tubercle bacilli read
lily escape the guards until they are
stopped at the cellular forts. In the
adult the tissues at the point of en-
trance arrest the bacilli, and it is
here the battle occurs. When the ba-
GILL enter through the gastro-intestin-
al tract the glandular chains through
out the abdomen become involved.
This condition is more frequent in
children as also is the involvment of
the bones.
Glandular tuberculosis is common
in adults, and appears frequently in
the structures of the neck, more often
below the angle of the jaw. These
enlarged glands are often called
scrofulous glands, scrofula being UNI
derstood to NEAR a disease caused by
the toxins of tuberculosis. Where
the tubercle bacilli are not present,
the condition is supposed to have
been inherited from tuberculous par
ents. 1t has been proved that the
process is distinctly a tuberculous one,
the bacilli being frequently present
as has been shown by the microscope.
Other favorite seats of infection are
the tonsils and likewise the mucous
membrane of the mouth, while an un-
healthy state of the teeth and gums
has been demonstrated to be a source
OF tuberculosis. So important is this
latter p~recaution that some hospitals
for the treatment of consumption have
a dentist who inspects all the patients
teeth and gums. Patients are in
~structed to use the tooth brush reg
ularly and to cleanse the mouth with
a mild antiseptic wash. This precau-
ton might seem useless when we con-
slider that the patient already has tu-
~berculosis, but a ~consumptive should
endeavor to prevent the occurrence
! OF a new infection, as every new le-
sion of the disease renders the posi-
bility of a cure less hopeful.
1t is not impossible for a patient to
reinfect himself, in fact, it is often
done and usually through careless
ness. Therefore, the selfish person,
who is Indifferent to the heath of
others and spits around his home and
in public places, lessons his chance of
recovery by starting new LESSONS, at
the same time, he is dangerous to all
who have to associate with him.
The mouth of a consumptive is nat
urally abundant in bacilli, and there
fore kissing should be prohibited, and
the mouth should be rinsed three or
four times a day, especially before
taking food, as it is possible to infect
the intestines if this is not done.
Tuberculous glands, especially in
the neck, should be treated as early as
possible, as they will eventually sup
purate and spread the disease to
other parts of the body, frequently to
the lungs. There is no special treat
ment that is reliable. Operation for
their removal is frequently followed
by the appearance of the disease in
adjacent glands.
The X-ray and the influence of
strong sunlight or high power cleo
trio light have, by most authorities,
been pronounced the safest treatment,
and have given the most satisfactory
results, but whatever the local treat
ment may be, it is necessary to fol-
low out the same hygienic rules that
are applicable to the disease, regard
less of its location.