McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1916-06-23
The Problem of tuberculosis

The Problem OF tuberculosis
GA Paper read before the McNairy
County Medidal Society, at Stanton
| vile, Tennessee, June Is, 1916, by
DR.. L. G. Jackson, of Gravelhill).
The Problem of tuberculosis; The
Responsibilities and Obligation
Devolving Upon the Public, and the
Profession.
In solving any problem of the COM
munity, agitation, discussion and edu-
cation of the public is necessary.
The great White Plague has been so
insiduously, SO unrelentlessly, and go
unremittingly gathering in its unfor-
tunate victims, that the public and
the Medical Profession have become
somewhat hardened to the tragedies
surrounding us. We are appalled, at
the slaughter Of the European war;
over one million men have been killed.
vet this is no more than the estimat-
ed death rate of Europe from Tuber-
culosis yearly. In the United States
in 1906 the death rate from T1bercu-
losis was one hundred and thirty
eight thousand. This statement was
made by Irving Fisher, Professor of
Political Economy of Yale University,
who also estimated that the yearly
death rate in the United States equal
ed the combined deaths from typhoid
fever, scarlet fever. smallpox. dip
thera, cancer diabetes, appendicitis,
and meningitis. If this condition be
true-and it is beyond dispute-why
| is it that our counties, cities, states
and our Federal government allow
this condition to continue? Public
funds are spent, trained men on fixed
salaries are employed and stringent
regulations are enforced to check and
eradicate other infectious diseases
that do not carry off one tenth part
Of the population as that caused by
tuberculosis. Is this country 50 mig
gardly as to its expenditures, that the
money involved in a campaign against
so great a foe is too staggering for
our politicians? Would not an active
campaign with money to fight this
dread disease be a good investment?
DR.. Osler estimates that in the
United States there are million and
a quarter at all times suffering from
tuberculosis, figuring that at least
one fourth of this number are unable
Ito work. At one dollar and fifty
cents per day, this would mean loss
Of wages from these disabled con-
| sumptives to the amount of One Hun
dred and Forty Million Dollars yearly
Not only that, but the expense Of
these sick upon their families added
to the loss in wages means loss tC
the people Of the United States Of
| Five Million Dollars Yearly.
| If the United States can stand 6
loss to it's people of this amount
would it not be a good business policy
to spend at least that much yearly tt
curtail and ultimately eradicate this
terrible scourge? If that amount was
placed in the hands of a Nationa
Bureau Of Health yearly. grip wouli
be taken on this great scourge thai
would mean its ultimate eradication.
In the time allotted for such a pa
per as this it will be impossible tC
enumerate, and elaborate, on all the
measures that will help to curtail this
dread disease. the more important Of
which are: First, early diagnosis, anG
the adoption of radical treatment;
Second, the prevention of indiscrimi.
nate expectoration; Third, the de.
struction of sunless, lily ventilated
windowless. sleeping rooms; Fourth
the establishment of better sanitation