Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-22
STATE STARTS DRIVE
ON TUBERCULOSIS;
MANY CASES FOUND
EXEMPTION BOARD EXAM INA
TONS UNCOVER uNSUSPECTED
INSTANCES OF DISEASE IN FIVE
PER CENT or THOSE ELIGIBLE
TO DRAFT.

Springfield, Octo. pa tuberculo
sis war WORK campaign in Illinois has
been started The work is under the
direction of DR.. Geo. Thomas Palmer
of Springfield A circular entitled
the tuberculosis War Problem OF
the United States, defining the plan
has been issued by the cooperating
committee on tuberculosis war prob
an auxiliary of the State Council of
National Defense. The state depart
ment of public health and the HI
inois tuberculosis Association are al
so behind the movement.
DIR. Palmer, who is president of the
Illinois tuberculosis Association and
chairman of the tuberculosis Com,
mittee Is the author of the circular
II instructs the coworkers on their
duties in the campaign and is the
tenth edition of a general pamphlet
that has been adopted, not only in
Illinois. but in many other states of
the union.
Special attention is called to the
fact that the exemption boards in Iii
nois have rejected five per cent OF the
men examined for the draft army in
the circular. Ii states this is particu-
larry deplorable as the men examined
We're in the prime OF life and should
he physically fit This five per cent
was entirely of tuberculosis infections.
L also enumerates that five per cent
more We're rejected after the men
reached the cantonments by the army
physicians there for the same cause.
! The object of the campaign, the
physician declares, is to discover these
cases of tuberculosis. 1t is proposed
to volunteer cure This is partic
ularly needful, he declares, to avoid
a spread of the disease.
Hundreds of these persons afflicted
with tuberculosis who were rejected /
for service in the draft army did not !
realize they were Ill at all and certain. |
~ did not suspect they were afflicted |
with a serious disease DR.. Palmer de. /
clares. IF the selective draft with its /
physical examination will bring 10
light thousands Of cases of tubercu-
psls IN its incipient and thoroughly
eAfasAe Stage, It will prove "A blessing
IN disguise to the young manhood OF
the nation
Whatever may have been opinions ]
prevailing at the beginning Of the war
as to the effects of campaigning to the I
tuberculosis subject. 1t has now been
driven home, very forcibly, that men
suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis
can be of little use in the army.
The effect Of continued active serv.
Ice, the strenuous life in the field,
hardship, lack of food want of sleep,
prolonged and severe exertion, fear
and mental strain, along with sanitary
conditions necessarily far from per.
feet, have been seen to play a most
important part in breaking down re-
sistance to and re-startng tuberculo.
Sis processes in those already preds-
posed to tuberculosis, recovering from
this disease or subjected to infection
BY tuberculosis material"
The Illinois program, now accepted
generally turnout the United States,
the provision of isloated
wards in general hospitals for the ac.
lively tuberculosis sanatoria for the
less actively diseased; farm colonies
f0r the convalescent and free tuber-
eulosis dispensaries and visiting nurse
service to follow Us the discharged
cases. In following out this plan, it
IN said that more Illinois counties and
cities have inauguratpd antitubercu.
lOsis work at public expense during
the past three months than in the
previous ten years
Try thp Free Trader Tour,a1 w, ~ A A.