The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-08-13
WHITE PLAGUE IS
GAINING IN IOWA
Dr.. A. e. kepford Finds This to be
the Case and Summarizes the
Causes in Statement
Issued.
LOOK AFTER SOLDIERS
Iowa Lecturer Is Urging on Adj. Gen.
Logan Necessity for Keeping
Health Of Men
Good.
LOOK AFTER SOLDIERS

1 ue uIedu WlllS pldSuc 1S again
on the increase in the state Of Iowa.
That is bad news indeed. But bad
news was never made harmless by
suppressing it. Publicity will help.
The state board of health finds that
the reports show an increase In pull
monary tuberculosis, and those VINO
have been giving the matter atten-
ton are convinced that the high cost
of living Is the cause of this in
crease. One of those who hold this
belief is Aretas e. Kepford, state
lecturer on tuberculosis.
'"lne increase In the number Of
deaths from the disease may be ex-
planned in two ways" Mr.. Kepford
declares. First is the lack Of at
tention given to the preventive meas
ures necessary for it's suppression
due to the interest in the war stu
alton in all of it's phases. The sec
ond cause is that of the increased
cost of living.
Because of the rising prices of
food and the other necessities of life
there are many families throughout
the state which are unable to obtain
sufficient amount of food for their
needs and are insufflciently clothed
and sheltered. This is particularly
true among the salaried laboring
classes.
"Overwork and malnutrition
weaken the physical system so as to
make it susceptible to the bacilli of
tuberculosis. In this the high cost
of living is playing a large part in
the number of deaths.
II am able to cite cases proving
the truth of this statement. In Grin
nell family Of seven lived in an
abandoned box car. The father,
m other and one child were affected
with tuberculosis. They did not have
sufficient food, clothing and shelter to
protect them from the ravages Of the
disease"
DR.. Kepford is also making a study
of tuberculosis among the fighting
men Of the country. He has issued
warning to Adjutant General Guy
E. Logan and to Governor Harding
to insist that all men in the Iowa
state troops be given rigid exami-
nation of the lung cavity before being
accepted.
Canada, where large numbers Of
CobCISuidl nave UeCu oeul
back from the front to be cared for
by the country. Haste in passing
the men in the medical examination
fs given as one Of the greatest
causes. Men giving the slightest in
dication of tubercular or bronchial
trouble are now being rejected, DR..
Kcniord says.
THE tubercular bacilli is to be
feared more than bullets" he de-
clared, Especially in this time Of
national preparedness and strife. We
must use every means of prevention
in the nation, not only through the
organized groups for the purpose. but
also as individuals"
The civilian relief departm ent Of
the Red Cross was cited by Mr.. KEEP
ford as one of the means of prevent
ing the spread Of disease and of turn
ing the attention of the people of the
nation not only to war relief work,
but to relief work within their own
state and city.
There will be many dependents
left in this country" DR.. Kepford
says, "who will be in need Of food,
and shelter. BY the means
of the civilian relief these will be re-
lieved In relieving these persons.
the Red Cross will be using one of
the greatest prevention against tuber-
culosis Well fed, we'll sheltered and
well clothed, these people will be con-
strong enough to throw
of tuberculosis or any other disease
which might attack them"
DR.. Kepford is state director Of the
Red Cross and will spend much of
his time in civilian relief work as
soon as the work is well under way
The state board of health and the
department of tuberculosis will CO.
operate with the Red Cross in this
work