The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1918-12-13


X yeu take precautions in time. !
\ Don't diagnose your own con- !
K dition. Have your doctor exam !
K inc your lungs several times at !
X monthly intervals. Build up your ,
X strength with right living, good J
X food and plenty of fresh air. J
4 Don't waste money on patent J
K medicines advertised to cure tu- !
X berculOsis.
X Become fresh-air crank and J
X enjoy life.
&&&kk&k* X *k*k X
Washington, D. C.-(Special )-Ac
cording to a report made to the UniteC
States Public Health Service, the cpl
demic of influenza in Spain has al
ready caused an increase in the preva
lence and deaths from pulmonary tn
berculosis. A similar association be
tween influenza and tuberculosis wa
recently made by Sir Arthur News
hOlme, the chief medical officer Of thu
English public health service, In hi
analysis of the tuberculosis death rat'
In England.
In order that the people Of the Unit
ed States may profit by the experience
of other countries Surgeon General
Rupert Blue of the United States Pub
lie Health Service has just issued 8
warning emphasizing the need of spe
cial precautions at the present time
Experience seems to indicate" says
the Surgeon General, that persons
whose resistance has been weakened
by an attack Of influenza are peculiar
ly susceptible to tuberculosis. With
millions of its people recently affected
with Influenza this country now of.
fers conditions fayoring the spread OF
tuberculosis"
One Million Consumptives in the
United States.
"Then you consider this a serious
menace?" was asked. "In my opinion
it is, though l hasten to add 1t Is dis
tinctly one against which the people
can guard. SO far as one can estimate
there are at present about one million
cases of tuberculosis in the United
States There is unfortunately no
complete census available to show ex-
actly the number of tuberculosis per
sons in each state despite the fact that
most of the states have made the dis
ease reportable. In New York city,
where reporting has been in force for
many years, over $4,000 cases of tu-
berculosis are registered with the De
partment Of Health. Those familiar
with the situation believe that the ad-
ditiOn Of unrecognized and unreported
cases would make the number nearer
$4,000. The very careful health sur
vey conducted during the past two
years in birmingham, Mass. revealed
200 cases Of tuberculosis in popula-
ton of approximately $4,000. X these
proportions hold true for the United
States as a whole they would Indicate
that about one in every hundred per-
sons is tuberculOus. Each of these
constitutes source Of danger to be
guarded against"
What to Do.
In his statement to the public Sur
geon General Blue points out now
those who have had influenza should
protect themselves against tu0erculo-
sis. "All who have recovered from In
fiuenza." says the Surgeon General,
"should have their lungs carefully ex'
amined by a competent physician. In
fact, it is desirable to have several ex-
aminations made a month apart. Such
examinations cannot be made through
the clothing nor can they be carried
ont fp two or three minutes. Ii the
lungs are found to be free from tuDer-
culosis every effort should be made TO
keep them so. This can be done Dy
right living, good food and plenty OF
fresh air."
Danger Signs.
The Surgeon General warned espe-
cially against certain danger signs
such as decline and colds when
hang on"
These he explained, were often the
beginning of tuberculosis. IF you 90
not get well promptly, If your COLO
seems TO hang on or your health and
strength decline, remember that these
are often the early signs Of tuDerculo'
sis. Place yourself at once under the
care of a competent physician. Tuber'
c,1losis is durable in the early stages
Patent Medicines Dangerous In Tuber'
culosis.
"Aboye all do not trust in the mis-
leading statements of unscrupulous
natent medicine takers. There Is no
specific medicine for the cure OF tuoer-
.culos;s. The money spent on sucn
medicines is thrown away; 1t snouio
he spent instead for good food and de-
cent living"
10y
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