The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-14
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM A TION
3 BUREAU
FREDERIC J. HASKIN, Director.
Washingtnn d C.
TUBERCULOSIS AND THE WAR
Washington. d. C.

TUBERCULOSIS AND THE WAR
Washington, D. c., May livery
war has its plague, and in this one 1t
is tuberculosis.
This disease, which has been one OF
mans worst Affections for centuries,
is now reported to be gaining alarm
ing Roadway in France. Estimates
concerning its victims are startling,
but fortunately. they vary. Some as
sert that half a million people have
tuberculosis in France, while others
claim that 10000 French soldiers
have already been discharged from
the army on account of the disease;
that there are still many incipient
cases to be weeded out, and that no.
600 cases exist among the civilian pop
ulation.
At any rate, the French government
is struggling with the problem of es-
tablishing tuberculosis homes and
sanatoriums,- aided by tuberculosis
commission from the Rockefeller
Foundation and the American Ped
Cross. So the above statistics are
probably not greatly exaggerated.
With American soldiers pouring
into France as fast as ships can bring
them. this widespread prevalence OF
tuberculosis is a problem for Ameri-
cans as well as for the French. The
United States government, thru its
medical department, will do all that
it can to protect its fighting men. but
in the meantime their greatest safe
guard is a thoro understanding of the
disease itself They must know the
risk they take and know how to pro-
tect themselves.
Pulmonary tuberculosis. which is
the form the disease is taking among
such great numbers in France, is no
longer considered as nearly incurable
as once it was. Taken in the early
stages, indeed, medical men believe
that it is one of the easily cured dis
eases; otherwise, most of US would be
short-lived. because some time in his
life almost everybo 1y has tuberculo-
sis This theory is based on a number
of autopsies performed by a certain
physician. which showed that between
the ages of Is and 80, SO per cent of
the cases bore evidence of tuberculF-
sis.
The tubercuiar bacilli are all about
us in such overwhelming numbers that
it would be strange if some of them
did not enter every human system.
Whether we get the disease or not de-
ponds largely upon what the human
system does to them. The healthy in
dividual is equipped with various
agencies for destroying these bacilli.
For example, the mucous membrane
of the nose has germ-ki1ling proper
ty; the white corpuscles in the blood.
in health, hold the fort against the at
tacks of all disease bacteria, and the
stomach is also provided with secre-
lions that destroy tubercular germs en-
tering the system thru the digestive
tract.
Hence, the greatest safeguard
against tuberculosis is to keep healthy.
A bruise or sore in the nose is apt to
destroy the germ-killing capacity of
that organ, so any such sore or growth
should at once receive medical atten-
ton. To keep the white corpuScleS of
the blood in good fighting trim, more
over, one should have a good appetite.
plenty of exercise, regular elimination
of waste matter, and be free from
worry. The secretions of the stomach
are also controlled by the proper func-
tioning of the digestive organs. The
soldier who goes to France, therefore,
should strive to maintain a good appe-
tite; to keep his body as clean as pos
sible; to rest sufficiently to prevent
over-fatigue, and to keep his bowels in
good condition.
One tuberculosis authority urges
, the drinking of plenty of pure water
as further precaution. One glass of
water with meals and two between
meals Is the proper amount, he SAYS
He also suggests that whenever posi-
Bile the soldier Should clean his teeth
latter each meal.
| 1t is recognized, of course, that it is
extremely difficult for the man at the
front to follow this medical advice,
! however excellent. To advise a man
in the front row of bombarded
! trenches to avoid overfatigue would
! be painful irony, while at present the
American soldier in France is too busy
| guarding the rest of his anatomy to
| worry about his teeth. But under or
| binary circumstances a man is kept in
! the trenches for only ten DAYS at a
| time, SO that he has ample oppor-
tun1ties for conserving his health at
| the rear of the line. Moreover. the
open life of the camp is of great aid
in building up the vitality which the
close atmosphere of the trenches and
| underground dugouts is apt to destroy.
Even If an American soldier does
contract tuberculosis at the front it is
! not matter for great alarm-not So
alarming. for. example, as if he con-
tracted pneumonia. Only, it is neces-
sary that the disease be discovered
while it is still in the>early stages. for
it is the kind that gathers momentum
as it goes along. The early symptoms
of tuberculosis, as given by the med
ica1 profession, are a continued cough
with or without expectoration and
hoarseness; loss in weight. feyerish
sensations in the afternoon: chilly
sensations in the morning and oc-
! casionc night sweats; constant
fatigue; loss of appetite; flush or
| pallor in the face; frequent colds. an
occasional little streak of blood in the
| expectoration, and a noticeable ouick-
ening of the heart beats after Slight
| exertion.
| tuberculosis patients are imrsse-
| diately removed from the armv and
consigned to tuberculosis sanatorium
or. in the case of those who can af-
ford 1t. are givin a leave of absence
to go to health resort Treatment
| for the disease consists in building
up the patients vitality and thereby
the various poisons provided by the
system for destroying the hacillf
Formerly, the tuberculosis patient was
required to consume large quantities
of milk and eggs, which proved val.
liable in increasing his weight Now
many physicians are abandoning this
expedient, believing that a long.con-
tinued diet of eggs and milk is ant te
make the patient bilious. and instead