Montgomery County sentinel., 1918-12-13

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Washington, d. C.--(Special.) )-Ac-
ccrtling to a report made to the United
States Public Health Service, the cpl
demlc Of influenza In Spain has al
ready caused an increase in the preva-
lence and deaths from pulmonary tu-
berculosis. A similar association be-
tween influenza and tuberculosis was
recently made by Sir Arthur News
holme, the chief medical officer of the
English public health service, In his
analysis Of the tuberculosis death rate
In England.
In order that the people Of the Unit
ed States may profit by the experience
Of other countries Surgeon General
rupert Bfde Of f the United States Pub
lie Health Service has Just issued a
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 It's people recently affected
with influenza this country now Of
fers conditions favoring the spread Of
tuberculosis"
One Million consumptIves In the
United States.
"Then you consider this a serious
menacer was asked. ain my opinion
1t is, though 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-
ditlon of unrecogniZed and unreported
cases would make the number nearer
10000. The very careful health sur
vey conducted during the past two
years In birmingham, Mass, revealed
200 cases of tuberculosis In popula-
tion Of approximately $4,000 II these
proportions hold true for the United
States as whole they would Indicate
that about one in every hundred per-
sons is tuberculous Each of these
constitutes a source of danger to be
guarded against"
What to Do.
In his statement to the public Sur
geon General Blue points out how
those who have had influenza should
protect themselves against tuberculo.
sis. "All who have recovered from In.
fuenZa," says the Surgeon General,
"should have their lungs carefully ex.
amined by competent physician. In
fact, 1t Is desirable to have several ex.
amnations made month apart. Such
examinations cannot be made through
the clothing nor can they be carried
Out ~ Two OF lnree minutes. III the
lungs are found to be free from tuber.
culosis every effort should be made to
keep them so. This can be done BY
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 which
hang on"
These, he explained, were often the
beginning Of tuberculosis. "If you dc
not get well promptly, IL your colo
seems to hang on or your health ant
strength decline, remember that these
are often the early signs of tuberculo
sis. Place yourself at once under the
care of competent physician. Tuber
culosis is curable in the early stages.
Patent Medicines Dangerous In Tuber
eulosis.
"AbOve all do not trust In the mis-
leading statements of unscrupulous
patent medicine takers. There is nc
spcc'ii" medicine for the cure of tuber
cu' S'S The money spent on sucl
n',.,rtS is thrown away: II shoul,
son, irs'rnd for good food and de
i.",