Connecticut western news., 1919-01-02
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k+ < **k < Beware tuberculosis after in- Y < fluenza. No need to worry if 4 x you take precautions In time. $ < Don't diagnose your own con- k < dition. Have your doctor exam * < inc your lungs several times at + < monthly intervals. Build up your \ < strength with right living, good 4 < food and plenty of fresh air. Y Don't waste money on patent k medicines advertised to cure tu- < < berculosis. < < Become a fresh-air crank and 4 + enjoy life. * < <
 Washington, D. C.-(SpeciaL) )-Ac- cording to a report made to the United States Public Health Service, the epi- demic 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 Blue of 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 its people recently affected with influenza this country now off, fers conditions favoring the spread of tub erculosis."
 One Million consumptIves In the
 United States.
 "Then you consider this a serious menace| was asked "In my opinion it 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 35,000 cases of tu- berculpsfs are registered with the De partments of Health. Those familiar with the situation believe that the ad- dition of unrecognized and unreported cases would make the number nearer 60,000. The very careful health sur vey conducted during the past two years in Birmingham, Mass, revealed POO cases of tuberculosis in a popula- ton of approximately 15,OO0. If 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 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 a competent physician. In fact, 1t Is desirable to have several ex- aminations made a month apart. Such examinations cannot be made through the clothing nor can they be carried out in two or three minutes. If 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 do not get we'll promptly, If your cold seems to hang on or your health and strength decline, remember that these are often the early signs of tuberculo- sig. Place yourself at once under tho care of a competent physician. Tuber- culosis Is curable in the early stages. Patent Medicines Dangerous In Tuber- cuIosis.
 Above all do not trust in the mis- leading statements of interruptions patent medicine fakers. There Is no specific medicine for the cure of tuber- rulosis. The money spent on such medicines is thrown away; 1t should be spent instead for good food and de- cent living"