The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-10
M E N, w o M E N
 ND T HIN G 5

is enough to stump the pest speliei
 in a spelling match. l didn't dare try and remember it but picked it out on
 the typewriter letter by letter. Pro- nounce it. Not me. Consult your physi-
 clan. and if he doesn't balk, he will be
 a wonder
 After you get onto it's curves, it IS
 not such foreboding word after aii
 as it merely means an exaggerated
 fear of the presence of q consumptiVe'
 Now there is no use denying, but there
 is great cause for affirming that the
 consumptive is peril unless he kno"e
 how to care for himself and is willing
 to take the trouble to do SO.
 But on the other hand, it's the con-
 sensus of opinion of the experts on tuberculosis, that those living with or
 associating with conscientious con
 sumptve who is careful in the disposai
 of his sputum and the prevention or
 droplet infection, germs coughed out Tn
 the Air, is as safe a person to assocla'e
 with as anybody else. Many persons
 have great fear of all consumptlves,
 but this is unreasonable, for it's only
 the careless ones who are a peril. It
 easy in fear of the disease to be rude,
 cruel and even inhumane. e These facts being true, it is essen tia1 that individuals, families and com munities be educated on the care and the treatment of those suffering "ith the dread disease. Tuberculosis mas spread itself through the whole, world
 In the warm tropics the people fall pe- fore it, and in the frost-bound regons of the earth it is well known It flhos it's way into the mansions of the rlcn and it enters at the cottages Of the poor. The Captain of the Men or Death" as the disease-producing germ has been named, fights from ambush. i He is no spectacular warrior like yell low fever, who strikes down his nun dreds and thousands and passes on. He stays in the fight all the time. A good way to beat the insidious
 destroyer of life is to consult physi-
 clan when you have any of the symp-
 toms, like a persistent cough or cold
 continued hoarseness, loss of weight
 and appetite, a rundown, tired feel-
 ing, persistent pain in the chest, after
 noon temperature. night sweats, or
 splitting of blood. It's good idea to
 have a doctor look you over at least ;f Al stperferf- = ly we'll" Tuberculosis dispensaries and associations everywhere give free advice to those unable to pay physi- clan.
 The Anti-Tuberculosis Association of Jefferson county, which is now ask ing for a budget of $6oooo to enlarge it's work, has on its staff at present four nurses looking after the hundreds of infected homes and known cases of tuberculosis monthly. It conducts a free tuberculosis clinic with four physicians weekly, making more than l 500 examinations yearly. It now seeks 1 to get the money to send help to the l isolated parts of the county in the 1 form of travelling dispensaries, with nurse and physician to teach the peo- pie how to care properly for them selves when attacked by consumption The old theory that consumption is ! hereditary has been disproved. It is now taught by the experts after years of study and experimentation that it is not inherited It may come by in- :! halation, breathing in the mouth or nose the germs from the sputum of a consumptive. Tuberculous persons cough and spit and sneeze, expelling millions of germs. which are carried 1 to others, thus spreading the disease l Or it may come through infected milk br food. These simple facts need to be drilled into the minds of all the people l. well and sick.
 1 While consumption is not hereditary l yet 1t is well to be on one's guard against the predisposing causes. It may | be in the environoment, and be brought on by bad living and working condi- tions, especially impure air, darkness dirt and dust. Personally it may be weakened physical condition. over work lack of proper food, dissipation l influenza colds, pneumonia, measles l typhoid, pleurisy, in fact any disease | that materially weakens the system | the greatest of all precautions is fresh 1 air. Live in it, and sleep in it, and eat l wholesome foods, and get enougt sleep.
 The budget of $500 asked for by l the Tuberculosis association is | not only to treat the cases already | developed, but to instruct the public ir ! better methods of preventing the 1 growth and the spread of the great white plague. Dy. Eaves and others ] are continually preaching the gospe 1 of pure air and better living condi- 1 tions. A great work is being done
 amonc.g the school children with thu ! cooperation of the teachers. Much
 helpful publicity is being derived l through the help of the churches ant l ways at it. Every means is being uset | to reach and educate the public.
 1 The campaign this week will stress l the fact that community work is ab
 solutely necessary in the fight agains ! the ravages of tuberculosis. It's wei 1 to know and to aid the National Tub l erculosis association; but merely t' l, buy the Tuberculosis Christmas seal! l and stop at that will be to fail. In aid | ing the Anti-Tuberculosis Association 1 of Jefferson county. we find our ''hom, 1 towns" chance. The average of al l communities shows that one death ir
 every 10 is due to tuberculosis. Thi l should arouse our Birmingham spiri to fight it hard.
 Let everybody get together for or | H. c.