Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-02-19
DIRE PLAGUE TOLL
tuberculosis Responsible for I'M
menSe Death List.
Without Doubt the Greatest Menace 70
the Health and Prosperity Of the
Country Today-How II May
Be Combated.

What is the gravest menace 10 the
lives, health and prosperity of the
American people today?
Ask this question of dozen Ameri-
cans, and your answers might be as
varied as the political shades of opln-
ion or personal hobbies of the indl-
vlduals. Always providing, of course,
that the group contains no physicians.
For the correct answer, such as any
medical man can establish by incon-
trovertble figures, is:
tuberculosis.
I'm 1915 tuberculosis killed 10000
persons in The United States Probably
1919 has claimed more, rather than
less lives, for somewhat belated re-
suits of the strain of military service
among men and the eXertions of war
work among women are already begin
ming TO become apparent in the devel-
opment of tuberculosis among persons
I'm whom the hacll had perhaps long
been DORMANT.
The Joss 20 the United States, in life
and labor. during one year has been
estimated at $500 100000 from tubercu-
loSi~ alone. During the present year
the loss will unquestionably be larger,
unless something is done on greater
scale than ever before 70 stay the
progress of this disease, which Is both
preventable and durable. Yet for
every person who dies from tubercu-
f,,lt oil who
have the disease. whether or not they
are aware of the fact. ON this basis
II has been estimated that not less
than 100000 persons, and probably
more than 100000. have tuberculosis
in this country at the present time.
In larger sense. moreover. every
precautlon taken against tuberculosis
reduces the danger from all o;her dis
eases and makes for the health and
happiness of everybody For the fight
against tuberculosis is a fight for I'M
proved housing and working condi-
lions. for higher standard of personal
hygiene. for proper rest, good food
fresh air and sunshine available To all.
These conditions have been established
as the most effective preventive of the
disease
The fight against tuberculosis has
been carried on i'm an organized form
I'm this country since 1898. Today no
less than 1000 state and local societies
are affiliated with the United States
/ Tuberculosis association, which was
founded i'm 1904. As a result of this
co-ordnatcd work it is estimated that
there has been an average saving of
10000 lives annually in this country
lives which would otherwise have been
sacrificed To the White Plague.
The great problem in tuberculosis Is
to keep the germ from the child. All
+ Of us are born free Of tuberculosis. no
matter whether our parents had ii or
not. Those of MS who are afflicted
with tuberculosis have acquired it
have taken the bacilli into our bodies
at some time after birth.
The problem is simple for if every
person afflicted with tuberculosis were
aware of the fact-which most of then
are not-and if he would obey the sim
ple rules against the distribution OF
the bacilli by careless splitting Oh
coughing the most common method ol
producing new cases of infection
would be stopped at the source. witt
new cases almost eliminated, the eX
listing cases could be treated by tho
tried and proven formula of good food
sunlight. fresh air and rest with the
assurance that the vast majority o
these cases would be cured or arrested
Yet simple as the problem is, it is muI
tiplied to gigantic proportions by the
million or more cases, and with pc
cent Of the population of the country
properly classified as afflicted with III
berculosis only the most widespread
and intensive education can serve Il
make headway against the disease.