The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1920-01-02
Dire PLAGUE TOLL
tuberculosis Responsible for Int
mense Death List.
Without Doubt tho Greatest Menace to
the Health and Prosperity Of the
Country Today-How 1t May
Be Combated.

What Is the gravest menace to the
lives. health and prosperity of the
American people today?
Ask this question Of q dozen Ameri-
cans, and your answers might be as
varied as the political shades Of opin-
ion or personal hobbies Of the indi-
viduals. Always providing, Of course.
that the group contains no physicians.
For the correct answer, such as any
medical man can establish by fncon-
trovertible figures, Is:
tuberculosis.
In 1918 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
In whom the bacilli had perhaps long
been dormant.
The loss to the United States, in life
and labor, during one year has been
estimated at $500, ,0O0, 900 from tubercu-
1osis alone. During the present year
the loss will unquestionably be larger,
unless something is done on greater
scale than ever before to stay the
progress of this disease, which is both
preventable and durable. Yet for
every person who dies from tubercu-
losis there are eight other persons who
have the disease, whether or not they
are aware of the fact On this basis
It has been estimated that not less
than 100000 persons, and probably
more than 100000, have tuberculosis
in this country at the present time.
In a larger sense, moreover, every
precaution taken against tuberculosis
reduces the danger from all other 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-
tons, for higher standard Of personal
hygiene, for proper rest, good food.
fresh air and sunshine available to all.
These conditions have been established
rs the most effective preventive Of the
disease.
The fight against tuberculosis has
been carried on in an organized form
in this country since 1895. Today no
less than 1000 state and local societies
are afiliated with the United States
Tuberculosis association, which was
founded in 1904. As result Of this
co-ordinated 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 1t or
not. Those of us 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 II every
person afflicted with tuberculosis were
aware of the fact-which most Of them
are not-and II he would obey the SIM
ple rules against the distribution of
the bacilli by careless splitting Or
coughing, the most common method of
producing new cases Of infection
would be stopped at the source. With
new cases almost eliminated. the ex-
listing cases could be treated by the
tried and proven formula Of good food,
sunlight, fresh air and rest. with the
assurance that the vast majority OF
these cases would be cured or arrested
Yet simple as the problem Is. 1t is mul'
tiplied to gigantic proportions by the
million or more cases. and with l pc,
cent Of the population Of the country
properly classified rs afflicted with tu'
berculosis only the most widespread
and intensive education can serve to
make headway against the disease.