The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1920-02-04
dire AcuE| TOLD
tuberculosis Responsible for I'm.
fmense Death List.
without Doubt the Greatest Menace 70
the Health and Prosperity Of the
Country Today-How Il May
-n.s Be Combated. Z. as:.5 i

What. is the grayest menace to the
lives, health and prosperity Of the
American people today2
Ask this question Of a 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 incon-
trovertible figures, is: 4...sa.i.. ID
tuberculosis. -,.4 ~, go ~:
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 segin-
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
ind labor, during one year has been
estimated ut $500, 600, 900 from tubercu-
losls alone. During the present year
the loss win unquestionably be larger,
unless something Is done on q 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
IRE aware Of the, feet,r On this basis
It has been estimated that not less
than 1000, Q0Os persons and probably
more than, 1900 900. have tuber,ccu ~ y.
in this country at, the present time. "a
In larger sense, moreover. every
precaution taken against tuberculosis
reduces the danger from all ether dis
eases and makes for the health and
happiness of everybody. For the fight
against tuberculosis is 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 haye been established
as 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 affiliated with. the United States
Tuberculosis association, which was
founded in 1904. AS d result OF this
co-ordinated work it Is, estimated that +
there has, been an, average saving At
10000 lives annually In this country iqqptryF7
llyes which wolld otherwise have been
sacrificed etla White Plqgqe; d
a. The great problem In, tuheraulesisl "a
to keep the. germ from the childruAl
of us, are born free of ituberculosi
matter whether our parents hadatt or
not. Those Of usewhO aregaftiiGssd
with tuberculosis have nacquire4a tt--
have taken the .bacilli into our bodies
lat omettimes after birth. 3strssEs 2:
The problem is simple. for Hsevesy
person afflicted with tuberculosis Were
aware of the fact--which most of them
are not-and if 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 tile 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 he cured or arrested.
Yet simple as the problem is. it is null
tiplied to gigantic, proportions by the
million er more c3.ses, and twithA per
cent Of the population lot the capHtry!
properly claskifeA as attilctA Win gu.
only the most vide ersa!d
and intensive education can serve to
make shsat ssa'uss the 'ta dis ss