Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-03-01
County Tuberculosis Association.

Forming Of the Lower Rock island County
tuberculosis association is one OF the most
promising steps ever taken for improvement
Of health in the community. The survey it is
proposed to take under the auspices OF this
organization should furnish data Of inestimsble
value and be the beginning Of campaign OF
education which will reach all classes and con-
ditions of people. Education is by far the
most important feature OF the work.
People have learned a great deal about
tuberculosis in the last generation. Only 30
years ago it was generally supposed that one
attacked by the disease was doomed. Since
everybody, even the patients themselves, acted
upon that assumption, usually it was borne out
Most persons know better now, but even ~,
ignorance remains the greatest obstacle in
fighting the disease, which still accounts for
one death out Of every four between the ages
Of IA and 49, Symptoms are still too little
understood and too frequently disregarded and
there remains pronounced tendency to avoid
meeting conditions frankly and adequately.
Too often methods of prevention are postponed
till too late.
The first thing for the county association
and to impress them with the vital necessity
OF an immediate examination by an expert in
tuberculosis and the prompt beginning of such
treatment as may be prescribed Those who
are in the earlier stages of the disease have
very little to fear if they faithfully follow the
| course that any competent authority will lay
| down for them. They should know that delays
are dangerous and often fatal. From the mo-
| ment one discovers that he has an active case
| OF tuberculosis there is just one business he
| can safely follow. and that is the business of
| fighting it. Nothing must be permitted to in
terfere or 1t is almost useless to start Neither
| is it worth while to follow the rules till there
| is apparent improvement and then go hack to
1 former habits. Only the physician is compe-
| tent to say when patient may safely resume
his regular occupation, and even physicians
must have some special knowledge on the
subject to speak with authority. When in
doubt. always give the disease the benefit.
Not every medical practitioner has sufficient
| experience with tuberculosis to detect the ear
lier symptoms. Too often, even after the case
is correctly diagnosed, the physician hesitates
to reveal to the patient his true condition The
| CSAlupdl6H vi eUuCdtiou uldy we'll Do eAleUOeO
to doctors to secure their cooperation in meet
ing the objects Of the association.
Generally it is easy enough to interest the
person who recognizes his affliction in a study
of methods of treatment and to inspire hope
and determination. Getting people who are
sound and well impressed with the Importance
OF preventive measures is much more difficult.
Here the new association will need to put forth
its best efforts, to reach and impress all classes
II it can bring everybody to understand that
the tubercular bacilli are everywhere, that nine
out of ten persons have them either active OF
walled up somewhere in their systems ready
to break out at favorable time, and that &C.
tive tuberculosis is simply the result Of physi-
cal bankruptcy, it will have performed great
service to the community.
Promptly, courageously and consistently
dealt WITH tuberculosis is less to be dreaded
than any one of a score Of other human all.
: ments. Those who live with reasonable re.
gard for natural laws Will seldom contract Il
and there are few early cases which nature, Il
given free hand, under favorable conditions
| will not cure.