The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-04-01

there, multiply, and develop tubercu-
lous tissue; as a rule these tubercu-
lous glands cause no symptoms what
ever and instead produce a beneficial
reaction, giving us a partial immuni-
~ against the more virulent human
type of bacillus that commonly at
lacks the lungs. A few even go so
far therefore as to argue that tuber-
culous milk is really a blessing in dis
guise to the human race. Perhaps it
would be a blessing if we could regu-
late the dose so that we would never
have more than a very minute dose,
but as this is impossible / think it far
safer TO continue the excellent work
inaugurated by the late DR.. Norgaard
in the Islands in the line of eradicat-
ing tuberculous cows from our dairies.
This natural method of vaccinating
by way of drinking infected milk is
too dangerous; but it suggests that
possibly some day an immunity may
be artificially produced by the injec-
ton of very weak strains of tubercle
bacilli.
Destroying the Germs
tuberculosis of the lungs is nearly
always caused by the human type of
bacillus; this bacillus is sometimes
found in focal eXcreta, but, practical
ly speaking, We may think of it as
being only in sputum from t~uberculous
patients. The subject of sputum is
IN exceedingly disagreeable. almost
nauseating, one TO think about, but
we must, face disagreeable things if
we are TO make Roadway against this
disease. 1t is tragic that the infective
material for the spread of this dis
ease should be such a disgusting sub
stance as sputum; the tragedy m
home to the patient when he observes
that others are prone to avoid him
often he is cruelty ostracised-and
tragic from the standpoint of public
health because one of the most i'm
portant measures to control this dis
ease-many would say the most m
portant measures the destruction
of the sputum before it has had time
to dry and become suspended in the
atmosphere, and this cannot be done
unless patients and eX-patients carry
with them, wherever they go,
sputum cups (made of paper and
carried in the pocket and these cups
should be destroyed by fire or steril-
lied by boiling. The moist, fresh,
sputum need not be feared, for bac-
terra do not arise from moist surfaces
it is when it has dried that it is dan
gerous. The carrying out OF this
measure sounds easy, but, in prac-
tice, is extremely difficult. Many
patients are ignorant and careless,
and even after the training they get
in q Sa|nitorium, go forth and eX-
Dectorate wherever they please; but
the main difficulty m from the
public itself. a patient leaves a SAM
torium with the right spirit; wherever
he goes he carries his cup. What is
the result? He has advertised the
fact that he has tuberculosis, and al
though by the use of the cup he is
practically of no menace whatever 20
the community, yet the public, whom
he is trying to protect, Immediately
avoids him; he is ~obstracised The
patient, being human, cannot stand
this obstracism, and so he resorts to
methods of concealment such as TX
p%ectordting into a handkerchief-a
nasty and dangerous procedure. New
er be afraid to associate with a
patient or eX-patient who properly dis
poses of lbs sputum (f he has any.
It is perfectly safe to live in the same
house with such a person, with the
eception that young children, say I'M
der five years of age, should be dis
barred. This is where the Maui pub
lie can help or hinder this work; wei
come the patient who carries his cup;
ostracize the patient who does not