New Ulm review., 1921-12-28
CHARACTER AND TUBERcU-
LoSIS.

S1ANASl EN AMI - AO0EsNAO-8
LoSIS. 81
The character Of an indiii'vi dual as a.
factofr III the chance Of avoiding active
tuberculosis or of arresting its progress
if he has contracted it, is one Of the
most important considerations in
meeting the menace 81 this disease
which aflicts million people in an
active state in this country today and
was was responsible for 1872 1000 deaths
during the past year. The germs fof
tuberculosis are Rerywhere and in
many cases The infant and child cam
not escape infection. Whether this in
fection ri,pens into disease, depends to
4 large extent upon the habits Of living
which the child acquires as he grows
older. 81
Right habits Of living, whether to
avoid development Of the disease or as
means Of arresting its progress Il the
case Of an adult, are the basis of
cure. . It has been pointed out that
there is no disease in the treatment Of
which more depends upon the hearty
cooperation Of the patient in following
the advice 81 the physician. Any
body who has tried it, knows the
strength Of characte required to re-
adjust one's habits to conform with the
rules which experience has shown are
necessary for recovery.
Defects Of character not only make
a man more Liable to contract or de-
yeIop tuberculosis, but also make It
hard for him to be restored to health
hard FOR him to BE restored to health
when he gets It.
of jethese defects, self-indnlgence
comes tirst ii. the iist. AZ man who.
lackssseG control IN hiissF habits of life
IS almost certain to come TO grief in
Some isomer va va and it IS very likely to be in
the way of tuberculosis. To be sure
this self-indulgence may be merely an
excess Of work, but even this is bad for
almost everybody, or it may be an
excess Of play-too much dancing, too
much theatre going, too much running
about In frantic effort to amuse one
self. ,.s. ..s.
It is not alone such generally under
stood forms as self-indulgence in food
and drink which can break down the
powers of resistance to the ever
present menance Of the germs of tuber-
culosis. For example, the young
woman who works all day and studies
all night in order to get ahead in the
world is in many cases as self-indulgent
as the profigate. In either case, the
penalty must surely be paid in some
form or other, only too often in the
case Of tuberculosis.
Another defective characteristic to
be guarded against is lack Of stability.
person thus afflicted is not likely to
stick to any good habits long enough
to benefit by them. He may be
thoroughly convinced Of the need of
outdoor exercise, proper diet, sufficient
sleep and the avoidance Of smoking.
He may, and very likely will, en-
thusiastically start such a program to
repair his falling health. But he will
not be able to keep up the good work,
and here again, defective characteris-
tic may in the long run literally prove
fatal. "a, I.
It is evident that cultivation Of will
power by its exercise is an essential in
building up health, either to resist
tuberculosis OF to arrest its develop
ment. But Will-power and strength Of
resolution must be supported by
patience, for the ''cure" is not brief
process. Yet, if a man stop to think
how long it took him to get his diges-
ton, for example, is thoroughly OUT
Of order or his circulation so poor, OF
his muscles 50 weak; if Ne stops to
think how long the germs Of tuber-
culosis have been working in his lungs,
he will realize that the cure Of many Of
these conditions must necessarily be
almost as long a matter at best. !
luAnybody WHO visits a tuberculosis
sanatorium for Tie first time is i'm
pressed by the GENERAL air. Of cheerful
nessgand optimism. This is evidence
I nf tha fa ~ that Y,atiaTfs wh serio11slv