Hickory daily record., 1922-11-11
TUBERCULOSIS IS
PERSISTENT
ENEMY

tuberculosis, Lung Trouble" "Con-
sumption" "Tb," Bronchial Trouble"
all of these names mean the same
thing, anmely: Pulmnary Tubercu-
losis. Now what is tuberculosis ? 1t is
long drawn out disease usually
affecting the lungs, produced by a
specific and single germ, called the
tubercle bacillus.
This one germ only can cause or
produce tuberculosis. This special
germ thrives at body temperature and
in devitalized parts of the body and
in the sense they are cowardly in
that they attack the weakest point.
Germs of all kinds, including this
tubercle bacillus, multiply just as do
all animals. They cannot come into
existence without parents any more
than can a cat or a dog. Some people
have the misconception that germs can
be spontaneously made in filth and
that they do not need to have mother
and father, but such belief is
absolutely false. However, since
germs multiply so very rapidly 1.-TWO
germs can produce five billion other
germs in twenty-four hours) it does
seem at times as if they just come
into existence without any parentage.
These tubercle bacilli are natural
lovers of decayed material which is
the reason why they at once begin
to produce ulcers in the lung when
they attack it. for this ulcerating
material is their natural food. Despite
the fact that they multiply so rapidly
they are almost as easily killed by
sunshine and fresh air. Too, it is very
easy to kill them by using carbolic
acid, but this is too strong to use
on or in living thing.
When inhaled into the lungs, which
is the commonest means of entering
the body, or when swallowed, the
tubercle bacilli Immediately begin to
multiply at the above mentioned rate.
unless the place where thev lodge is
strong. healthy and we'll. in which
case the, tubercle bacilli are soon
killed and do no harm at all to the
BODY. However. when these tubercle
bacilli do begin to multiply (after
landing in some weak place) they i'm
mediately begin to produce poison
which devitalizes each body cell it'll
touches and makes thereby more food
for the growing tubercle bacilli. This
infected point becomes in the course
of time so devitalized that it ulcer !
ates, which is the wav in which tuber-
culosis produces cavities in the lung. |
This only affords the increasing num-
ber of gems more desirable and
IDEAL place for growing strong and
faster. Before very many
Of these special germs are present
in any one place in the body they
produce (secrete) sufficient -poison,
Called toxin), to allow some of it to
he absorbed by the blood and carried
to all parts of the body, thereby
producing generalized poisoning of
every part of the body. Now the un-
fortunate individual begins to lose
his appetite and weight, have tenn
perature in the afternoon. have night
;weats and pleurisy, feel tired and
worn out all the time, and sooner or
ater begins to cough up this cheesy
matter that the tubercle bacilli have
PRODUCED by ulcernation in his lungs by
he destruction of his own body cells.
Later, this eroding by the tubercle
bacillus reaches a blood vessel and
t is bright red frothy blood which is
Flowing out of this eroded vessel
these tubercle bacilli land
n the kidney, the bladder, hip joint
he intestines, the throat and even
he brain and spinal cord. and here
hey begin their deadly work of multi
'lving and poisoning local parts and
ater the entire body.
1t is very important that you know
What circumstances and conditions
will produce these weakened points
n the body. First of all come those
onditions that we can control name
Y: poor breathing, which means i'm
roper ventilation of the lungs, indoor
wing, no fresh air at night, poor :
nd insufficient food. overwork, late
'ours and irregular habits. Secondly,
here are those weakened spots or
'oints remaining during or after some
ther disease or sickness, for example,
lnfluenz4, grippe, pneumonia. ade-
Malaria, typhoid. etc.
1t is more widely prevalent than
ny other disease. 1t is found in every
ountrv and every cline. There are
nOre soldiers who served in the war
ccount of tuberculosis than from
Wounds.
tuberculosis is a long drawn out
isease. 1t does not kill quickly likel
many other diseases. Smallpox either
ills the patient or the patient gets
veil in two or three weeks: tvnhoid
ever takes about three weeks. while
n diptheria the patient either dies
" recovers within week. Not so
With tuberculosis. Some estimate the
verage time that a patient is sick
nough with tuberculosis to be totally
ncapaciated as three yeaus. 1t is
kelly the average is longer than this
hence it is not only the most
revalent, but the most expensive of
ny disease.