The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-07-14
WHITE PLAGUE
 BEING BROUGHT
 UNDER CONTROL

.tTuberculosis, responsible for the death of more people than any other disease with the exceptions of heart disease and pneumonia, is now being brought more and more under con troll" Dr. William H. Coon. Health officer, declared in discussing the death rate for 1921. when 140 people died of the disease in Bridgeport.
 This may be given us a rate of eS deaths per 100000 people This rate is higher than in the years Of 1912, 1918 and 1914, when the death rate from tuberculosis averaged 75 to 93 persons for each 100000 peo- pie, but it is reassurinS to note that the rate is lower than any year sub
 Great Increase.
 "A phenomenal rise in the death rate from tuberculosis was noticed in 1915, not only in this city, but in every large city in the world. Despite the fact that more organizations and more organized effort was employed in the work of preventing and car ing for tuberculosis than ever before, the unusual conditions prevailing in humber of deaths
 The World War, the high speed at which every one worKed and lived in the years 1915 to 1920, the moving about. the unusual mental and physt- cal conditions. are all believed to be partly responsible for the tuberculo- sis rate which commenced to jump, until 1917, when it reached its high point of POP deaths, or 152 per eaed 100000 people
 The mortality rate is still decreas- ing and the figures for last year are about as low may be expected Tu- berculoSiS is a communicable disease caused by Tubercle Baccilus. It is probable, however, that it has been necessary for us to change our ideas as to the age at which the disease is contracted
 Symptoms Early
 The disease as a rule manlfests itself in early adult life, not because 1t has been contracted at that time, but because the influences of environ ment and social conditions at that time manifest themselves, break down the resistance of the individual and the disease gains a foothold-
 '1t is extremely probable that the majority of cases of tuberculosis are contracted. that it implanted, in early dium of milk supply or by contact with adults who have the disease.
 'The natural resistance of the in dividual protects him until that time when the influence of his surround ings break down the resistance The disease, itself, is largely an index of eocia1 conditions prevailing in the community.
 Tn those cities where the best conditions of sanitation prevail, where the best housing without overcrowd- ing exists, where the best conditions of labor. and where the milk SUD- ply is carefully protected, we natur- ally expect to ind the lowest tuber- cuiosis death rate
 Where the reverse of these con- diGons prevail, the cities unclean extra overcrowding in housing, poor conditions of labor, both as to wages and factory conditions, where the milk supply is poorly protested, there we expect to find, and do find, a higt tuberculosis death rate.
 Four Problems.
 'sThe problem then is first, contro city to a point where all of the best conditions of sanitation prevail, and in which the social condition of labor and work are as they should be- supply, so that the milk is obtained either from COWS known to be free from tuberculosis or by paSteuriza- 1ionf of the milk
 those persons who have the disease and by their carelessness and pro miscuous habits may transfer the disease to others
 people It can readily be seen tha the reduction of deaths from this dis ease or of persons Ill with it, de bends not on any one Particula' health measures
 '1The attempt to control the disease after 1t has become implanted, il commencing too late The Iarsel problem is one of education and per - sonal hygiene and of upbuilding th' health of each individual in the com munity, through all efforts which con tribute toward this end
 Here in Bridgeport we are work ing out our problem through a per fect1y defined program, not complet, by any means but none the less, wei -- defined and with full recognition O all the factors involved
 Possibly the most iInDorta mt meas ures now employed to prevent the ap pearance and spread of tuberculosi are those which are included in ou work in child hygiene
 Tn the meantime, we must not los sight of environmental influences, o the supreme importance of d. clea1 city, nor for a moment to relax in en forcement of those regulations whic will insure the people of Bridgeport supply of clean pure milk"
 Classic Dances