Milford chronicle., 1925-07-17

OlQ age.
Disease Not Inherited
Tuberculosis is not inherited"
said DR.. Phillips. 'It is acquired by
inhaling or ingesting the germs and
allowing them to flourish in our
body. Ninety per cent of us are in
fected by the time we are 21, but in
only one or two per cent do the
germs flourish, multiply and produce
tuberculosis. The reason all do not
develop tuberculosis is that the
germs do not survive in the healthy
body or in person who keeps up
his resistance by getting the proper
amount of rest, fresh air and good
food. This class constitutes the vast
majority of those who, being infect
ed, never suffer from tuberculosis
while others who allow their health
to become impaired by long work.
ing hours, insufficient rest, poor
food are the ones who develop tu-
berculosis and constitute the one or
two per cent"
DR.. Phillips was asked how to sus-
pect tuberculosis and he said:
Coughing or splitting of blood,
pleurisy without known cause, grad
ual loss Of weight, cough or cold
lasting over one month, unusual
sense of fatigue or WEAKNESS, unac-
countable hoarseness, loss of appe-
tite and indigestion, sweating at
night"
DR.. Phillips was emphatic about
the possibility Of curing the disease
if it is detected and measures taken
in time.
Can Be Cured If Taken In Time
early and light cases of tubercu-
losis are curable," he said, "the ear
lier and milder they are the more
easily and frequently are they cured.
More advanced cases with careful
and prolonged treatment yield a
good percentage Of recoveries. How
ever bad the outlook, patients
should not give up hope but should
start in at once to make the best
fight they can. In all cases the pros
peet of getting well depends largely
upon the patient, on the early rec
Ognition of the disease and upon the
grit and determination of the pa
tient to carry out the necessary
treatment.
There is no medicine which of it.
self will cure tuberculosis. Therefore
all sO-called cures should be avoid
ed if the health is valued and you
take no medicine other than that
prescribed by the family physician.
"There is no known climate
which of itself will cure tuberculos-
is as a patient can be cured just as
easily and readily in Delaware as by
going west. 1t is reliably estimated
that thousands of tubercular persons
without funds, go to the west or
southwest every year. Practically all
have the mistaken idea that climate
alone will cure tuberculosis"
DR.. Phillips then went on to de-
scribe the care that should be taxi
en- in and about the home and loom
of a tuberculosis victim. In continu--
ing to speak about the home treat
ment he said:
Sleep In The Open Necessary
"Sleep out of doors or under con-
ditions as nearly as possible, like
out Of doors, is very essential TO the
treatment of tuberculosis. No one
need be afraid of night~air, all out
door air is good whether it is sea
or mountain air, city or country air,
the air of pine woods, or that Of
plains.
I'm winter wooden bed slippers,
heavy flannel night clothes and per-
haps a soft cap may be needed, but
with little experience, one can
sleep warm in the coolest weather
even in the northern states. The
windows should be wide open, sum-
mer and winter, day and night; not
only at night, but also by day the
patient should live in the open air,
either at rest, sitting or reclining or
taking light exercise as the doctor
directs.
"Try to get the best and most
nourishing food possible, as much
meat as can be afforded and cat
meat at least once a day preferablyi
boiled or roasted unless otherwise
ordered by the physician. 1t is far
D6ILGI " 6ctJ WndJ yOu 4OAA65 AOA NAetA
to try and stick to a routine sched-
ule of foods unless the food is dis
tinctly harmful. Make the food as
appetizing as possible as a good |
cook can help far more in building
up a patient than all the rules and
regulations on the proper diet. Live |
on a mixed diet. There should be as
little as possible Of greasy and fried |
foods; eat sparingly of sweets and |
pastries; no alcoholic drinks of any |
kind; between meals there may be |
allowed a light lunch comprising of
milk and biscuits, eggnog or some |
form of punch but non-alcOholic."
Summary of Home Treatment
In summing up the treatment DR..
urged the following rules:
"Follow only the physicians ad-
vice. Take no medicine unless pre-
scribed by the doctor. No alcoholic
drinks Of any kind. Remember that
everything which is not expressly al
lowed is forbidden. No exercise if
over SO or pulse over
Sc. No exercise for half IN hour be-
fore or following meal. No exer-
else if sputum is bloody. No exercise
If you are losing weight,
crest in bed always when temper
ature is 100 or over. Be out of doors
Is much as possible, even if confined ]