Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1926-04-14
TUBERCULOSIS CLINIC APRIL
z2ND.

MISS Lllla IA. nSSCOCk. Hcl0 nurse
for the West Virginia tuberculosis
Association, was in town recently
comforting with physicians and Off
GERS of the county tuberculosis or
ganization regarding the local pro-
gram for which the Christmas Health
Seal money is used.
Arrangements are being made for
holding clinics at the Community
House, Thursday. April %, 1925.
for the examination of persons who
have some of the early symptoms of
tuberculosis and have not vet sought
medical advice. Applicants will be
examined by DIR. Henry G. Wildman.
a specialist in diseases of the lungs.
DR.. Wildman has been employed for
this service by the state tuberculosis
sanatorium and the state tubercu-
losis association.
Applications for examination
should be made to Miss Elizabeth
Hall, Community nurse. As only for
ty persons can be examined at the
clinic appointments should be re-
auested at once. so that those most
in need of examination will be sure
of receiving attention.
The clinics are financed partly by
the state and partly by Christmas
Seal money. No fees are collected
from the persons examined The SER
vice is rendered as a part of an edu-
cational health program to demon
strate the need of early diagnosis
and proper treatment for the cure
and prevention of tuberculosis.
The majority of persons wait un-
til the disease becomes far advanced
before they seek treatment. By that
time physical conditions are often
too unfavorable for recovery. For
these reasons tuberculosis has caused
greater distress in family life than
any other disease. The most SER
ious phase of the problem is that
more people die of tuberculosis
during the ages from Is TO IA years
than at any other period.
tuberculosis is developed usually
from germ infection during child
hood. Practically every person is
infected. but only those become sick.
whose physical condition has become
impaired by other diseases. bad per-
sonal habits or insanitary environ
ment. A careful medical examine
ton is the only way of finding out
whether the lungs are in good con-
dition and what ought to be done to
repair them if any damage has been
done.
These clinics are free and the SER
vice is provided from the money
raised in this county by the sale of
Christmas health seals. the nation
wide emblem of the great organized
campaign being waged against tuber-
culosis.
DR.. Wildman was for ten years
medical director of the Lake Forest
tuberculosis Sanatorium at Chicago.
an institution having a capacity for
700 patients. He has been appoint
ed to the staff of the State Tuber-
culosis Sanatorium at Hopemont for
field work under the direction of the
State tuberculosis Association.
tuberculosis may be cured if dis
covered and put under treatment
during the early stages of the dis
ease. tuberculosis is not inherited
as many people still believe Neither
is it necessary for the tuberculosis
sick to go to another climate. The
disease is being cured in West Vir-
ginia.
These clinics are being conducted
throughout the state for the purpose
of finding the disease in the incipient
stages when it responds most readily
to treatment. Children and adults,
who have been. or now are living in
close contact with tuberculous per-
sons, and anyone, who has any of
the early symptoms. are invited to
make arrangements for an examina-
ton by DIR. Wildman. No person
now being treated by a physician
will be examined at the clinic unless
the consent of such physician is first
obtained by the applicant.
1t is only by very careful medi-
cal examination that tuberculosis can
be detected in the early stages.
Symptoms of the disease are loss of
weight, poor appetite, run down
tired feeliTg. persistent cough and
hoarseness. persistent pains in chest,
afternoon fever, night sweats,
streaks of blood in the sputum.
ANY of these symptoms should
lead person to seek the advice of a
physician. Most persons wait until
their condition is well advanced be-
fore they seek treatment. Delay is
dangerous. When tuberculosis is
diagnosed and treated early 80 per
cent. of the persons recover. If
treatment is delayed until the dis
ease has reached the advanced stage
only about 2 pr cent. are restored to
health.