The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-18
TUBERCULOSIS IN SCHOOL CHILDREN

In the course of six years the Massachusetts health authorities have tested 10000 school children In 253 cities and towns for tubercu- loss, by means of the skin test (Pirquet.) More than one-fourth of all these children reacted; l that is, they have what is now known the childhood type of tuberculosis, in lymph nodes behind the lungs or even in the lung fields, but 1t is latent or inactive and in most instances
 remains so For instance among all these thousands of children who reacted to the Pir- quet skin test only one out of every thousand | In grade school was found to have active tuber- culosis of the lungs. and six out of every | thousand in high school.
 The Pirquet test is made by scratching the skin slightly and rubbing in minute qunatity of tubercuin. If the person so tested has any culosis anywhere in the body characteristic whoeal or hive-ike reddening of the side of the test will appear within two three days If the individual Is free of tuberculosis no re-
 action occurs. This test is not quite so delicate as the tuberculin test made by injectin a min
 ute quantity of tuberculin into (not under) the ! skin but 1t detects the majority of cases. When a child reacts 10 the Pirquet test, the
 next step is an x-ray picture of the chest.
 the deep trachea1 or bronchial lymph nodes or
 any infltration in the lung itself.
 If the x-ray film shows such signs, the child should be given very careful physical exam
 ination and if the examination reveals any
 signs or symptoms of disease, then the child
 should be kept under medical observation till the diagnosis is cleared up. 1 It is fallacy to think that child develop ing active tuberculosis is likely to be under WelgnL or what uOcLOrS call poorly n0ur1Shed.
 Only few underweight children have tuber-
 cuolsis; as rule the child with tuberculosis
 is not noticeably undernourished.
 sign of some smouldering infection, though not necessarily tuberculosis, is palpable enlargement of lymph-nodes in the neck. in
 the grain, and just inside the elbow, or per- haps in the armpits.
 This plan of tuberculin- testing all the chill dren in school is a good one, for 1t enables us to pick out the children who are more likely to have active tuberculosis in youth early SuDerViSiOn and good hygiene. For instance, such a child must be very carefully kept from family or social contact with any one have active tuberculosis, as he or she is almost certain to succumb to
 such supernfection where child without lat
 ent or childhood tuberculosis probably could
 withstand such exposure. *. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS The Sizzic Is a FIxzle I am starting course of cabinet baths for
 reduction. I have been told Turkish baths are
 more cfficacious, but can one stand two Turk
 ish baths n week? (sfiss A. l.. M.) N Answer-You'n have more success if you
 take just one two English baths week and
 miles of oxygen on the hoof every afternoon.
 You cant reduce flesh by bathing. Any tenn
 porary loss of weight from sweat bath is due to the weight of water lost in sweat. This is beverage in food Send your name and ad- dress 8 stamped envelope, mention your
 age height and weight, and ask for reduction advice. promise no advice unless believe the correspondent should reduce.
 Expcctant Mothers Teeth
 am looking forward to the birth of my first baby. | have two cavities which | fear may cause trouble latcr but would 1t be safe t0 baye them filled now? (Mrs Y. III. H.l | Answer--Certainly an expectant mother | should have any necessary dental work done without delay. If there arises question of any
 operation, her physician should be present
 Send a stamped envelope bearing your address and ask for instructions on the Preservation of
 the Teeth and Instruction for Prospective ! Mother.