Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-05-10
op.vs AtA Q On SO ~

4 w 49, Y Uh NO
DIAGNOSE TUBERCULOSIS EARL,
tuberculosis Is still taking an en-
ormous toll OF lives in this country
especially among the young. 1t de
strOys young people each yeal
than any other disease. 1t also "exacts
OF its survivors a bitter price In terms
OF productive years lost, thwarted
ambitions and incomplete achieve
ment."
A considerable number OF college
students develop tuberculosis. 1t
often ruins their careers, sends them
to bed. perhaps for years, or ends In
early deaths. Many OF these cases
doubtless had the disease In child
hood, Ii 1t had been discovered then,
and the proper treatment instituted,
most of them would have been saved
the anguish, suffering, expense, loss
OF time and early death.
Why do SO many children and
young people suffer from tuberculo-
sis? First, because they are brought
into contaet with the germs in nu-
merous ways and do not possess the
means or wisdom with which to pro-
tect themselves against them.
Many little children are living In
homes where there are sufferers from
the disease who are careless and ig-H
norant- They take a few or no pre-
cautions, the children sit or crawl
over infected furniture or floors and
get the germs on their clothing and
hands, from which they are conveyed
to the nose and mouth. They also In
hale the dried sputum In which many
live baciii still survive. 1t Is known
that they live a long time out OF the
body.
Then too. they eat from dishes that
the tubercular ones have infected. 1t
is a common practice among the care
less and ignorant to use common
drinking utensils. wash clothes and
towels. In this way great numbers OF
bacteria are passed along to others.
Sometimes adults who are really suf-
fering from tuberculosis are not
aware Of it, but think that they have
indigestion. heart or liver trouble, or
some other condition. Little children
and babies are frequently the victims
of the kissing habit on the part oil
kNoRIC Il SuOQiG huON Q0telI. |
Contaminated food and milk from
tubercular cows Is another source Oh
the disease In children.
The mortality among girls, even
under the best methods OF treatment.
Is high, this car be partly accounted
for by the fact that the reducing fad
has amounted to almost an Obsession
young girls. They do not give /
sufficient rest. Frequent
~ afternoon work, social activities,
together with insufficient sleep. sap
their vitality, SO that they not only
fell prey to the dread disease. but
are often far advanced before the
is discovered.
Young people should not only have.
latent strength, which can be relied
upon to tide them over unexpected
stresses and strains, but foods should
be stored In their tissues with which
combat acute diseases or virulent
germs that may attack them. When
they live on reducing diets thev cheat
their bodies of this protection: hence
are but poorly prepared to fight the
InTOads of tuberculosis or any other
infection.
There are methods for making an
early diagnosis OF tuberculosis. that
should be a routine in all
schools. II this were done nearly
every case could be detected in time
TO save much suffering. expense and
many lives.
ITO be cOntinund1