The Washington times., 1937-05-03
TUBERCULOSIS
PREVENTION
WAR URGED
By MRS. ERNEST r. GRANT

By MRS. ERNEST r. GRANT
Managing Director. District of Columbia
Tuberculosis Association
tuberculosis killed IS children
under five years Of age in the Dis
trict Of Columbia in 1886. During
that same period Of time this dis
ease killed six children between
the ages of five and nine, is
children between the ages Of 10
and IA years, and AZ young per-
sons between the ages Of is and
10 years,
The foundation for the solution
Of this menace to the young peo-
pie of our community is a wider
dissemination of accurate knowl-
edge Of tuberculosis.
The cooperation Of the parents
in the home is imperative. School
physicians, teachers and nurses
should be taught modern concepts
of tuberculosis. Hygiene courses in
the schools and colleges should be
planned to interest the pupils in
tuberculosis as an individual and
community problem.
Means Of Prevention
Add to this an active program OF
tuberculosis testing and X-raying
in our schools and colleges, to-
gether with a close follow-up on
all infected children and we have
at our disposal the means neces-
sary to save the terrific toll which
tuberculosis takes in the "teen
age" group.
If, when tuberculosis attacked,
it instantly killed a child, then
most of us would have a greater
appreciation of the need OF re-
lentless action. But many times
years pass after a child has been
exposed to this communicable dis
ease before the patient sickenS and
dies.
In the majority of cases, tuber-
culosis in children is not the
frankly apparent disease found in
adults. Frequently a careful
examination of the chest may give
no abnormal physical signs. 1t is
only when the X-ray is employed
and skin tests are given that tuber-
culosis can be positively diagnosed.
It is difficult to associate death
with the early stages of tuber-
culosis, yet this disease continues
to be one Of mans deadliest and
cruelest enemies. 1t attacks from
numerous sources and in various
unsuspected ways. One of the
many avenues of communicability
is the unsupported carrier of tuber-
culosis.
Is Your Home Safe
Is your home safe from tuber-
culosis-you who live Serenely and
happily in what you believe to be
wholesome healthful surround
ing? Your immediate reply Is,
Yes, yes-Of course my home is
safe" The question slightly
irritates you and you prove how
safe your home is by checking all
the fun d a m en- a l safeguards,
which include:
An annual physical eXani-
nation by your family physician.
2. Correction of all remediable
physical defects.
3. Long hours Of rest (early to
bed).
4. Your sleeping rooms are
well-ventilated-in fact your en-
tire home is properly ventilated
and not over-heated.
S. Your children drink milk
every day. They eat green
vegetables even spinach.
6. You live in harmony and
peace.
What more can one do to pro-
tect ones home" you ask. and
again you are slightly irritated
that anyone should presume to
q:estion the safety of your home.
But no home is safe from this
communicable disease until every
home is safe. What assurance
have you that your domestic en-
ployes are free from tuberculosis?
That they come from homes that
are free from the Great White
Plague? The nurse who comes
in closest contact with your baby,
who fondleS and sometimes cares
ses her small charge-the cook
who handles your food-do these
employees come from homes where
there is an active open case of
tuberculosis?
Carriers dangerous
Every person who has this dis
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