The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-07-15

MS column.
active tuberculosis in the general
population. We had, il is true,
few reliable methods Of detecting
tuberculosis in the early stages
during the examination of re-
cruits at that time. But the
strenuous and arduous physical
exercises which soldiers have to go
through rapidly broke down draft
ees who mad been passed by the
examining boards and we found,
and still have evidence, in our
military hospitals OF the tremen-
dous extent Of unsupported tuber-
culosls in the community.
The second thing We learned
was that the methods Of examina-
ton ordinarily employed were in
adequate 10 detect the early or
latent case. These methods were
primarily the use OF the stetho-
scope, percussion, and the exam
nation Of the sputum for tuoercle
bacilli.
Not Revealed by Stethoseope
Many soldiers were passed by
the examining boards simply be-
cause the involvement OF the lungs
lay too deep to be revealed by the
stethoscope and since then We nave
learned the astonishing fact that
II Is easier to recover tubercle
bacilli from the stomach contents
than from the sputum.
In the years that have passed
the great advance in diagnosis has
been the use of the X-ray. and all
the draftees in the present army
have been examined by this
method. Roughly, SO per cent OF
those who nave any trace of tuber-
culosis are detected and returned
home for treatment. | have seen
one or two cases in army hospitals
of draftees VINO have broken down
under the discipline of drill, but
this is nothing compared to the
number we had in World War |.
Since early detection and early
treatment are the key to cure,
and cure under these circum-
stances is possible, the situation
j. greatly improved from a prac-
teal standpoint.
Another aspect Of tuberculosis
in war is the possibility Of an in
crease in tuberculosis all over the
world. For the 80 years up TO
1917 there had been a steady de-
cline in the incidence of tubercu-
losis. In Great Britain tubercu-
losis increased s per cent in the
first year of World War l, and
10 per cent in the second. From
1920 TO 1887 the incidence of tu-
berculosis and the death rate in
all civilized countries continued
IT'S downward trend. But n num-
Der OF factors are operating to
put it on the upgrade again. One
is the universal breakdown in
food supplies.
tuberculosis May Increase
Tuberculosis is.a disease Of lack
OF nutrition. In the Americas and
in Great Britain this cause will
probably not operate, but heaven
only knows what will happen to
the peoples on the continent Of
Europe. Another factor is the
crowding and close personal con-
tact in air raid shelters and also
in periods Of population move
ment and distress.
Eternal vigilance is the price
of freedom from tuberculosis. The
decline Of the disease in the last
century mas tended in some quar-
tiers TO a false sense of security.
But as a Canadian writer says,
"A disease that kills nearly 5000
OF the population, leaves at least
10000 incapacitated, and costs
the country directly at least
$4,000 900 annually, is still for
midable enemy and a ma or health
problem"
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A. n. B.: Please write about
tachycardia, the cause, and cure,
etc. II the pulse goes up to 100
and it can be returned 10 normal
BY pressure on the neck, what
does this mean?
Answer: TachycsrdiS is simply
a symptom. 1t means rapid pulse.
There is the tachycardia Of fear,
of golter, Of heart disease, etc.
Pressure on the carotid sinus in
the neck sometimes stops it. When
this occurs we assume the tachy-
cardia was caused by functional
disturbance Of the carotid sinus.