The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-11-28

questions Of general interest
only, and then only through
bis column.
TO further the sale of the Christmas
seals of the National tuberculosis
Association in their campaign
against the disease, a campaign
which | have pointed out in pre-
vious articles is we'll on its way to
successful eradication of this en-
envy, | shall discuss three of these
changed ideas, viz. (1) we now be-
lieve that tuberculosis is a condi-
ton of lifelong duration in most
instances, acquired in childhood;
(2l we now believe the X-ray is the
most valuable agent in diagnosis;
and (3) the treatment and rehabil-
itation of tuberculosis patients
must be carried out by more active
procedures than those formerly
used.
Childhood tuberculosis
To discuss the first of these to-
day let US look at the problem Of
childhood tuberculosis. Tubercu-
losis is acquired in the vast ma
jority of cases in childhood. If a
person has lived to the age of 20
without having acquired tubercu-
losis the chances of his getting it
are a fraction of one per cent, and
then he has to live in an environ
ment filled with it, such as being
an attendant in a tuberculosis
sanitarium.
The child acquires tuberculosis
either from infected milk from
tuberculous cattle, or from an
other person. The chances of ac-
curing it from milk, at least in
this country have been reduced to
a minimum. In over 80 per cent of
cases the child acquires it from an
other member Of its family Whom
nobody has ever suspected Of hay
ing tuberculosis.
20 II there is one thing about which
our opinions have not changed one
iota in the field of tuberculosis it
is that in the early stages and
often until the very end it does not
force itself on the victims con-
seriousness. There is no pain, often,
indeed, he feels particularly we'll
All the significant signs are ex-
planned on some other basis-the
cough is a winter cough or from
sinuses, the uuderiCeight is due to
the nervous tension personality, Il
came from thin ancestry" ETC., etc.
Such a person-the father or
mother, older brother or aunt
sits around a family for years and
no one even suspects the real con-
dition.
Inspection Of Child
In close contact with child, the
child early becomes infected. 1t is
not a pleasant subject to speak or
hear about, but it is the best argu-
ment for the case-fnding cam
paign known.
tuberculosis in a child is even
more silent than in the average
adult. 1t is an entirely different
disease from what it turns into in
adult life. It does not affect the
lungs first, but the lymph nodes,
especially in the neck and at the
roots of the lungs. The child may
be nervous, may fail to gain
weight, may be little off in color,
may have a few kernels in the
neck, may seem unduly tired in the
evening, may have a cough with
no sputum-but all these are vague
and doting parents explain them
away. II they ever took such n
child's temperature it would be
found to be elevated slightly every
afternoon and that is one Of the
most valuable confrmatory tests
that can be made.
All this is an argument for the
regular examination of children
by the family doctor or the family
children's doctor. Because it is just
at this stage and these ages that
treatment is most effective and the
whole subsequent tragic course Of
the disease can be prevented. 1t is
seldom necessary even to remove
the child from school. A daily rest
period, or sometimes continuous
rest for a few weeks, fresh air.
plenty Of good food, old fashioned
cod liver oil are all valuable. But
the most important thing is for
the family to know what it is up
against.