Vol. 60, 1909 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

300 THE CHARLOTTE MEDICAL JOURNAL. I
married state hastens the progress as well have yet been discovered. When properly |j
as the spread of the disease. If we wish to compounded they can be administer- i
be sure of success in our fight, we must use ed iiite?-7ially, externally, as well as by ||
some strategy and diplomacy in searching forced inhalation. With these two ger- ji
out and capturing the victims who are the micidal weapons and a bounteous supadvance
agents in the spread of this deadly ply of pure, fresh air and ivholcsome -i
infection. These should be caught if possi- food, any ordinary case in the incipient]
ble while in the incipient stage and placed stage should be arrested within twelve |
in sanatoriums where they can be treated weeks. Teach him the use of the thermom- j
;
,
scientificall until cured. Eighty per cent eter, that he may keep a record of his most i
of all cases in this stage, who have fairly important symptoms, reporting same at I
good constitutions, can be cured. In the regular intervals, and to avoid taking ac- >
other more advanced stages of the disease,
the victims should not only be captured,
live exercise when his
above 100°.
temperature is at or
j
but quarantined under the same restrictions In short, give hiui a full set of specific I
that govern other contagious diseases, such rules and regulations in type-written fonni;
as scarlet fever, diphtheria, etc none , of to follow, and instruct him to itupart these
which is comparable in death-spreading lo his friends and acquaintances who may
qualities to pulmonary tuberculosis. The be victims of the same disease. We should
question naturally arises, can these plans
be carried into effect? Have we a right to
also educate the immediate relatives and
j
friends of the patient, as well as the general 1.5
curtail the privileges and rights of our fellow-man
along these lines? And is it hupublic,
along the lines of hygiene and sail-. |]
itation. The starting place toward educa-J
mane to thus cut off from the social world, ting the masses is in the public schools.!
those unfortunate people of our own woof
and blood? These are the greatest as well as
One week in every three months should be \
devoted exclusively to the study of hygiene i
most far-reaching questions to answer in
lining up our forces for the battle that is
now approaching.
and sanitation, in adPitiou to these studies i
in the regular curriculum, requiring each \
teacher to prepare a special course to be h
As previously mentioned, without a full taught to all the pupils, both small and :;
supply of strategy and diplomacy, these
plans cannot become effective, notwithstanding
all the combined forces of the
large, during these special weeks. The 1
teachers should also require the pupils to <
recite to their parents the same lessons on -,
medical profession, backed by the govern- hygiene and sanitation that they recite to
|
ments of the respective nations of the entire them, and in this way educate parents as :
world. The three most important essen- well as children on these important sub- j
;
\
tials in this
diplomacy.
fight are education, means and jects, preparing
Education is necessary for the years war."
them as if for a "thirty
The playgrounds should be
victims of the disease, for the general pub- carefully selected and the
'•
importance of
lie, and for those who are expected to do open air exercise impressed upon each pupil {
the fighting. Educate the consumptive by of the school. These principles should, j
telling him first of his real condition, and also be taught from the rostrum and the j
then teach him to co-operate in arresting pulpit by men fitted for this purpose. Ed- j
his disease and preventing the spread of ucatiou as previously mentioned is only one'
his infection to his fellow man. Teach him of the main essentials toward the preventhe
laws of self preservation, habits of tion and extermination of this dread dis-J
cleanliness, personal hygiene, and how to ease. The next important essential is the
avoid taking cold, and to live an out-of door means hy vihich to establish sanatoria for
in suitable weather, both day and night, the three classes of patients who are victims
wearing suitable apparel for body warmth, of this disease in its three respective stages,
to take tepid and friction baths, to regulate There should be in each county or city ol
a diet that will sustain and nourish all the 50,000 inhabitants, three sanatoria: one foT
organs of the body, and to keep the secre- those who have tuberculosis in the incipient
tions and excretions in as normal a condi- stage, and are curable; one for those whc
tion as possible, avoiding all things and in- have the dise.ise in the second stage with a
fluences of a deleterious or depressing char- possible chance of arresting it, and one foi
acter, and seeking those influences the third or incurable stage,
that are elevating and of a cheerful Where it is feasible, several counties 01
nature, administering only such medi- cities might combine funds and establish
cines
toms
as are indicated by
'of each individual
the symp- these sanatoria under a joint corporation
case. We These sanatoria should be established bj
have in Guaiocol and Iodine, with their the stale governments, assisted by the na
respective derivatives, two of the best lued- tional governments, hence the importance'^
c iiies for the treatment of this disease, that legislation ! Let the medical profession |j
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