46 



these surroundings unfavorable for the disease; but it takes a combined 

 effort, the individual is powerless. 



Malaria is disappearing because the conditions favorable for its exist- 

 ence are disappearing; the opposite is true of tuberculosis. Moreover, 

 quinine both prevents and cures malaria, and pure air prevents and cures 

 tuberculosis. Whisky and calomel were popular prescriptions for ma- 

 laria, neither cured; whisky and cod liver oil are popular prescriptions 

 for tuberculosis today, yet neither cure, neither singly nor combined. 



The administration of whisky, or of alcohol in any form, may be fol- 

 lowed by a sense of well-being in tuberculosis, and in dust infection gen- 

 erally, and that is the reason why alcoholic preparations are so popular 

 and so widely advertised as cures. But the sense of well-being is a false 

 sense of security ; to benumb the bod}' and reduce the pain, the pain by 

 which nature warns us, is poor treatment. As a matter of fact, alcohol is 

 still one of the great eliminators of the human race; if we are wise we will 

 avoid using it. 



Over fifty years ago one of the pioneer physicians of Eastern Indiana 

 wrote of the changes he had observed in his communitj' and in the State ; 

 he said: "Phthisis, pneumonia and bronchitis are believed to be on the 

 increase. Whether this is due, in any degree, to improved modes of living, 

 such as tight houses, the general use of stoves, a less constant exercise in 

 the open air, etc., it would be interesting to know." Today we know. Fifty 

 years ago conditions in Indiana were quite primitive compared with con- 

 ditions seen in our cities today, and yet the gradual increase of dust dis- 

 eases was being noticed. (Tuberculosis in Indiana, page 45.) 



(The chart of the evolution of different kinds of dust will explain it- 

 self.) (Dust chart, page 47.) 



Tuberculosis, known also as phthisis and consumption, is among us ; 

 it came in with other diseases ; it came in like some of the weeds of the 

 fields. How soon will we make any attempt to get rid of it? 



Our State Board of Health has been and is an important agent in dif- 

 fusing a knowledge of diseases and of disease prevention among our people, 

 and the recent establishment of laboratories for identifying diseases and 

 for testing the purity of foods and drinks is of the greatest importance. 



Physicians have been the prime movers in the establishment of these 

 evidences of civilization, but it has been a long fight. 



I am glad to see several papers on the program of our Academy this 

 year that bear on the subject of sanitation ; there have been some in the 



