CONTAGIOUS DISEASES 301 



quickly sought, and his instructions are carefully 

 obeyed. But there is a contagious disease far more 

 common, to which but little heed is often given until 

 too late. This disease, tuberculosis of the lungs, com- 

 monly called consumption, is so fatal throughout the 

 civilized world that it is often spoken of as " The Great 

 White Plague." Statistics show that about twelve 

 deaths out of every hundred occurring in the United 

 States result from this disease. In New York State 

 during the year 1899, the deaths from consumption 

 alone were thirteen thousand four hundred twelve, 

 while the total number from smallpox, typhoid fever, 

 diphtheria, croup, measles, and whooping-cough was 

 only six thousand seven hundred eighty-three. These 

 figures unquestionably show the terrible danger from 

 "The Great White Plague" and why our bodies 

 should be more carefully guarded against it. 



The following information concerning this greatest 

 body destroyer may help in protecting our bodies from 

 its ravages. While there is a type called quick or gallop- 

 ing consumption, which develops with great rapidity 

 and often ends fatally in a comparatively short time, 

 this form is not common. In the great majority of 

 cases the progress of the disease is slow, lasting for 

 months or years, and, along with the periods of tem- 

 porary improvement, there is, without proper care, 

 gradual progress to a fatal issue. As we have learned, 

 the bacilli must have got their start at a time when 

 the body's vitality was lowered because of some 



