458 Our Surroundings 



Diseases and Their Treatment. 



Tuberculosis. Since tuberculosis is a preventable disease, 

 it behooves every person to avoid as far as possible the conditions 

 that favor its development. The essential condition for acquiring 

 the disease is, of course, taking the germ into the body. It may 

 enter the body through the mouth, the nose, or a wound. It may 

 be in the food that is eaten, in the air that is breathed, or in 

 the air that enters a wound. Once it secures a foothold in the 

 lungs or other tissues of the body, it multiplies very rapidly under 

 favorable conditions, and the bacilli, as the germs are called, may 

 be carried by the blood current throughout the body. These 

 produce a toxin or poison which is exceedingly harmful. This 

 will not happen, however, if the body is in robust condition. Only 

 when it is in a state of lowered vitality, "run down," as we say, 

 are the germs able to thrive. 



Tuberculosis may be contracted from tubercular excretions 

 which are thrown into the air in coughing and into the street in 

 spitting. Or it may be taken by kissing tubercular people or by 

 using their eating utensils without sterilizing them. In general, 

 foul air, dark rooms, damp surroundings, overcrowding, as in tene- 

 ments, lack of sunshine combined with low altitude and other 

 unsanitary conditions, are potent factors in the spreading of this 

 disease. 



Those ill with tuberculosis may themselves do much to pre- 

 vent the spread of the disease by care in disposing of their sputum. 

 It should be passed from the mouth into receptacles that may 

 immediately be thrown into the fire. As the germs of the disease 

 may be in the systems of people apparently well, it is unsanitary 

 to sneeze or cough in a public place without covering the mouth 

 or nose with a handkerchief, or to spit on the street. In some 

 cities signs give warning that a fine will be imposed on any indi- 

 vidual guilty of spitting on the sidewalk. 



Cure of Tuberculosis. Although tuberculosis exists in nearly 

 all parts of the world and is easily taken by persons in a weakened 

 condition, it is not impossible to cure it if steps are taken in time. 

 In the treatment of the disease an abundant supply of fresh air 

 and nutritious food are indispensable to the patient. Plenty of 



