DK. J. W. POUCHEK, 263 



be allowed to marry, for should a consumptive and a 

 healthy person marry the latter is sure to become in- 

 fected sooner or later, and the children born of consump- 

 tives are always naturally predisposed to tuberculosis. 

 Thus the centers of infection are increased and the dan- 

 ger to society becomes much greater. No consumptives 

 should marry; and it is perfectly proper for science to 

 interfere and use all its influence to prevent such mar- 

 riages. Simple advice in snch a manner does little good, 

 as we all know. I once had quite an expensive experi- 

 ence of this kind. It happened several years ago while 

 I was practicing in a country town, A young man, a 

 patient of mine, came to me one day telling me that he 

 was engaged to mary a certain young lady, also a patient 

 of mine, and as he had some little suspicion that she was 

 not very healthy asked my opinion in the matter. I 

 thought it my duty to let hina know just how matters 

 stood, so I informed him that I considered his fiancee in 

 the first stage of consumption and advised him to tempo- 

 rize for at least a year. Instead of taking my advice he 

 confided it to his sweetheart, who resented what she con- 

 sidered "none of my business," and the result was that 

 my advice hastened instead of delaying the wedding, 

 and I lost two good families. In about a year the young 

 wife died of tuberculosis, leaving a? a legacy to her hus- 

 band the same disease, from which he has since died. 

 Now what can be done for those already infected and 

 suffering from tuberculosis? First, the disease must be 

 recognized by an early examination of sputum. The 

 earlier the disease is discoveied the more chance for im- 

 provement, or cure. The patient must early give up 

 any confining in-door occupation and seek outside em- 

 ployment, and if possible change of climate. There are 

 many locaUties much more favorable than otliers, and 

 above all things it is necessary to leave the city with its 

 vitiated atmosphere far behind. It seems to me almost 



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