To prevent the spread of tuberculosis it is necessary first 



of all to destroy the germs discharged TT ~ 



t *u tu c *• & ,HowtoPre- 



from the mouths ot consumptives; and ... 



, . ... F ,j vent the Spread 



second, to pasteurize the milk ot all cows . _ . . . 

 . ; . i r ■<• n of Tuberculosis 



not certamlv known to be tree trom the T - .. 

 .. ' Infection 



disease. 



The careless consumptive is a great danger to his family 

 and associates, but one who is always careful to destroy his 

 sputum and to avoid coughing out mouth spray into the air 

 need not be a menace to the health and life of others. The 

 consumptive should always cough into a cloth or handker- 

 chief, or a paper napkin, which can be burned, and all sputum 

 should be received in paper cups and burned at the end of the 

 day. If handkerchiefs are used, they should not be put into a 

 laundrj' bag or basket with other soiled linen, but should be 

 boiled for twenty minutes in a strong soapsuds solution. 



Tuberculosis is a disease in which vital resistance plays a 



specially important part. The germ is un- v . - p . 



fortunately very common; in fact, almost 



,. ., , , . . « ,., tance agamst 



every individual, sooner or later, is slightly „, , , . 

 . . \ , ... .. ' toJ Tuberculosis 



intected with it. 



This does not mean that every man has tuberculosis, in 

 the sense of suffering from actual disease. The human body 

 has a wonderful power of defending itself against this in- 

 vader, and a few germs entering a healthy body are quickly 

 overcome. It is when a great many germs are taken in, and 

 particularly when the strength is reduced by attacks of other 

 diseases, or when resistance is lowered by intemperate habits, 

 by living and working in overheated rooms, by eating insuf- 

 ficient food, or by breathing sharp dust particles, that the 

 invisible enemy overcomes the defenses of the body. France 

 has today some 500,000 cases of tuberculosis to care for 

 because of the deadly effects of the strain of trench life 

 upon soldiers who, in a time of crisis, had to be sent to 

 the front whether they were in full physical health or 

 not. 



43 



