FIGHTING CONSUMPTION.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 248, 2 August 1928, Page 1

FIGHTING CONSUMPTION.

MENACE OF TUBERCLE. A paper read ' by Dr. A. Bernstein, of Morrinsville, to a meeting at Hamilton under the auspices of the Workers* Educational Association and British Medical Association.

It is usually very unwise to talk of disease and the symptoms of disease to men who are not trained to the medical profession. They often immediately imagine that they are the victims of the disease under discussion. But in the case of consumption it is most important that every one should know the facts, in order to be able to defend himself against the disease, or if already infected by it, to help him to. keep fit after proper treatment, and to avoid infecting others.

As we learn about diseases it is found that many can be prevented. Some terrible diseases have almost ceased to exist, such as ships fever, whilst smallpox and scurvy' have almost been wiped out. Consumption is the most important of all diseases to fight, for it causes so many deaths, and is commonest between the ages of 20 and 50, at which time people are most free from other diseases and at which time they have great responsibilities in life. It is the money earning period of life, and the years of invalidism caused by tuberculosis are the chief cause of poverty. The disease is preventable, but it cannot be handled by the health authorities in the same way as scarlet fever or smallpox, because it is too common and the disease is of long duration. Each person must be taught how to meet the danger and how to protect himself against infection. If every'one will learn the simple hut important facts about tuberculosis, and the means of its prevention we would soon witness a marked decrease in the disease, and even in one generation there should be complete freedom from it.

Last year in New Zealand 1341 people died of cancer, but only 142 of these were under 45 years of age. In the same period 727 deaths occurred from tuberpulosis, but of these 533 were under 45 y'ears of age. 1318 cases were notified and 2275 were treated in public institutions. Probably' there are at least six thousand cases going about in the country'. In women, half of all the deaths between 15 and 25 y'ears of age are due to tubercle ; 40 per cent of all deaths of men between 20 and 30 are due to the same cause. We thus see that cancer is a disease of old age, while tubercle is a disease of the prime of life, when men have big responsibilities and families to support.

About one-tenth of the world’s population dies of tubercle, and a large number of persons who die of other disease are affected by the disease. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease and as such is preventable. In the early' stages patients can recover from it, so when the time comes that we are bettel- instructed in this disease and detect it early we can hope to wipe it out. In spite of the disease being so common it is d’fficult to detect early. It requires long experience. But if all suspected cases were examined in time by experts there would be a chance of good results.

Most cases arrive in sanatoria when they have been ill for years, when there is little chance of permanent recovery. This appalling delay, in recognition of the disease, and the delay in sending cases to the sanatorium till too late is a serious matter.

The reports of medical officers of health show that the majority of consumptives are only notified a few months before death, or even after death. As the average duration of the disease is some y'ears, this sad discrepancy requires explanation. Is the law being defied, or is the disease not diagnosed till near the end ?

Many have the idea that the patient should not be told that he has the disease. This is highly reprehensible, both for the sake of the patient and for the sake of the many' he infects. We should see that every consumptive should be told in simple, clear language the nature of his disease and how to avoid spreading the infection. ( -- .n

We must realise at once that a diagnosis of early tubercle requires skill and a long, careful examination. When a patient has hectic fever, cough, wasting, blood-spitting, night-sweats and marked signs of damage to the lungs it is very easy to diagnose the disease, but it is too late to get the best result with the patient.

We do not wait in a case of appendicitis till an abcess is formed, or peritonitis sets in before we operate. We do not wait to see if the disease will settle down, as it would do in most cases. We wisely do not take such risks, but advise immediate operation. Tubercle, on the other hand, when it has once begun to assert itself will rarely settle down of its own accord, or with the advice that is frequently given. The disease is slow, insidious and long drawn out so doctor and patient are easily deceived as to progress. When the disease is diagnosed as early as appendicitis and treated early in sanatoria we can hope for its disappearance. (To be Continued).