p. 127 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 8. (3/3/1914)

Treatment of Tuberculosis

By Martha N. Canfield, M.D.

Rational Measures in the Home — Often Better than Change of Climate

By MARTHA N. CANFIELD, M.D.

THE laboratory reports have confirmed the doctor's fears — father's sputum contains the tubercular germ. What now? Of course the good man has been working with might and main to pay for the home, and to give Mary her music, and John his chance at college, and has forgotten himself. No vacation, hardly a holiday, only work, work, work, in a dingy, ill-ventilated little office! A few months ago the children were ill for several weeks, and he acted as night nurse to save more expense; and of course, when attacked with grip, he was unable to recover well.

We have all heard this story, and have seen the pathetic setting forth from home in search of the lost treasure, health. The golden West is fabled to hold it for us — Colorado, Arizona, California, New Mexico, etc. Somewhere it is hiding, and we must find it. Let us stand for a moment in the ports of entry and study the arrivals. Here is a young man who has had that unusual termination of pneumonia called empyema, or abscess of the lungs. A portion of the rib has been resected and the lung properly drained. He arrived at our sanitarium from a hotel in the city, and we were obliged to return him to the same place, as we had no arrangements suitable to care for these cases. I remember that the surgeon with whom I saw this patient remarked with fervor as we left the room, "It is a crime to send a man like that away from home." He had come from Ohio to the West in this condition.

Another case was that of a young woman affected with tuberculosis, whose parents had wandered from place to place in search of health. Hers was then what is known as an arrested case of tuberculosis. Incidentally we learned these facts, when called to see the aged and feeble mother, who now needed medical attention and the care that could best be bestowed in the sanitarium. But the parents were reduced to penury by their migrations for the daughter.

While my sojourn in the West covered only a few years, the cases I saw of this malady, which claims its millions annually, made a deep impression; and I am glad to see the movement toward intelligent home care of our tubercular patients.

"The angel sought so far away, We welcome at our door."

Thus Whittier sang in "My Psalm," and so may the ones sing who are suffering of tuberculosis. It is outdoors they need, combined with good food and good nursing. How much more conducive to recovery it is to fix a tent or a sleeping porch at home for our patient, and keep him thus outdoors, dressed like an Eskimo if necessary, to brave the Eastern winter, but outdoors, in bed if he has a temperature, and quiet, at least until the temperature subsides. This measure, with good food from the home table, with feedings of milk if necessary between the meals, the cheerful atmosphere of home, and the kind home folks about, is better than desolation in a strange land for a patient doomed perhaps anyway.

Thorough isolation may be maintained right at home. In the tent or in the sleeping porch, the patient may be taught to co-operate with you. The dishes, dish-cloth, napkins, towels, etc., should be used only by the patient. The sputum should be burned quickly, never allowed to dry out and thus become a menace to others; and the mouth should be covered while coughing. No flies should be permitted in the tent, which should be thoroughly screened in summer; no carpets, curtains, nor bric-a-brac. Sunshine, air, rest, and freedom from anxiety — want of these was the chief factor in the etiology of the disease, and they are the remedies to be used in its cure. Observing these regulations makes it safe and possible for friends to visit the patient, provided that all kissing is left out.

THE FRIEND OF GOD

By Max Hill

By MAX HILL

"AND he was called the friend of God"— O name of love benign! For Abraham with God had walked, And knew the love divine. The friend of God, for Abraham Knew how a friend to be To lowly ones beneath his care— Had learned God's will to see. And ev'ry humble child of God May be His friend to-day, If, like the patriarch of old, He turns no soul away. For He who fills eternity, Will yet with man abide, If when He comes and gently knocks, He finds the heart-door wide. Lord, come within my heart to-day, And teach me how to be A friend to all within my reach, As Thou art friend to me.

Are We Old at Fifty?

By Adelaide D. Wellman

Much Depends on the Way We Take Hold of Life—The Best Part of Life Should Be from Fifty Onward

By ADELAIDE D. WELLMAN

IN many a junk heap may be found dry electric batteries that have been discarded as beyond any usefulness, whereas a jar of water, a cent's worth of sal ammoniac, and a few knife thrusts would make of almost any one of them a good wet battery.

Likewise many men and women are assigned to the industrial junk heap, because of being incapacitated for their former work, though with the energy and application that are demanded of young people, they could surpass them in numerous lines.

Almost to weariness we hear elderly persons tell of the opportunities of youth, but to very young persons mature life seems the time of opportunity. It would be well if the order were reversed—if, while young people realized that their early years hold special advantages, men and women of advanced age would comprehend the advantages that they possess over their juniors.

A progressive person of fifty years is to the one of twenty what a full-bearing orchard is to a nursery row. Let us list some of the gains of middle life:

More wisdom in health conservation, which frequently offsets any constitutional ailments that may have come with the years.
More enlightened judgment in all one's affairs.
Greater concentration and perseverance.
A calmer philosophy in meeting reverses.

Almost more pitiable than a wasted youth is the spiritless resignation of the middle-aged or the aged to mere retrogression, when they should be energetically advancing. Doubtless a man of threescore could hardly compete with one of half or a third his age, in athletics. Nor would he be wise to attempt it. But the feats for which the young are better adapted are not the whole of human attainment.

Sojourner Truth once exclaimed to me, referring to a group of women seventy or eighty years old: "O, no, honey, they're not old! But I am beginning to get old." She was then about a hundred and five.

True, there are men and women who are old at fifty—and at forty—and at thirty— I would almost say, at twenty—yes, old people hardly out of their teens.

None grow old quicker than those who shun responsibility or exertion, and resign themselves to uselessness. They need to be charged with the vitalizing power of genuine Christian zeal and courage and hopefulness. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."

Fie, you who would be classed as superannuated at fifty or sixty! "Broken in health," do you say? Yet think of the numerous persons who, despite ill health, and age, and mayhap lack of early training, are yet blessing the world by their efforts.

All despise the slovenly tenant who allows the premises he occupies to become "run down" near the end of his lease. Let us not permit ourselves to become "run down" in mind, in speech, in bearing, or in any sense. We can not always withstand death, but we can withstand degeneration.

Suffering Wrongfully for Christ

By Peter

THIS is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.—Peter.

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A Blessing or a Curse

THE doom of a man to hard labor was part of the original curse; but in man's fallen state, the curse is turned into a blessing. Habits of industry are essential alike to physical and mental health, and are the basis of all social progress. Wherever a mild climate and the spontaneous production of nature make regular toil unnecessary, there civilization languishes, and mental development is dwarfed. But a barren soil, a cold climate, and unpropitious sky, develop physical energy, and strong character, and great mental achievements. New England owes its intellectual and moral activity, not to the Anglo-Saxon race alone, but to the inhospitable climate which has compelled its children to hard toil.

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CONDITIONS PRODUCE UNUSUAL LAWS

By L. A. R.

We have a striking illustration of this attempt to enact extreme laws, in some of the proposed legislation to control immigration. As says a note in the New York Evening Post: "The sciences are booming in Washington. Geography is being written anew by congressmen who are reconstructing the boundaries of Asia. Astonishing contributions to anthropology are being made by representatives of the American Federation of Labor, whose scent for racial distinctions is nothing short of marvelous. New principles of economics are embodied in bills providing for an international sliding wage-scale test."

We are told that Secretary Wilson has one of the simplest of tests with regard to barring aliens. His test is a body weight and a stature which must be met in order to be admitted to the United States. The Evening Post ironically says: "By prescribing a minimum height of five feet four inches, the country is safeguarded against undesirable aliens of a stature so dangerous as that of Napoleon Bonaparte." There are other plans, such as limiting the number of immigrants admissible in a year, to a certain percentage of the number of their compatriots already in the United States.

Another congressman has introduced a bill providing for an economic test whereby no adult male immigrant would be admitted unless he had already received wages amounting to a certain per cent of those prevailing for the same labor in this country. Some maintain that aliens should not be admitted who can not pass the physical tests required of recruits for the United States army.

Speaking of the Hindu in this connection, the Brooklyn Eagle argues: "Now there is plenty of work in this country for persons who are not born to be soldiers or physically fitted to be soldiers. The Hindu, according to all reports, can work, is willing to work, and is a peaceful, decent element wherever he goes. But he is not a labor-unionist, and Secretary Wilson is."

Thus men struggle with the difficulties in the world to-day. These difficulties will increase; and just as Jesus prophesied, so will it come true that there will be, just before His appearing, "distress of nations, with perplexity." Luke 21:25. As we have said before, it is a sign of the times.

L. A. R.

A World Federation

IN a recent address in Boston, Hamilton Holt, the editor of the Independent, had for his subject “The Federation of the World.” He expressed the sentiment that in this lies the success of the great modern peace movement. He advocated the calling of a third Hague conference, and that one of the first steps looking toward universal peace be to put into practical effect Winston Churchill’s suggestion of a naval holiday. The idea of a world federation is coming more and more prominently to the front. It is suggested in both political and religious circles. There is no question but that it will be one of the accomplishments of the near future; and when it is finished, it will be both a political and a religious federation, with the religious element in the ascendancy.

Most Protestant commentators are still agreed in saying that the beast power spoken of in the first part of the thirteenth chapter of Revelation refers to the papacy, which was the great ecclesiastical despotism of the Middle Ages. The world has been educated into the idea that religious bigotry, religious intolerance, and religious despotism are things of the past; but this prophecy in the thirteenth of Revelation, speaking of the papal head, not only calls attention to the deadly wound that it received, but immediately informs us that this wound was to be healed.

Most literally did the papal power receive a deadly wound through the great work of the Reformation, and many people fondly hoped that that power would never be restored. But this prophecy has been saying, all these years, that the deadly wound would be healed; and not only so, but we have the strikingly significant words, that “all the world wondered after the beast,” and again, that “all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear.”

In the seventeenth chapter of Revelation, the kings of the earth—the civil power—are considered in this great last-day federation, and of them it is said that “these have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.”

There are conditions growing up in the world that baffle the strongest minds. The papacy will step to the front, claiming to be the only power that can handle the complex situation and the turbulent difficulties that have been produced in the world. She is making and will continue to make the claim that these perplexing conditions have been produced because she was dethroned, and finally the whole world will fall in line with her.

The political world is now afraid of her. There is not a nation on earth, not even excepting the United States, but that reckons with her power; and many decisions are made contrary to the best judgment of those who are acting, and all because of the fear of giving offense to Rome. The world is headed strongly toward a great universal religious despotism, and of course all religious despotisms must ride into power and maintain their supremacy through dominating the state as well as the church.

To men who ignore the word of God, this world confederacy will appear as the only solution of present-day problems. But there stands the word of the divine Book pointing out the whole thing, and men who will study the Book can see it clearly, and when all is accomplished, and the great climax is reached at the second coming of Christ, with what chagrin will men see that they have turned aside the clearest light that divine love and divine foreknowledge could present!

A Desperate Situation — Attempts to Cure It by Law

ONE of the most marked signs of the times to-day is a plain necessity for some sort of control over society — humanity in general, we may say. It shows itself from every possible aspect. Crime is so great and insistent, and so impudent, that it must be held in check by iron-clad laws. The regard for life is so slight that the driver of an automobile must watch every session of the state legislature to learn of some new "Thou shalt" or "Thou shalt not." The great business interests of the country must be guarded, set around, controlled by law. This shows that self-control is perishing from the earth, and that legislatures, seeing the threatening inroads of anarchy and confusion, are attempting to stay the tide.

THE REAL CAUSE OF THE LAWLESSNESS

By Editor

We do not criticize this desire to bring about law and order, but we call attention to it because it is due to a fault that lies deeper than any law can reach. Thousands have thrown aside the claims and authority of God and of His law; and as a consequence, they eventually disregard every claim and every law. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people; and it is transgression of the law of God, it is a turning aside from the authority of the Word, it is a refusal to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, the one great means by which men may attain to self-control, that is bringing this awful influx of anarchy and rebellion.

The attempt to make laws to govern the earth is going to strange extremes these days, and as we have said, it is a sign of the times, because of the reason that lies behind it.

Note

By Editor

PACKAGES are received at this office every now and then, containing back numbers of the Review and Herald, the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and the Lake Union Herald. The intention of the sender evidently is that these papers shall be used in missionary work; but it would save twice paying postage if he would send these direct to some one of the names that are published from time to time in the SIGNS, of those desiring papers for missionary work. Also, the local and union conference periodicals are not desirable for missionary work. Such papers as the SIGNS OF THE TIMES weekly and Magazine, Watchman, Life and Health, Youth’s Instructor, Bible Training School, Protestant, Liberty, etc., are very useful for missionary work; but our church and conference papers, which deal with matters of interest only to those within our organization, are not desirable. All copies should be clean, and postage prepaid.

Pacific Union Conference and Institute

By Editor

Our Pacific Union Conference will convene in Oakland on March 10. It is hoped that the business part of our conference will be out of the way by the 13th of the month, and immediately following the work of the conference a workers' and ministerial institute will begin, continuing until the evening of the 22d. Elders A. G. Daniells, president of the General Conference; I. H. Evans, president of the North American Division Conference; W. A. Spicer, secretary of the General Conference; W. T. Knox, treasurer of the General Conference; G. B. Thompson, secretary of the North American Division Conference; and possibly a number of other brethren from the general field, will be present to lend their influence and helpfulness to the meeting.

State Funds for Parochial Schools

By J. O. C.

FROM continued appeals by the American Roman Church for government support of their parochial school work, one would almost conclude this country to be the only theater of such a propaganda. But a glance at the news columns of foreign dailies reveals that the same demand for state recognition of religious teaching is made in all quarters where it has not yet been obtained. An item in a late Melbourne Age shows that the conflict in that distant country, on this particular aspect, has become sharply irritating, to say the least.

In the heated debate of the question there, the president of the Protestant Defense Association for Australia charges that the Roman Church is insincere in its declaration that Roman Catholics are not in politics. Quoting from a speech by the Catholic Dr. Mannix, in which he made the statement referred to, Mr. Gainford, the aforesaid president, said that after making it, the priest "in the very next few words advised his young men, as Roman Catholics, to forsake their political parties and vote for the demands of the priesthood." In other words, every Roman Catholic was asked to "place the welfare of the papal system before the welfare of the state, that gives him or her the privilege to vote at all."

From the controversy there, it seems that the Roman Church in Australia, as in America, looks forward to success for its demands through its church federation efforts, whereby it expects to capture the "treasury benches" in the interests of Roman Church institutions. Mr. Gainford, seeing this, warns the commonwealth electorate to keep their eyes open to duty at the polls, in view of the seriousness of the situation.

This movement of the Roman Church for political power is in no wise a local issue. Like Napoleon I, its eyes are on world subjugation. But should this, or any approach to it, be secured, the horrors of the Dark Ages would quickly follow. Of this trend of affairs, the people of America seem, partially at least, to have lost power of perception, while indulging their taste for selfish ease. The awakening, however, is sure to come sooner or later, and to some will likely be one of sorrow and distress. J. O. C.

Confucianism as China’s State Religion

By Editor

The administrative council of China in January adopted Confucianism as the state religion. President Yuan Shih Kai, who urged the measure—indeed, who practically forced it through by his personal authority—assigned as a reason, that the morals of the nation have declined, and he hopes that the establishing of Confucianism as the state religion will check this degradation. It is suggested that this action on the part of China need not bring dismay to Christian missionaries, for the reason that its significance is in the main political. China is passing through many revolutions and upheavals, social, political, and religious, and what the future has in store must be largely a matter of conjecture. But regardless of all these disquieting conditions, it is encouraging to observe the success that our missionaries are having in that land, despite the contrary efforts of the powers of darkness.

FIRST AEROPLANE IN JERUSALEM Photograph by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y.