Hello. I'm True Christmas Spirit. Every year at this time, I hover near earth, observing the Christian world. That's what I'm doing now. What is all that down there? Oh, I know. It's Christmas decorations strung across the streets and atop the buildings. Sure, I remember. . . . they're the same ones that were used last year. Heavens, look at the people! There are so many of them rushing about, and with so many packages! They needn't buy so much. Now I see where the children are. There is a Santa Claus in every department store!
Well, I may as well leave now. I've seen enough. Everything this Christmas is just as it was last Christmas, and the one before that. Every year I come in search of something, but every year I go away
disappointed. I had hoped once again
PREXIE - - CRABBER CLASH TONIGHT
CANDLESTICK MAKERS. Art Club members Jane Webster and Kenny Morgan learn the art of candle-making in preparation for the group's sale of holiday candles. See related story on page 4.
SIGNS OF THE SEASON. SCA president Wayne Sykes and STUDENT feature editor Pam Saunders admire the neatly wrapped packages displayed by various homerooms under the school Christmas tree in the cafeteria.
SWING IT SANTA! Freshmen Cindi Stokes and Peggy Griesbach, B203, prepare bulletin board in their room for school Christmas board contest.
MUSIC TO FILL HOLIDAY ASSEMBLY
Strawn Accepts College Position
by ARLENE BECKER
After teaching at WWHS for ten years, history teacher William Strawn ;will resign as of January 30 to assume duties as head of the physical edu- cational department at Lee College in Jackson, Kentucky next fall.
Strawn plans to complete work on his masters degree in education at the University of Kentucky next summer by attending both spring and summer semester of 1967. A fellowship from Lee College will enable him to complete the work.
In addition to his work as phys-ed. department head, he will coach the Lee College basketball squad and i teach one course in geology.
Immediately after graduation from Western Kentucky Uni- versity in 1957, Strawn, a gridiron standout for his alma mater, had a tryout with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. An injury prevented him from making the team.
Strawn has done previous graduate work at the College of William and Mary. He was line coach of the WWHS football team until 1960 and had been head track coach during the 1958-59 seasons. He also sponsored the Geography Club.
Seniors Honored With Certificates For Perfect AQE
Seniors Thomas H. Fuller, Jr. and Thomas M. Williams, Jr. were awarded certificates of achieve- ment last month for making per- fect scores on the U. S. Air Force Qualifying Examination (AQE), given earlier this fall to all WWHS seniors.
The four part examination is given annually by the Air Force at high schools throughout the nation.
"The AQE is regarded highly by Portsmouth school officials," an Air Force spokesman said.
School officials said that perfect scores on all sections of the AQE are "very unusual." The four areas included in the AQE are administration, electronics, general ability, and mechanics.
Li'1 Abner Comedy Set For January
Li'1 Abner, a musical comedy based on characters created by comic strip artist Al Capp, will be produced as a joint effort by the WWHS Chorus and Dramatics Club January 13, 8:15 p.m., in T. A. Willett Auditorium.
The WWHS orchestra will provide the music and Mrs. Mary Jo Brady, drama club advisor, will direct the production. The cast for the play had not been named at press time.
The comedy takes place in Dog-patch, U. S. A. Among the colorful characters are Li'1 Abner, Daisy Mae, Pappy andMammy Yokum, Marrying Sam, and Earthquake McGoon.
The story itself deals with the inhabitants who attempt to save their birthplace and their annual "Sadie Hawkins Day".
THE INTELLIGENTSIA LINEUP. Eight Wilsonites named to the school scholastic team line up to pose for the STUDENT photographer. Left to right, they are Bill Boyd, Rosalind Rivin, Pam Moody, Linda Jarman, Mike Rowe, Barbara Eason, Marlene Ackerman, and Kathy Dawson.
Dawson Heads Eight
On Scholastic Team
Senior Kathy Dawson heads a list of eight students, two from each class, who have been selected by the guidance department to represent WWHS on the Tidewater Scholastic Team.
Other winners of the Wilson section of the team besides Kathy are senior Marlene Ackerman; juniors, Barbara Eason and Mike Rowe; sophomores Linda Jarman, and Pamela Moody; and freshmen, Bill Boyd and Rosalind Rivin.
This event is sponsored bi-annually by the Norfolk-Portsmouth Ledger-Star. It was conceived by the publisher and the editors of the newspaper to give scholastic achievement
the recognition "appropriate to its true position in the scale of educational values."
Kathy was chosen as the outstanding student on the WWHS team and this automatically earns her a spot on the Tidewater Scohlastic Team. The school scholastic team receives publicity in the Ledger-Star and each member receives a plaque.
Schools in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake having enrollments of 300 or more students are eligible to participate.
The Tidewater Scholastic Team idea began in February, 1961.
by MARY JO WALLACE
.Christinas music and baskets of food collected by homerooms will be the nucleus of the annual Christmas assembly Wednesday afternoon in T. A. Willett Audi-torium.
The program, jointly prepared by the music department and the Student Council Association, will be presented to the Student Body sixth period.
The WWHS Chorus, under the direction of Miss Beth Watson, will sing several selections including "This Little Babe," "Do You Hear What I Hear," "A Christmas Carol," and selections from Handel's Messiah.
Mr. Donald Ruzek will direct the WWHS Band in presenting "Pageant," "Dr. Zhivago," "Emp- erata Overture," "Christmas Fugue," and "Three Carols for Christmas."
As a second part of the program, two boys from each registration will present the food filled Christ- mas baskets on the stage. Home- rooms have been collecting food and money for turkeys during the month of December for needy families at Christmas time.
The basket program is sponsored by the SCA. The food will be turned over to the Salvation Army for distribution.
The decorated baskets will be judged for attractiveness and originality and a representative of the Portsmouth Salvation Army will present the award for the prize-winning basket.
THE STUDENT was awarded a First Class honor rating for the second semester of the 1965-66 school year by the National Scholastic Press Association last month.
"We are justly proud of this achievement," stated Mr. Charles Hoofnagle, advisor to the paper.
THE ASTUDENT is a member of NSPA which compares and evaluates
BY NSPA
Newspaper Rated First Class
approximately 1,000 scholastic news-papers across the country. The news-papers are analyzed and judged in comparison with those produced by other schools of approximately similar enrollment, by similar method of pub-lication, and with the same frequency of issues per semester. The rating THE STUDENT received is intended to show how it compares with
throughout the nation.
A First Class honor certificate was awarded to THE STUDENT for a rating comparable to "excellent."
Mr. Hoofnagle expressed hope that the present 1966-67 STUDENT staff will "improve still further the pub-lication. The interest of this year's staff seems to indicate we will go far in our effort to improve the finished product", he commented.
True Christmas Spirit Ponders
PEOPLE MISS MEANING
EDITORIAL
A TEST OF TIME
Now is the tune for all good students to begin thinking seriously about mid-term exams. As the welcomed holidays approach, exams are the furthest things from anyone's mind. However, the mid-term tests are due next month, believe it or not!
When the novelty of leisure time during the Christmas holidays begins to wear off, students should sit down and try something that few people have ever tried during a school vacation: studying.
A few minutes of careful review daily could make the difference between passing and failing these crucial tests. If precise notes have been taken during the year, it will be a simple task to quickly review them. A chapter-by-chapter review of text material will enable the student to realize his weak points while he quickly summarizes this year's work.
These few study periods during the Christmas holidays between TV football games, after late movies, while digesting gigantic dinners and after putting together Junior's toys should eliminate the necessity of last-minute cramming, resulting in better grades as well as better study habits.
Guess Their Names-Win $2.00
to find mankind reflecting upon me, True Christmas Spirit. Oh, everything the people do is in the name of "Christmas Spirit," but it's a false idol; it's not me. Not that the gifts and the trees are wrong, in moderation, but people become so carried away with
them that they lose sight of me completely.
Well, Christmas isn't over yet. Perhaps before it is, someone in a quiet moment, will think of a child, and a manger, and a very bright star.
-P.S.
The Giver of Gifts
The holiday season brings many things. Gifts, either the giving or receiving, are foremost in our minds.
Emerson once wrote an essay on gifts. He stated that one gives little when he gives of his possessions; one truly gives when he gives of himself.
We have met and will continue to meet different kinds of "givers." There are those who give little of what they have. This is done for recognition and perhaps hidden desires. There are those who give of their possessions as if these possessions were items that should have been kept and guarded for fear that they might have been needed tomorrow.
On the other hand, there are some who have little and give it all. There are those who give with joy, and that joy is then- reward.
We all fit . .but where?
Pam Saunders
How is your guessing? "Great!" you may say. Well, here's your chan-ce to prove it and win $2.00 in the
process. To win the "Christmas Is for Kids Contest," all you have to do is be
the first to correctly identify each of the children pictured above by filling in their last names on the official entry blank.
Sounds hard? Well, here's a clue: These are pictures of children of current WWHS teachers. We've given you their first names' the rest is up to you!
Entry blanks will be accepted in B203 beginning at 3:25 this afternoon. Entries will be numbered as they are accepted; earliest numbered correct entry will win.
You may enter as many times as you wish provided you use a separate official entry blank each time. Extra copies of THE STUDENT may be purchased in B203.
The contest winners and the names of the children will be made public early next week. Members of THE STUDENT staff, their families, and faculty members are not eligible.
This Is The Night Before?
AS ADAPTED BY BURMA REED
"Twat tht nlght before Christmas, when all through the pad,
Not a creature was stirring, not even old dad;
The stocking* were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that old Jelly Belly soon would be there.
The mods and rockers soon hit the hay
Envisioning new hondas the following day.
After plumping the pillow and making it soft
I had just settled down to start sawin' em off
When out in the alley I heard such a racket
I took out my alka seltzer and opened a packet
Old "Speedy" failed, so I got mean
To know what cat was makin' the scene.
I went out and slid down the fire escape
Rubbed my blood-shot eyes and started to gape,
You cats think you know how this poem will quit
But here's what I saw - and it's changed quite a bit.
A red and green jag, because it was Yuletide
With one big red headlight and Santy inside;
This Santy was cool - his jag really good,
The only reindeer were "under the hood."
The trunk was packed with goodies galore
Now Us ten to this because there is more.
He flew to the roof - it was no Batmobile,
On the way up, Saint Nick got a wheel.
He crossed to the chimney and dropped the goodies in
Then he opened his arms and started to grin.
I saw he was leavin' by the keys in his hand
Then he parted with "Like, have a Merry Christmas, man."
NOBODY ASKED ME, BUT:
Frank D. Lawrence Stadium could use a new public address system. The one presently being used broke down during two of the Presidents five home football games. Two out of five (40%) is not bad considering how old the present system is.
The Woodrow Wilson Hi-Y basketball team will definitely be a threat to regain the Senior Boys City League Championship. The Hi-Yer's will be led by returning seniors STEVE TRIBBLE, ROD VERNON, and BERT CRAWFORD in an attempt to win their second consecutive title. Tribble won the championship for the team last year with a clutch foul shot hi the closing seconds of the title game. BILL VAN DYCK, a starter on last years squad, is recovering from a leg injury received during the summer and should be ready to go when the season opens in January.
Former WWHS All-State quarterback LARRY DAVIS ('64), has really made it big at Duke. He substituted at quarterback against Navy and helped the Blue Devils break a four game loosing streak by downing the Middies, 9-7. Davis finished out the 1966 campaign as Duke's number one field general and is presently looking towards the '67 season with bright hopes of remaining in that position.
Don't look now, but TOMMY BUCK ('66), a WWHS yarsity basketball reject, has made the United States Naval Academy Plebe basketball team. Buck, a 6' Plebe (freshman), was Wilson's S. C. A. president year. While at WWHS he not only lettered in Varsity tennis but was instrumental in winning Wilson Hi-Y's City League title last year.
DR. A. RUFUS TONELSON, former Maury principal is sponsoring a contest to improve sportsmanship behavior at Eastern District basketball games. He will donate a handsome trophy which in turn will be presented at the Eastern District Tournament to the school that displays the best sportsmanship throughout the basketball season. I'd be willing to bet 10 to 1 odds, that trophy will be in the Green Room showcase the first week in March. Any betters?
When the cold winds of March blow around next year, this is how the final Eastern District Group I-A Standings will appear:
1. Granby 8.Norview
2. Maury 9.Cradock
3. Princess Anne 10.Bayside
4. Great Bridge 11.Kellam
5. Churchland 12.First Colonial
*6. WOODROW WILSON 13.Deep Creek
7. Oscar Smith 14.Cox
* (Don't pay any attention to me; I'm never right.)
And finally, nobody asked me, but have a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and let's give it all we've got to win the Sportsmanship Trophy. ...
At Cox Tomorrow
TRI-CAPTAINS LEAD GRAPPLERS
Led by senior tri-captains Chris Beisel, Jim Stephenson, and Wayne Waibel, the Wilson matmen (1-0) tra-vel to Cox (1-0) tomorrow night. This match according to Wilson coach Jack Mounie "will be one of the toughest." After the Cox match, there are two more matches for the Prexies (Churchland and Cradock) before the Christmas break. The grapplers by weight are: 95 Ibs. - Jackie Jenkins or Terry Rivenbark; 103 - Charles Hicks; 112 Mike Vicks; 120 - Chris Beisel; 127- Donald Singleton; 133 - Steve Turner, Jack Vick, or Eddie Powell;
Vick, or Eddie Powell; 138-Wayne Waibel; 145 -Jim Stephenson;154 - Kenny Ford; 165 - Gary McGehee or Ronnie Waycaster; 180 -Herbie Whitley;and unlimited- James Watts.
"Up through 145 we figure to be real strong," says Mounie. "Hicks and Vick finished second in the district last year." Mounie feels that Stephenson should be in contention when the State Tournament occurs February 24-25.
Mounie noted that the Granby Corn-ets will once again be the team to beat for district and state honors.
VISIONS OF SUGARPLUMS. Well, maybe not quite. But the graphics of this picture do indicate that the head basketball coach Jim Sherrill, in the center, is thinking of how best to employ his three returning letter-men from last year's squad. They are, left, Jim MacPhail, top, Danny Ferryman, and right, Carlyle Thompson.
With Four Frosh Starters
RHODES DEBUTS AS JV COACH
by EDDIE CULPEPPER
Coach Carl Rhodes makes his basketball coaching debut tonight at 6:30 p.m. when the vice-Presidents play host to the Hampton Jayvees in Codd Gymnasium, just prior to the Varsity conflict.
Freshmen John Klise, Dennis Lewin, Marlln Morton and Ray McGlnley have been tabbed as starters for tonight's home opener.
"With the team's overall height, there should be some pretty good shooting." the mentor said.
Chris Moring and Andy Wells, both returning sophomores, should see a
good deal of action during the upcoming season.
Rhodes, a 1962 WWHS graduate, received his diploma from VMI last June and returned to his alma mater for a crack at the teaching and coaching profession.
The rookie coach is no stranger to basketball. He played four years at WWHS and a year at VMI.
"I am looking forward to a pretty good season," he commented.
The vice-Presidents will follow their big brothers' eighteen game schedule throughout the season with all games prceeding the Varsity contests at 6:30 pm.
Veteran Letterman Spearhead Attack
In Leon Codd Gym
by HARVEY SIEGEL
The 1966-67 Prexie roundballers make their season debut tonight against the Hampton High School "Crabbers" at 8:15 p.m. in the J. Leon Codd Memorial Gymnasium.
Wilson coach Jim Sherrill has had to build his attack around five returning players from last years' team, a handful up from a so-so Junior Varsity squad and the remainder from Harry Hunt. Of the five returning from last years' squad, only three, Danny Ferryman, Jim Mac-Phail, and Carlyle Thompson, received letters. Guards John Lewis and Ronnie Sorrell have seen only limited varsity action.
Louis Ripley and Jim Freedman are up from the JV's along with Billy Spence, Timmy Warren, and Billy Moran. Thad Parsons, a junior, and freshmen Monty Matthews, Edward Perry, and Howard Taylor will all wear Wilson uniforms for the first time tonight as they and the rest of the Presidents make their bid to crush the Crabbers.
Hampton brings with them perhaps the two best guards in the Peninsula District Seniors Jerry Llaeaz and Larry Enscore are seasoned experienced ballplayers and both played an important roll in last years' 64-50 conquestof the Presidents. The Crabbers, under the direction of head coach Glenn Russell are not an exceptionally tall team, the tallest being 6'3", but should be deadly accurate in the shooting department.
The game, which promises to be as exciting us It is tight, seemingly pairs
BRIEF VARSITY OUTLOOK
1965-66 Record: 13-6 (3rd in district-till in district tournament)
Coach: Jim Sherrill - Erskine College (Third Year - 34-9)
Returning Lettermei: 3
Nickname: Presidents
Colors: Orange & Blue
Enrollment: 2200
Biggest Losses: Roger Blackman and Butch Bisese
Outstanding Returnees: Jim MacPhail, Danny Ferryman, Car-
lyle Thompson Promising Newcomers: Ronnie Sorrell, John Lewis, Billy Spence Louis Ripley
In General: This is a team that lacks rebounding, accurate shooters and experience. The material is there, but it just needs time to jell. If the lettermen can carry the team while the rest of the squad gains valuable experience, the Prexies could be tough to beat around tournament time.
Outlook: Fair - In a district that doesn't sport a super team for the first time in years, and with 11 of the 18 games at home where Wilson seldom loses, the Presidents should be happy with a 12-7 season and 6th place in the district.
Girls' Hockey Sparks Interest
For the first time, girls hockey has become a popular sport at WWHS.
Coached by Mrs. Mildred Clarke and Mrs. Shirley Buchanan, the WWHS team played against several Tidewater high school teams this past season.
The team is composed of 10 forwards, 6 halfbacks, 4 fullbacks, and 2 goalies.
Previously, hockey has been played on a school level between the various classes during gym or after school. However, this year Tidewater teams played against each other to arouse competition.
"We hope that the sport will be broadened to bring in more schools to participate next year,"Mrs. Clarke said.
Commenting on next year's squad, the coach noted that "the majority of our teams will be composed of junior and senior girls who have experience.They are capable of win-ning."
At the close of the season, Wilson was guest at a tournament game at Warwick. Other teams part-icipating were Norview, Cox, Kel-lam, First Colonial, Newport News, and Hampton Roads Academy.
SQUARING OFF. Practicing the opening play of a match are WWHS girls' hockey team members Aletha Barnes and Susan FerreL
STRIKE UP THE BAND! WWHS band director Donald Ruzek leads the band In rehearsal for several Christmas performances.
Christmas News Wrapup
ACKLEY FEATURED IN BAND CONCERT
VOCAL PROGRAM STARS CHORALISTS
John Ackley, director of music in the Portsmouth Public Schools, sang a featured solo, "Comfort Ye Messiah," at the annual WWHS Christmas Band Concert in T. A. Willett Auditorium last Saturday night
Other selections performed by the band included the "Dr. Zhivago Theme," "Pageant," "Procession of the Nobles," the "Emperata Overture," "Caillon from L'Arlesienne Suite #1," and a "ChristmasFugue."
Mr. Donald Ruzek band director, commented that he, the band members, and drum major Roland Shaw, were all very appreciative of the encouragement and support given by the Student Body this fall.
The band recently played at ceremonies at the new General Electric Plant in Nansemond County.
A Christmas concert was presented by the WWHS Vocal Department Wednesday night hi T. A. Willett Auditorium.,
Participating were the Mixed / Chorus, The Presidents and the First Ladies, the Girls' Glee Club, and the Boys' Glee Club, all under the leadership of Miss Beth Watson, choral director.
Selections included "Fanfare for Christmas Day," "This Little Babe" by Benjamin Britten, "Carol of the Bells," "Sleigh Ride," "Christmas Song," and selections from Handel's Messiah.
ART CLUB MAKES HOUDAY CANDLES
In keeping with the forth-coming holiday season, the Art Club, under the guidance of advisor Mrs. Jo Anne Sweet, is making and selling Christmas candles in assorted colors, including green, red and white.
Ranging in price from fifty cents to two dollars, the candles are being sold in the art room, B102. Stands for the candles have been made and can be covered with holly to make the candles more decorative.
Purpose of the sale is to raise funds to support the Club's activities throughout the year.
"The candles would make a lovely gift for anyone," Mrs. Sweet said. "We want to urge students to buy now and get the best choices."
ONE DOZEN DAY VACATION BEGINS 3:20 WEDNESDAY
ToWWHS students looking forward to the upcoming holidays, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is more than a perennial Christmas carol: It's the number of days allotted for the Christmas vacation this year.
School will come to a halt for the holidays next Wednesday at 3:20 p.m. It will not resume again until Tuesday, January 3, at 9 a.m.
TWO HARVEST PERFECT SCORES
Math Enthusiasts Reap Honors
COMPARING NOTES. WWHS mathematics scholars Brian Schnitzer, Tom Fuller, and Robert Abrams get together to compare notes and to examine a recent math publication.
Ashinoff Wells Direct School Survey To Probe Teen Recreation Interests
by JANET MERRITT
Three Wilson seniors registering in B217, Brian Schnitzer, Robert Ab-rams, and Tom Fuller-all math enthusiasts have recently brought recognition to themselves in the world of mathmatics.
Brian Schnitzer took freshman math at the University of Richmond, which he attended this past summer as a college student He recevied an "A" in the course, and a "B" in chemistry, which he also took. He earned a total of fourteen semester hours. If Schnitzer'decides to return next summer, he will be a sophomore when he enters college in the fall of '67.
He saw the application hi the newspaper, and the only re-quirements were that the student be a high school junior in the top fifth of his class and have a good academic background.
"It took a lot of studying,but Wilson had really prepared me and given me great background," Schnitzer said. He stated that he came across nothing in the math course that his math course at WWHS had not prepared him for, and that he ran into only a few unfamiliar problems in the chemistry course. They were related to physics, which he had not yet taken.
Robert Abrams made "800," aper-fect score, on the College Entrance Examination Board's intensified math achievement -test last spring. Besides this honor, he is a National Merit Scholarship semifmalist, and was recently profiled in Action magazine.
Abrams hi an ICT student working part time with the city in Data Processing. At night he attends classes in modern algebra at Old Dominion College.
At Wilson, he is a member of the Math Club, the Science Club, and the French and German Clubs.
This past summer he toured Israel on a $300 scholarship awarded him by the United Synagogue Youth Men's Club, and Sisterhood of Gomley Chesed Synagogue.
Tom Fuller is another who made a perfect score on the CEEB's intensified math achievement test. He is a member of the National Honor Society, and was also recently profiled in Action.
To find out what type of recreation the teenagers want, seniors Susan Ashinoff and Anzy Wells conducted a survey at WWHS last month under the direction of Jerry L. Gwaltney, super-visor of playgrounds and recreation centers for the City of Portsmouth.
Susan and Anzy conducted a preliminary poll to select popular suggestions for a ballot. Space was left at the bottom of the ballot for students who wished to write in suggestions.
Ballots were distributed to all home rooms and a free election was held. The following are the results, in order of the number of votes each received:
First:
Establish a coffee house for the 16 to 20 year olds. Serve hot coffee and soft drinks. Bring in entertainers and encourage spontaneous dis-
plays of musical talent.
Second:
Set up a place for Friday and Sat1 urday night dances; music should be by live bands.
Third:
Bring some "name" entertainers to Portsmouth.
The results of this survey established a "Young Citizens Council." A representative from the four local high schools and eight recreation centers are on the council. The council meets every other Monday night in the city council chambers and discusses problems that concern recreation for the teenagers. Anyone is invited to attend these meetings.
Anzy is the representative for WWHS and Susan is the secretary for the council.
Fuller, who plans to go into mathematical engineering after college, said, "Math is such an exact science. In my mind, it's the only perfect one. That's why I like it." He is now taking Math Analysis.
Outside of school, his main interest lies with guitar playing. He owns one
Spanish classical guitar and one electric. He plays with the "Live Wires", a local rock and roll band, but is very fond of folk music and many types of Spanish music. He also has an interest in scouting, being a junior assistant scout-master of Troop 220. He is working toward the Scout, God, and Country Award.
Tuberculosis: Public Enemy Number One
by Cindy Brewer
Tuberculosis is one of the most infectious respiratory diseases known to man and today ranks seventh among the greatest causes of death.
The germ which causes the disease, called the "tubercle bacillus", was discovered in 1882 by Robert Koch, a noted German bacteriologist. There are many types of tubercle bacilli, but the bovine, which coours hi cattle, is especially dangerous to children who drink milk which has not been pasteurized. The cow acts as a carrier for the germ, and the child often becomes infected by the contaminated milk. However, the form of this germ which most frequently infects the human is transferred by more subtle means.
In most cases the bacilli attack the lungs, causing pulmonary tuber-culosis, which is the most widespread
form of the disease. It is usually caught from the saliva of a person already infected by the disease. When such a person coughs, sneezes, or spits, his saliva, containing millions of the bacilli, dries and floats through the air as dust. Breathing of such air directly introduces the germs into the respiratory system.
Once the bacilli have invaded the body, rapid reproduction causes the formation of colonies of bacilli. When body resistance breaks down, these colonies quickly spread and most often attack the lungs.
Pulmonary tuberculosis has two chief forms - acute and chronic. Acute tuberculosis begins with sudden chills, fever, rapid pulse, pain in the chest, cough, labored breathing, and lung congestion. These symptoms become more severe, and, without treatment, death may result in four to twelve weeks. Chronic tuberculosis attacks far more people. This form may begin with a constant feeling of fatigue, poor appetite, or steady
loss of weight A slight rise in temperature toward the evening and a dry cough comes next. Eventual death may occur from hemmorrhage or exahustion.
Early detection and treatment of this serious ailment is the best way to combat it. This has a two-fold purpose: (1) the patient has a more favorable chance of recovery; (2) the patient will have less time to infect others.
A thorough physical exam-ination is the first important step in suspected cases. The tuberculin test, administered by the family physician, is a simple skin test that can help decide whether or not the patient has tuberculosis or has ever had it during his life.
There is hope that preventative measures, aided by immunization, may remove tuberculosis from the list of the leading causes of death. Christmas seals provide the money necessary to carry on research to
find ways of treating tuberculosis. Only by continued research and study will a reliable cure for this deadly disease be realized.
