The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-30
SHOULD THEY MARRY
Doctors Discuss the Propriety Of Prohibiting
the Marriage OF Consumptives.

Doctors Discuss the Propriety of Prohibiting
the Marriage OF Consumptives.
Philadelphia Record.
Philadelphia physicians are discussing
with more or less interest the proposition
made to the New York Board of Health
few days ago by DR.. SegnitZ. who sought
to induce the board TO recommend the pass
age Of q. law prohibiting the marriage of
smiled at the Doctors proposed short cut
to the fountain Of life.
1--WE may as we'll pronounce marriage
failure straightway," saIu one. land pro-
hibit it entirely forever. Scarcely one fam
lily can be found that viii not show case
of disease within two or three generations.
Therefore nearly all mankind is to some
extent predisposed to consumption, and if
we expect reform on Dr.. Segnitz's lines. a
total abolition of the marriage tie is our
only course"
In order to render his law efficient. DIR.
Segnitz proposes that all persons who con-
template marriage should be- subjected to a
medical examination, and if one or the
c0nsumptlve, marriage be forbidden.
Would such an enactment amount to any
thinga" said aprominent elPhia Physi-
clan, yesterday. "A crisp S5-bill could buy
self. Moreover if such law should be
passed in New York, 9 cents would pay for
a couple of ferry tickets into Jersey. and
Cupid's captives would there find some
gentleman of the cloth to tie them. even If
they were tottering on the brink of the
gra aWS';,. ;. :. .,,o that . ,.,c. nn,,,0, 90
cOnsumptives acquire the disease by he
redity," said DIR. Parish, yesterday, the
number of contagious cases, l believe, is
much greater. A husband will frequently
transmit the disease to his wife, or a moth
er to her child. Any one who is In attend
ance upon, or who whales the breath of n
consumptive. is liable TO attract the dis
|! ease to himself. A consumptive will re-
| frain from marriage, If he has any wisdom.
| 1T the unfortunate marriages that take
place too frequently between strong man
| and a weak-lunged woman, or vice versa,
| could be prevented, the quota of consump
| tives would be In time appreciably reduced,
| but consumption could never be extermi-
causes that play their part in perpetuating
| the disease"
| Anumber of Philadelphia physicians ex-
| pressed views on the subject quite similar
| to those of DE-. Parish. To all of them
legislative enactment regarding marriage
seemed quite impracticable. If we could
resurrect the law of ancient Rome that
made spittlng penal offense. then legisla-
| ton might be worth our while" said DIR.
Citizens. "A consumptive's saliva is one
J of the most prolific means of propagating
| the disease. On the horse-cars. in the
| steam cars and In the street the consump-
( tive does a vast and unnecessary amount of
| hawking and splitting. His saliva is i'm
/
that fly upward with the dust and are in
hailed by the invalid's fellows. If their
condition is favorable to growth the germs
take root and the travelling companion
goes into a decline. A great number of
cases are bred in this way. Tuberculosis
in milk and beef is another mode of conta-
| gion."
AS an illustration of the power of perse-
verance over heredity may be cited The
case of a well-known Spruce-street physi-
clan who is one of seven brothers, five OF
whom died of lung trouble. He Is sixty
| two years old, and in excellent health. 1T
may be because l am physicians seventh
terday, land that /, therefore. lead a
charmed life; but choose to believe that
my immunity from lung disease is due to
| my own obedience to the rules of health.
| which my brothers neglected. Consump-
ton was heritage from my mother but
good hours, good food and lots of exercise
| freed me from its grip