Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-09-19
SHOULD THEY MARRY
Doctors Discuss the ProprIety OF
Prohibiting the Marriage of Con-
SunnDtIvaR

Prohlbltlng the Marriage or Con-
sumptives.
Philadelphia physicians are discuss
ing with more or less interest, says the
Record of that city. the proposition
made to the New York board of health
a few days ago by DIR. Segnitz, who
sought to induce the board TO recon-
mend the passage of a law prohibiting
the marriage of consumptives. The
health officials only smiled at the doc
tors proposed short cut to the foun-
tain of life.
1--WE may as we'll pronounce mar
riage a failure straightway," said one,
land prohibit it entirely forever.
Scarcely one family can be
found that will not show a
case of the disease within two or
three generations. Therefore, nearly
all mankind is to some extent predis-
posed to consumption, and il we expect
reform on DIR. 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
WIZ maj llelSO OC
subjected to medical examination,
and if one or the other of the contract
ing parties be found consumptive mar
riage be forbidden. "Would such an
enactment amount to anything?" said
prominent Philadelphia physician
yesterday. "A crisp s. bill could buy
a certificate of sound health for death
itself. Moreover, if such a law should
be passed in New York 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 lettering
on the brink of the grave"
Where it is true that a large num-
Der of consumptives acquire the dis
ease by heredity," said Dr. Parish,
yesterday, 1.-The number of contagious
cases, | believe is much greater. A
husband will frequently transmit the
disease to his wife, or mother to her
child. Any one who is in attendance
upon, or who inhales the breath of.
consumptive is liable to attract the
disease to himself. A consumptive
will refrain from marriage If he has
any wisdom. If the unfortunate mar
riageS that take place too frequent
ly between strong man and a weak
lunged woman, or vice versa, could be
prevented the quota of consumptives
would be in time appreciably reduced,
but consumption could never be ex-
terminated thus. There are too many
other causes that play their part in
perpetuating the disease"
A number OF Philadelphia physicians
expressed views on the subject quite
similar TO those of DIR. Parish. To all
of them legislative enactment regard
ing marriage seemed quite impractical
BILE. IF we could resurrect the law
of ancient Rome that made splitting a
penal offense, then legislation might
be worth our while" said DIR. Citizens.
"A consumptive's saliva is one of the
most prolific means of propagating the
disease. On the horse-cars, in the
steam-cars, and in the street the con-
sumptive does n vast and unnecessary
amount of hawking and splitting. His
saliva is impregnated with tiny
microbes or turbercles that fly upward
with the dust and are inhaled by the
invalid's fellows. If there condition is
favorable to growth the germs take
root and the travelling companion goes
into n decline. A great number of
cases are bred in this way. Tuberculo-
sis in milk and beef is another mode Of
contagion."
AS an illustration of the pow~- of per-
severance over heredity may We cited
the case OF a well-known Spruce street
physician, who is one of seven brothers,
five Of whom died of lung trouble. lie
is 62 years old and in excellent health.
ut may be because | am a physi-
clans seventh son." said he, in relating
the incident yesterday, 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. Consumption
was heritage from nv mother, but
good hours, good food and lots of ex-
ercise freed me from its grip"