The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1893-12-01
" AR UPON PHTH|SIS.
DrS Shrady and Jennings Agree
with Dr. Biggs as to the Means.
! 1T CAN BE STAMPED OFT By SYS.
TEMATlC EFFORT.
ACTION Is URGENTLY DEMANDED.

The re, concentrations made to tie Hoard OF
Health by Dr. Herman NJ. Bigu> buctcriologit |
10 tn" department, regarding the nature OF
tuberculosis and the measures which should I've |
taken 10 prevent its spread in this city |
have excited much interest in the medical |
profession. - lar as could hr Judged yc.
tcrday, these recommendations meet with
general approval nmong physicians and sur
gcons. Dr. BlggS, in the report lie has
submitted after four years study OF tine
disease. says it is prcvcutablc and cura-
bic and tina; II is the most common and fatal
disease prevailing in this city. He recon-
mcnds general education OF the public 10 the
dangers arising from intercourse with infected
persons, that hospitals and public institu
tons, rs w"l a. private practitioners, he
required to inform the Board Of Health OF the
names and addresses OF all persons suffering
from the disease that special inspectors he ap-
pointed for the investigation of the disease and
that con,umpuvc hospital tc established
Dr. Birgs say. that tuberculosis is moi essen.
italy coufincd To the lungs, hut NAV affect any
organ OF the body that one half the adult
population at some time in life acquire it, and
u
living germ is the sole cause oi the disease
d.. George F. Shrady said yesterday that the
recommendations of Dr Bgys ought to carry
great deal of weight with the Board OF Health
and the general public "Ihrre is no doubt
SAID Dr shrady, "that phthisis is the most
common and fatal disease. Every physician
comes i'll contact with it AMI knows the extent
tn which it prevails. 1t may, as Dr. Riggs
says, affect any organ Of the body, hut the
iuim in which it is most fatal is what is called
consumption. II j. mildly contagious.
and in larg" city like New York
there is the greatest dnnG"rof its dissent
ration. II may hr acquired by riding III
an elevated railroad train or horse car, or
in theatre or other public place. TIL" glHNc>t
danger, however, is from intercourse or contact
with infected people. Consumption, however
is not hereditary. a. many people suppose. II
i IA germ which cannot he transmitted 10y
hcrcdity. The liability to IN" disease. how
ever, i hereditary. When the ground i favor.
able it quickly takes root and thrvrs, hut
people who inherit liability 10 the disease
may, hy care avoid it,
" Now it is Obvious continued llr Shruly,
=" that consumption cannot he treated by the
Board OF Health like small p0N, typhuS or other
viruluut contagious diseases. The public
authorities however, can do Il great deal to
prevent lis spread. 1t is in tins respect that
imdOrNc the recommendations made To the
Health Board hy rr Bgg>, TIL" public ought
10 he made aware OF the dangers surrounding
this disease and OF the measures which would
warl it OF. II everybody understood how It is
nrulIirrd md took care to avoid it thcr, would
he n great falling oil ia the number uf
deaths Or. figg> !, quite correct in
treating il - n prcNcntlblc disease
EvrryEody ,ught 10 br made t. know
that n tIicrcuIar person may he source of
actual ,lullitrr 10 his associates. The recovery
of pcr.ou. affected with the disease morcOvrr,
wUUld lie made easier ii they understood il
iuil nuturr and tn" measures which destroy its
germs In this respect the Board OF iIcalth
OF good by systematically, educating the public
MS 10 tuberculosis NCnn, ii all persons affected
with the diSta," were known t. the health
authorities. steps might tc taken 10 inform
uuyht toknoW lnlhlS respect lht recommends
tons OF Dr. BirE> that all prNrtis ing physicians,
ho,ritul>, a,ylums, disp'nsaricS, Ne, notify
the Board o iicallh OF the names and addresses
ot affected persons, i>agroG one" The Rolrd of
Health hn- not the power t. treat MS disease
IL vigorously a, small .i~N but i cHn do lnurn
to%mint>h it. ,prrgd. TIE ru'lir oarht to
Understand thoroughly that consumption is
preventative aud thnt nobody can acquire il
except through carcl">snc>N or iguora'j"" Tor
!! Is not hereditary. and rropI" who inherit
llallltN To II may never acquire IL.
Dr. Shrady was asked ii Koch lymph cured
the diSca>" in other organs OF the body than the
lungs. He replied that Koch lymph, even
any organ; that it had been repeatedly tried
ana was not the great cure which it was sup
posed to he two years ago In conclusion. hr.
ShtdI\ 'hhi we r'Colnln'nlalIrllS ni Dr. blEG~
Ncr" dc.crviEE ul the most careful Considers
ton, and ii carried ont would undoubtedly do
much to improve the public health
Dr. i. y. Jennings after reading 'hc recon
incubation. oi Dr. BiggS, said ''Th" hoard
ui Health could no; receive suggestions from
more competent authority The l~upl" Of New
York hardly realize that over five thousand
deaths occur in tins city every year from CON.
sumption ana that it IS the most prevalent ui
ali disca>r-. \ g.cat deal has been learned
about it Ol recent years. it j. now recognized
to hc Il germ that it lnuy affect any organ
and that It is not hereditary II is not only
prvvrntahr with care but il is curahlc in 4
large number ui cases. The time is com
ing when even more stringent measures
than those suggested BY Or. Biggs will
be taken Then it can he stnmpCI
out Not being hereditary, the disease nigh.
/ b" madc To disappear in ono generation il the
! pOpcr measures were taken cyrryWEcrc !