The record-union., 1894-11-07
PREVENTION OF TUBERCULOSIS.
How to Guard Against the Spread of
Consumption.
Rules Suggested by the City Board of
Health, and Which should
Be Observed.

appointed a committee of one 10 inyesti-
gate the subject of the prevention and
treatment OF consumption and to report
| rules therefor. DR.. Glow made his report
on Monday night. which is as follows:
| To the Honorable Board of Health of
the CITY Of Sdcrdme1ltO-G ENTLHMEN !:
FfeVlous to submitting rules Tor the pre-
Ventlon OF tuberculosis, desire to give a
lew reasons why such rules are neces-
! Sary. consumption is now known to be
contagious disease, and in view of the
excessive number OF deaths from this
cause the most active and energetic efforts
should be made to prevent needless suf-
Iering ana sacrifice OF human lite.
IN order OF number it stands at the
mead OF the list, causing more deaths than
choIera, more deaths than membraneous
Group, scarlet lever, typhoid fever and
| small -poX combined Under its baneful
leadership follow the very flower of the
| youth OF the Nation, gallopng in their
| hectic career until surrendered to the
mighty conqueror. VINO can properly esti-
mate the loss to home and country of the
| immense army who die OF tubercular dis
ease?
The people must be told that consump-
| Iion IS not hereditary; that it is caused by
| vegetable micro-organism and is pre-
Vehtaple; that just as they violate the
| laws OF nature, depress their physical
| resistance and breathe in bacilli lubercu-
| Iosls, are they liable to die of consump-
ton, even II no one in their family ever
| died from il. Cases should be- renorled
| 10 the Board of Health not to have the
mouse piacarded but to give the sufferer
| ana MS companions the benefit of scien-
tllic knowledge on the subject; to warn
Others OF the danger OF contracting it: to
demand dlsintection OF the sputa; an
abundance OF sunlight and fresh air; an
/ Nf . i
sanitary condition.
Milk may be a source of tuberculosis.
ana, 10 guard against this danger, milk
VenuerS should be licensed, their diaries
inspected, COWS examined and all diseased
animals destroyed. If death follow in
any tuDercular case the house should be
dlSlnlected as IN other infectious diseases
All cases take their origin from other
cases, directly or Indirectly. A common
hode OF injection is by inhaling dry or
pulVerlZeu tuberculosis XpectOration. 1t
Is distinctly preventable disease.
II thlS be true, and it is based upon the
most recent and reliable scientific data. il
becomes imperative that all known pre-
cautions be employed for its prevention.
L DeIleye this board should do all within
ltS power to arrest the DEVELOPMENT of
this fatal disease. We desire the earnest
corporation of the medical profession of
the city IN our efforts, and sincerely hope
tnat they Will try to assist US in carrying
out and enforcing rules for the preven-
ton and spread of consumption.
L therefore submit rules which have
been adopted by the Philadelphia Board
OF Health. l would recommend that
these rules be adopted by this board, pub
lIshed and distributed.
MEANS OF PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF
CONSUMPTION.
All cases of tuberculous disease of the
lungs tconsumptlon) take their origin di-
rectly or Indirectly from other cases.
This is now an established fact. Infec-
ton. however, is easily provided against
ii certain simple precautions are taken.
The chief modes Of infection are:
First and foremost, by iuhaling dry
and pulyerized expectoration.
1hlS Is apt to occur when an ordinary
pocket handkerchief is used by tuber-
culous person for eXpectoration. When
such handkerchief is opened the dried
eXpectoration is likely to be pulyerized
and dlffused through the air. Thus it
may be inhaled by others as well as the
patient himself, who is likely to suffer
from craving diseased germs into por-
tlons of lung previously unaffected.
Another and most common st,urce of
pulverlzed eXpectoration is the habit of
splitting carelessly and indiscriminately.
as on the floor or ground. The expec,
toratlon becomes dried and mixed with
dust and then is easily carried into the
air and is breathed into the lunps or
swallowed; the habit is, therefore not
only offensive, but dangerous.
Second-By using spoons, Guns and
other articles OF the kind which have not
been properly washed after having been
used by tuberculous persons.
Thirdly kissing.
This source of infection sbould he
especially guarded against in children
Sell infection may occur in addition to
the ways mentioned by swallowing the
expectoration. The habit is ant TO lead
sooner or later, to Infection of the intes,
tines. There are other modes of infec-
tioli, as Tor example, by consuming the
flesh or milk of animals hayipo the dis
ease. But this source is less common. as
high temperature destroys the germ: if
we cook our food including milk thor
oughly there will be no risk of contract
ing the disease in this way. knowing
the channels OF infection, we can easilV
take effective precautions.
(I The sputum must be DESTROYED. and
must not be allowed to become dry. a
spitting-cup or flask, containing lust
enough dlsinfectant solution to cover the
bottom OF the vessel, should always be
used for the eXpectoration. Out of doors
pocket spltting-flask such as Dettw.iI-
ler's, should be used. In the house it
would be well to use a pasteboard or naner
cup, which should set in a china or
metallic holder-this and contents should
be burned at least once day, but if the
eXpectoration is considerable much
oftener. Pieces of linen Or calico about
ten inches square may also be carried.
These should be used only in case OF alb
solute necessity, and should be burnt as
soon as possible afterwards. No piece
should be used more than once
(2) Bedf oomS that have been occupied
by tuberculous patients should be thor
ougly dIsinfected before they are occu-
pied by other persons, and declaration
or assurance on this point should always
be demanded. If the previous occupant
of the room never allowed the furniture.
hangiDgs or carpets of the room to be
contaminated with the sputum there
would be little need of this precaution.
But, as people ordinarily of cleanly
personal habits sometimes show sur
prislng amount of ignorance or careless
ness in this respect, the following points
should be insisted on:
(a) Carpets, curtains and bed COVERINGS
should be exposed to Superheated steam
under high pressure.I
(b) The floors and walls of the room
should be properly disinfected. Rub
bing with new bread, followed by the ap-
plIcatlon OF corrosive solution Ia tablet
containing $40 grains added to the
pint OF hot water is probably the most
effective practical method
Fresh air is of the highest importance
for tuberculous patient. Hot and
Stuffy rooms have an evil influence over
the disease. Except in special circum-
stances, the bedroom window should be
kept open at night as well as by day.
The disinfecting of rooms that have
been occupied by tuberculous persons
and of carpets, beds, bedding. curtains.
Will be promptly attended to upon notice
sent to the Health Officer. Most respect
fully, G. b. Glow, NJ. ID.