The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-08-17
4 Precautiou Against COnsump-
ton.

1t is now pretty well established
that tuberculosis is an infective dis,
ease, and, if this is true, it is largely
preventable. We believe that in this
country especially there is not suffi-
cient stress laid upon the commune
cability of consumption; the people
are too apt to regard our climate
(Southern California; as Natures pam
acea. Phthisical patients fairly
swarm upon US every winter, poison
ing our hotels, our streets and our
dwellings. The inspissated sputum
retains, according to Sawizky, its
virulency two and half months.
Here, since the advent of the one
lunged Yankee, children die of men
ingitis and youth of consumption.
This we are told by some to regard as
the unfathomable dispensation of a
wise Providence, when it rather
should be charged to the criminal
negligence of an easy-going public.
Persistent and systematic precau-
tions ought to be taken by both pub
lie officials and the people in general
to stop this scourge. The Health De-
partment should issue stringent Or
ders, classifying this disease among
those usually placarded.
The room occupied by consump-
tive should receive as thorough dis
infection as the one used by dipth-
theritic patient. If the phthisical
patient died in a week or two,
the quarantine should be demanded
and carried out. If the public
really thought consumption "catch-
ing" they would regard it just as
natural TO take precautions against
its spread as it is to stamp out
Ieprosy. In point of fact there is no
comparison between the contagious
ness of these diseases-tuberculo be-
ing much more communicable. A
campaign of education is needed.
All tuberculous patients should be
compelled for the public good TO use
spit cups. Public spittoons filled with
sawdust or other matter easily COM
bustible should be placed at conven-
lent intervals. The American has
been described as a splitting animal,
but he must be trained to spit by law
only in specially prepared receptacles.
The old college saying, "ThOse who
expectorate on the floor cannot expect
to rate as gentlemen" should be inn
pressed upon all.
Then, again, the dust of the streets
ought to be removed frequently, but
only after a thorough sprinkling
Public hospitals for the tuberculous
poor ought to be established. In the
present state of affairs only a very
few of the very worst cases are treat
ed-while thousands wander about
the city polluting the very air with
the germs oil the greatest scourge that
has ever afflicted mankind.
Hygienic treatment should be ad-
yised in all cases. Preventive medi-
cine is no longer the medicine of the
future, but the medicine of today.
Let us follow the example of Michi-
gan, and officially declare consump-
tion a contagious diseaae. Another
point of great importance is the deny
ing to consumptives the privilege of
engaging in occupations whereby
they may endanger the life or health
of others.
The sanitary inspection of cattle
and the condemnation of tuberculOus
cows should be rigidly enforced. In
deed, did our Government take half
the interest in preventing diseases
among human beings that it does in
looking after the health of hogs and
cattle there would be thousands of
lives saved annually.-Southern Cal
ifOrnia Practitioner.