The morning times., 1895-08-08
CHECKS TO CONSUMPTION
DR.. Woodward Has a Plan to Pre-
vent the Disease Spreading.
Does Not Intend to Adopt Stringent
Measures, but Makes Valuable
SuggestionstoT TO oThoseAfflicted.

DR.. W. C. Woodward, health officer for
the District, is meditatiDg over propo-
sition for the better prevention of the
spread OF consumption. 1t is not probable
that any stringent measures will be adopted
for the control Of the disease in the Dis
triet Such thing is not even con-
teniplated, SO far as is now known.
DIR. Woodward said Yesterday, how
ever, that there are more deaths each year
from the various types or consumption
than from any other form OF disease
In proof of this he turned TO his records
and showed tha5 for the year ending June
80, 1895, S34 deaths Cd / OF total OF
5,765 were due 10 consumption: for the
previous year, S81 deaths or 6, O39 reported
were produced from the same cause.
1T is the law in Michigan" said he,
under resolution adopted by the State
board of health, that consumption and
other diseases due To the bacillus tuber-
cuiosis, shall be included in the official
list OF diseases dangerous TO public health
requiring notice by householders and ply
sicians TO The local health officer 5 soon
as such disease is recognized.
The isolation of The patient is not
enforced. the purpose being 10 secure infor-
nation Of tite location OF each case OF this
most dangerous disease, with the view
of fnstructins the patient how to avoid
reinfec ton or commu nicating the dis
ease TO Others
1t can be commu nicated, doctor?''
Yes, and II is important 80 know Just
how TO guard against infection. The
/ disease is dangerous and communicable
| The chief danger exists In the expectora,
tions of the consumptive person One
| person affected may spread the disease to
! very many healthy persons
Dr. Woodward pointed ont many of the
| rules that should be observed by patients
! and those IN ehargeTof cases.
| ''Consumptives SHOULD be inst ructed, >
he said, quoting partially from the sugges
| tons made by the Michigan board ofhealth
mot 10 spit upon sidewalks, the floors
OF rooms, public halls, street and railway
cars and other vehicles, nor where fowIs
| or dairy cows may. take in the spHtun oI
| the dust OF ii with their, food.
If eKpectoratjon be carefully destroyed
| before il becomes dry there is little dan
ger, and persons afflicted with the disease
should spit into pieces OF cloth or a recep
tacle made for the purpose, containing a sat
urated solution OF earboIc acid, say i'll the
proportion OF one part of acid to fifteen
| Of water.
'Receptacles jn which the sputum is
deposited should he fIeansed with scaldins
water, their contents having been care
fully destroyed, and handkerchefs. which
may have been used from necessity Should
be boiled half an hour before washing.
/ III is best that persons who have a cough
should carry small pieces of cloth, eaef
just large enough to receive the spgtun
and paraffined paper envelopes in which
! TO enclos@ them. The envelopes and con
tents can then be burned at the first oppor
tuIty''
what steps, if any, viii you take to Sc
| cure compliance with these rules, or any
| that you may adopt and now Will you bring
/ this subject more prominently before tht
publjc?'' was asked of DR.. Woodward.
II have Formulated 40 plan he replied
although / think it is Important that
tile people should be made more familiar
| with the character OF the disease, and with
the methods for preventing multiplication
of cases. ] cannot now say what j Ma
do later, when get time TO properly CON
| sider the question. "