Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-11-13
CARE OF CONSERVATIVES.
English Methods Cutting Down NJ
talfty From the DiAease

English Methods Cutting Down Nor
tality From the Disease.
The publication of recent vital sta
tistlcs has called general attention to
a remarkable decrease in the DEATH
rate from tuberculosis in Great Brit
ain. This has been slow but constant
Tor many years and has set conjecture
at work to account for It.
| 1t is conceded that 1t is in part due
to the improved sanitation of houses,
better dietary regimen and general ell
ovation of the conditions of life; but
attention is called to the fact that
there has not been a proportienate de-
crease in cases and deaths in countries
where there has been quite as great
advance in these respects, and, by gen
eral agreement the greater benefit is
accredited to the recognition of the in
fictitious nature of the disease and the
provision made against this danger.
European countries are far in ad-
vance of the United States in this mat
ter, and, among them all, England
stands pre-eminent. The building OF
special hospitals for patients of this
class began there more than century
ago. and there are now eighteen of
these, supported at public cost, with
an aggregate of 1000 beds. There are
seven similar institutions in France, a
number in Germany and many are
scattered in various other continental
countries. Wherever they have existed
long enough to permit of intelligent
deduction, the good effect has been
marked both in the reduction of tho
death-rate from this cause and the
number of cases reported.
AFa al, k4e,
$150000 for the treatment of her con-
sumptive poor. 1t is now announced
that the public health officers of Mich
igan, in connection with the state
board of health, have begun an agita-
ton for the founding of state hospi-
tai for consumptiye patients, to have
large capacity and to be freely open to
all who cannot afford to pay for treat
ment.
1t is within comparatively few years
that the great Importance of prevent
ing the spread of this dreadful disease
by Infection has been realized. 1t was
long regarded with q kind of dull In.
taIism, as simply an incurable malady.
usually hereditary, to be accepted as
an unavoidable visitation.
Hereditary it is in many and incur
~%DAS AAA liz AAAuJOAiiJ VI NhhVss bul II Is
communicated to those who
are sound in body and without tuber-
culous family history, only to create
new sources of hereditary faint and
doom unborn generations to suffering
and death.
The arguments advanced in favor of
the system of general hospitals is
based upon economical, not sentiment
al considerations. Publicists give to
human life money value, and regard
Its preyentable loss as wanton waste.
Viewed in this light, the loss repre-
scented by the death-rate from this
cause stands for an appalling sum.
and it is urged that the maintenance
Of hospitals where the tuberculous pa
tient can be isolated from. the we'll, is
rs important, as much a public duty, |
and as clearly an economy as the sup
port of police and fire departments.
While the prevention of disease is
put forward as the first argument, all
agree that there would result a large
of cures. in cases where the |
disease Is taken in the inception
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.