The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-26

DANGEROUS TO PUBLIC HEALTH
september 30 the Michigan board OF
health resolved
mat hereafter consumption and other
diseases due to bacillus tuberculosis shall
DC included in the official list OF diseases
dangerous to public health, requiring no.
tice by householders and physicians 10 the
local health officer as soon as the disease
Is recognized.
Tho secretary OF the board, DR.. Henry
b. Baker. In giving notice of the resolu-
ZION, adds the following foot nots.
In this resolution the question OF Iso
id'ioii oil the patient Is not mentioned. Its
purpose is to secure to the local health
authorities the location OF each case OF
inns most dangerous disease with the view
OF placing in the hands OF the patient re.
iiable information how to avoid giving the
disease to others. and in the hands of those
most endangered information how to avoid
contracting tho disease
| Long years before the microscope had
demonstrated the specific cause of phthisis
nedlcai men had recognized its infectious
tendency, and had, in many Instances.
made ehorts toward the separation, In
sieeplng apartments, of the sick from the
well The profession of today almost
unanimously accept the theory Of its con-
'de'ousntss but, as far known to the
writer OF this article. the Michigan board
OF health has been the first authority TO
pace the disease in the class known as
dangerous to public health
| The PRONUNCIATION of the resolution re-
| ierred TO. at trst seems an ungenerous
| plow at those who deserve our ienderest
| consideration, and H. will doubtless be
condemned by thousands of good men and
| women, related TO those afflicted, by ties OF
| friendship and consequently. but the ne
| ctssity for bold and active measures is
imperative. and saniiarians can not permit
sentiment or sympathy to interfere.
The rigid rules enforced against cpl
demc diseases need not re employed nor
| resoried 10 in the management OF con
sumptives, but their apartments should be
under the supervision of health officials
| and Gcrmicidal agents should be contin-
uously used 10 render them innocuous.
1t will he extremely difficult TO mark
| an exact period IN the progressive stage OF
| tuberculosis when the case becomes men
ace to public health The disease is SO In e
| sidlous in its advances that the danger
| point is often reached before correct dag
| nosis ran be made. When. however. de-
! siructive changes occur. and live tissue.
| loaded with bacllli Ia thrown off with every
| eSpectoratton the victim of this the dead
lest Of all ills that man is heir to. becomes
dangerous to public health. and most dan
gerous to those nearest and dearest 10
| them.
The warm winters and the dry uniform
| temperature OF Southwest Texas have In
duce1 many consumptives to leave their
less promising surroundings in the North.
Austin. San Antonio. El Paso and other
| cities have sent out glowing advertisements
Of pure water and balmy airs that could
| magicully restore flesh to wasted frames.
and the highly coiorod pictures have kim
| died hopos that reason had eXtinguished.
'As a result our principal hotels are at
times crowded with these unfortunates
many Of whom have come too late 10 be
| benefited by any condition or remedy
| known to man. The rooms occupied by
them arc, without sanitary treatment, taken
by ether travellers when the Sick one dies
or changes quarters; the carpets. walls
upholstered furniture, wardrobes, curtains
and hcdcothes are necessarily contain
mated.
Tho well man. with such environments
Is certainly liable TO he attacked while the
one with bronchial, pneumonia or catarrhal
complications furnishes more inviting
field for fresh invasions.
when ease Of smallpox develops in one
OF our towns wave Of apprehension sweeps
over the immediate neishborhoad; health
officers are summoned, cordons established
and all the weapons of sanitary science arc
invoked TO stay the infection. We watch
with never ceasing vigilance, the advance
Of cholera yellow fever, dphtheria and kin
dred contagious from afar oil. while tbs
subtle poison OF consumption 10 scattered
broadcast over the land and planted IN no
tells churches and school rooms. In thu
new order of things this can not continue.
Municipal authorities Will exercise ih'
same surveillance over phthisls pulmonalis
in public houses and places as over other
Infectious diseases. and state health Of
ficials viii inspect sleeping cars of rail
road trains, and every berth occupied by
one sick of this disease will be scientifically
treated before being subsequently used by
other persons.
"zymotic, or epidemic diseases that
we're fifty years ago uncontrolled
and thought TO be uncomfortable, can now
be circumscribed and annihilated.
Under wise system OF rules. uniyer-
sally adopted by boards of health--ruIes
that need not be harsh or inhuman 10 those
| afflicted-this great destroyer consump-
ton. can, we believe. be as successful.
controlled and finally banishcd from the
earth.
Amy family OF ordinary intelligence, hav-
ing amongst thom an afflicted member, car
appreciate the Importance of enforcing san
itary measures and can do H. Themselves
to a great extent. The danger lios In the
sputa and other expectorated matter. This
should be regarded and treated as a'poison
ana Sn0ui1 mol DC hlloWtu 10 cOiHe III thil
tact with any article capable OF harborinp
it. Vessels should be used as receptacles
for these discharges, and they should be
kept partly filled with water and frequently
emptled and disnfected or ii a handker-
chief or other article be used for the re-
ception OF The sputa, 1t should be burned
or. al least, subjected to boiling water, with
or without the addition, say. or per cent
OF hichloridc OF mercury, the family being
made acquainted with the nature of the dis
injecting fluid, if used, and warned of rs
polsonous character. Frequent changes OF
bed linen and Of wearing apparel all ol
which should be similarly treated, is to be
urged. together with such other means OF
measures of cleanliness as will sugges
themselves The dcsiderntum Is to prevent
tho sputa or other expectoratod matter
from drying, and thus carrying the living
germs or bacill into the atmosphere. 81
ccursc Il is expected that every intelligent
person capable Of approaching the danger
will avoid contact with The sick person
such as sleeping together OF sick ana well
or OF frequent kissing Of the patient.
After q death. or removal from the
npartment last occupied by the consump-
| ,.yo ,bn rom shculI he thOrouyhly