New-York tribune., 1897-01-31
FIGHTING CONSUMPTION.
THE UBIQUITOUS BAcILLI AND HOW TO
OVERCOME THEM
THE HEALTH BOARDS ACTION EXPLAINED
BY A sPECIAIIST-THE CONTAGIOUS
NESS OF THE DISEASE

The action of tho Health Board In warning the
people against the practice OF splitting in public
places, and the proposition to isolate persons VINO
are afflicted with tuberculosis. have called forth
much discussion, and physicians as well as iaymeh
have devoted much time to argument on the SUD-
ject. There to be less opposition to the en-
forcement Of the rule against splitting than to the
more drastic isolation measure. The fight against
isolation is based on sentimental as we'll as scen-
ti1c reasons and between the sceptical physician
who declares that pulmonary consumption cannot
be contracted by contact with tuberculous
patient. and that the germs Of tuberculosis are
taken into the lungs Of healthy persons every day
and the people who think that 1t would be wrong
to tell a beloved member OF the family that the
dread malady had shown itself In his or her case,
the opposition to isolation and other preventive
measures has been strong and 1t promises to be
more
But while the sceptics and sen.imentalists lead
the opposition many scientific men have become
more active In pointing the dangers to the COM
munity from Infection unless measures are adopted
in keeping with the ideas of those scientists who
have made the disease a life study.
INFEcTIoUsNEss OF CONSUMPTION
Dr. Irwin II. Hance who has had much expert
ence In the treatment Of tuberculosis. said that
that disease unquestionably an infectious dis
ease 1T is infectious" he said but not In the
caused by the germ commonly called the tubercle
bacillus which is almost ubiquitous; when these
find lodgment in the human system they are
Of actual danger to every recipient or them
In some where cellular activity or the indlviduai
resisting powers are at or above par the invading
host of bacteria are worsted In others In whom
there Is an inherited family tubercular weakness
or impaired powers of resistance by reason OF any
antecedent illness, habits Of excesses and overin-
A,,io had
side of the bacilli and tuberculosis develops This
may be local and quickly become quiescent lying
latent the point of infection for months ana even
years. or It may rapidly develop into case OF con-
sumption. tuberculosis is preventaole disease
despite the fact that the death returns show
yearly death-rate Of II per cent or moro from
tubercuar affections alone
When asked In what sense the disease was pre-
ventable, DR.. Hance said:
"By Strengthening the tissues and cells OF the
body against the invasion OF the germs OF the dis
ease and by destroying the various sources from
which the germs originate. To accomphsn the
former the general rules of cleanliness and hygienic
living are OF the greatest Importance; one must at
the same time preserve the balance between the
normal daily wear and tear Of the body and the
recuperave power Of the various cells and tissues
nv avoiding excessive mental and physical
exercise and Of any Kind which result only
in impaired vitality Of the tody. Destruction OF
the sources Of the germs can De ATTAINED only
when the public at large has been taught to un-
derstand wherein the sources OF infection lie Ihese
consist OF three for all practical purposes-dried
snutum or other excreta from tubercular indi-
viduals milk from tubercular COWS and tuberculous
meat The last two sources are beginning 10 re-
ceive the attention they demand. ana such lesai
measures are being enforced by the various States
and the local boards Of health as WILL we nope.
ultimately insure the public from Infection In
uhi IA n
sumption.
HOW TO PREVENT DISSEMINATION.
"How to prevent the dissemination Of dried
sputum Is a hard problem to solve, and success
will come only after many years Of untiring effort
on the part of the health boards, medical men and
the combined efforts Of the more Intelligent men,
bers OF the community At present our measures
sboid he directed to educating the public concern
ing the danger OF infection from sputum and how II
can be destroyed In the simplest and surest manner
To accomplish this the first requisite Is to have
Soma system OF learning where tubercular patients
r,aka their home This Is what the Board or
Health has been doing for the last three years with
great benefit to the community as found oy per-
sona observations on visiting NUMBERS Oh tene-
ments last winter. The fact that the notincaton OF
such cases on the part OF the physicians has oeen
Recently made compulsory has stirred up much
commen. from the medical men and antagonism on
~. MARI of the laity. BY such means alone can
On. foe, of infection be discovered and receive the
attention they demand. This is the chief reason
for enforcing compulsory notification, and II Is not
TO brand the individual as pest or TO restrict MS
freedom or rights. as would be done with small
nox patient We have. however. all become so
familiar with the tubercular patient that we do
M, reaI,ze how easy It is for him to become dan
rorous to his fellows unless he Is taught how to
take care Of his expectoration; yet we're 1t case
~ lenrosy. which is an allied disease and nothing
like so contagous the publiicI officials would be
sent to North Brother Island where the strictest
isolation Is enforced . x, .,. T.,
oosea ~ tuberculosis Dr. Hance said: II believe
thai the patient should be told all about his cond-
ton 1t should be put no 10 s a. exaX n, What he
s,lts the physician for. and unless the patient un-
Man Of living or for going to some suitable climate
he is continually running grave r1sKs OF mem
or se Witch may rapidly prove fatal 1t is
ceded fact among physicians that the early
issnctoTv treated chiefly because the patients
Themselves know what is the matter, and they ex.
i bamnorrhaee II every physician had heard the
amentabie regrets of those who were told TOO iate
whai disease they were suffering from, as did in
" i've Years experience in large sanitarium they
ond sS look at this question in different light and
be more frank with their patients.
REDUCED MORTALITY
Statistics In the Health Department show that
tho mortality from tuberculosis has fallen of con-
s,derab bIv in late years and Dr. Hance said that he
thought the records perfectly correct and trust
wor,hv. "The reduction in the mortality OF nearly
40 per cent is due to the higher standard OF our
medical schools" he said. land the more intelli-
gent use Of the microscope Then. TOO II mas peen
nnonra Nrmly established than ever that drugs nave
ittie or no influence on the disease. climate alone
nnering the only hopes or permahent cure
Thnsa Two factors would tend TO increase the num-
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