The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-14
CONSUMPTION CURE.
New York Board of Health Makes
Suggestions.
They Claim That the. Dreaded Disease
Can Be Controlled.

The New York Board of Health has
completed very important Investigations
relative to pulmonary diseases and their
conclusion is tnat they may he con-
trolled and cured The abstrac, OF their
report is as follows:
"As the health department has already
declared its conviction that pulmonary
tuberculosis is communicable disease,
and has taken steps looking tovard Its
prevention, ann as the Information At
hand shows that 1t is far more fatal than
any other communicable disease with
which the board has to deal, and destroys
eacn year more lives than all the other
communicable diseases together. 1t would
seem self evident that some su utiicient and
far reaching measures should be at once
adopted to protect the inhabitants OF
this city from its further rayages.
"The importance Of provision for the
separate care OF persons suffering from
other forms OF communica ble disease has
long been universally admitted. aud the
maintenance OF separate hospitals for
these diseases is justly recognized as one
of the most effective OF the sanitary meas
ures for securing puloic safety. There
are most urgent reasons why similar
measures should be adopted 10 dealing
with pulmonary tuberculosis.
"We believe that such an institution
in charge of the health department would
secure all these advantages, witnout en-
croacnment in any way upon tie pro-
vince of the institutions now caring for
such patients, ana would contribute
as no other measure can, to the success OF
the endeavor OF the department, now
pursued in the face of ho peless obstacles,
to curtail the ravages of pulmonary tuber-
culosis in New York.
"There is no disease with which we
have TO deal in which our knowledge
justfies more completely the conviction
that it is absolutely preventaole and
that it can be stamped out by the effi-
cient enforcement OF simple, we'll under
stood ana easily applied measures of
cleanliness, disinfection and isolation.
These measures, furthermore, involve no
hardship 10 the individual; and when we
recall that even with reducsd death
in this city from tuberculosis, the vital
Importance OF the subject is evident.
ave would therefore respectfully recon-
mend:
"First-1hat such action he taken by
the health board as seems necessary and
proper to at once secure the provision OF
hospital accommodations. under it's
charge, for the care of the poor suffering
from pulmonary Tuberculosis, who, as
active sources of danger to the commu-
nifty. may properly come under its super.
vision.
"Sscond- That an amendment be made
to the Sam itary Code declaring that tuber-
culosis be officially considered a commu-
ncable disaese, and formulating regula-
tions under which its sanitary surveillance
shall be exercised.
"Third--rnat ell institutions in this
city which admit and treat casss Of pull
monnry tuberculosis be subjected to re-
gular and systematic inspection by off,
cials Of this board, and that specific regu-
lations be est hished for the conouc. of
such institutions, In accord with the pro-
posed amendment TO the Sanitary code.
"Fonrth-That the scope Of the msa-
ures designed for the education Of the
people in regard to the nature OF pulmo-
nary tuberculosis. AMI the methods to be
taken Tor its prevention, be enlarged and
closer sanitary supervision be main
tained over individuals suffering from this
disease in the densely poplated tenement
districts and In the crowded workshops
and public buildings OF this city,"
General Emmons Clark, secretary Of the
health board, said that no immediate
steps could be taken toward the erection
of hospital for consmptives,as the board
of estimate had already made it's appro-
priations for the year. an the passage of
a legislative act will be reqired. The
board will, however, he added, at It's next
meeting adopt an amendment to the
Sanitary Code in line with the recon-
mendstions Of the report.