The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-07

had surveyed the field with no reward
FOR their labors
Numerous writer's have repeatedly said
thar isolation. cleanliness. pure ar, pure
water. are the best prophylactlc agents
I'm this disease. and the medical profess
sion has acted accordingly with varying
success. But it Is sofe 10 say that thor
oughness has been the exception AID nut
tho rule I'm the use Of these measures.
and obstacles In the forms Of heellessne 3.
ovarioe and Ignorance OF the dangers ct
tending the disease have presented them
selves. Most authorities unite In support
OF the theory that the best preventive
rncasutcs FOR the well IN this ais s1se are
ISOLATION a thorough pi'lhcaton Of raj
meut and other articles upon which rests
a susniolon OF infection, and the thorough
use OF dlslnfcctants. and proof is rot
lacliu, that favorable results have de-
pended on the persistcncy and thorough
ness attending the application OF thecs
measures.
II prevention can be applied 10 a disease
after Il has found iis victim, Il must lie
10 aba,e lis virulence and the best meas
ures are cleanliness. pure air. good light.
destruction Of sputa. cNcreta. ETC. These
methods must recommend themselves 20
the Judgment Of every one. itefe, as with
the well. there must be thcroughness. ard
an unyielding enforcement GA tho meas
ures mentioned.
Those who nurse the sicl. should avail
Themselves Of all the helps citsd. avoiding
as far az possible. contact with lie dis
eased. and tho inhalation OF their breath:
and be diligent IN the publication n fheir
surroundings. 1t being conceded foCt
that the germs OF this are carried in
clothing and other articles which have
been exuoeed contact with such articles
should be rigidiy avoided
TO KILL CONsUMPTION.
Some remarkable facts. and not q few
interesting statistics regarding pulmonary
tuberculosis or consumption. Wero pre-
scented % President wilson. OF the New
York City Health Department. boo ID report
signed by Or. Hermann w. h.ggs end
Dr. IT, Mitchell Pruddcn, tho Health Dc
partment pathologists. They hold that
the disease ia WHOLLY rrcvcnfaL'e.' not
withstanding the fact ttat thera are 0ooo
cases Of IT annually with ODD deaths.
in that city.
During the past Twelve years." reads
the report. There has been reduction
I'm the general mortality from an tnber-
cular diseases Of more tnan thirty Ier-
cent, IN New York c.'r Eut tie time
has now arrived we believe. WHOM more
comprehensive and radical measures
should be adopted to rapidly ana ma-
terialv diminish the prevalence OF pull
monary tuberculosis Deb this city,
"It is c0nservatiVeiy estimated that ~
least 1900 cases OF wcil-deve'0nod and
recognised pulmonarv tuberculosis now
exist in this city and roo additional large
number Of obscure and incipicnt forms of
the disease A very largo proportion OF
the former cases constitute more on less
dangerRs centres for Infection lt may
safely le assumed that from Tho failure
to safely dispose OF tie sputrm ~ con-
sumptivcs. from thirty 10 flIr inhabi-
tants a. the city daily become infected
and. Of these. about one-half later die
from the disease
1--WE fully believe that With proper re-
gulatlons. tuberculosis may De tricted
within the narrowed bounds. ana efen-
tually. perhaps. almost eNfermiNal ed.
This rs a conviction founded uron tho
most thorough and conclusive experiment.
al investigations. confirmed hy practical
experience"
TO do this. tho Health Department must
assume complete ana c0mpren He.Fc con-
troll. Tho immediate s.aDlshment OF
hospital for consumpt.Ves is asked.
Medical opinion say The physiclans.
agrees thar tuberculosis must be isolated.
This IS not done in tho city institutions
which are. besides owe 'croWood. and Wy
ventilated Moro than 1900 cases nave
boon reDortel during tho past year as
admitted 10 the various institutions in
charge Of tho department of charities.
and 600 more have been treated OF ita dis
pensaries. .-
Tho document concludes WIN -FOUR
radical recommendation.
/. That n hospital for the poor Pc n9iit
That ttl1erculosis ia declared oiileihi-
L., a communicable 90 ease in the sanitary
code and put under surveillance.
That all institutions admitting tlher-
culosis be subjected 10 systematic in-
snection by the Health Department OIL
cials.
.to, ~ tuberculosis De enlarged, and
closer sanitary inspection over indlVld-
mails suffering from &C. be maintained.
N"'' SANIrAS.