The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-06-06
TO SAVE LIVES
Paper ON Tuberculosis Given for
Public Benefit.
A TELLING PHRASE USED
IF Preventa BILE, Why Not Prevent
ed?'-The Constant Dangers
Warnings All May Heed.

| The Medical Association paper that
is perhaps of the most general interest
was presented by DR.. F. Howard Hum
phris under the line IF Preventable
Why Not Prevented. and is here given
in full:
Mr. President Vice President and
| Gentlemen:
For title of my paper, | am indebt-
ed to a happy phrase in a speech of
the Prince OF Wales, when speaking on
the subject of tuberculosis.
This subject is one which like the
poor" is always with us, but l think
that in the light of. recent discoveries,
that generation perchance even yet
born Will look upon us, even as we
look upon generation not altogether
IeXtinct, who regarded typhus fever as
an inevitably constant occurrence; not
so long ago the man who spoke of
stamping out typhus fever was looked
upon as a dreamer; where are his
dreams today?
Do not think that | have any wish
to treat this most serious subject in
any fiippant manner. | would that
every mother in this town could be
made to realize that her child could
could catch other diseases, not one
half so dangerous, but by her far more
often dreaded. that when her child is
recovering from only measles" that
child is happy hunting ground for
the tubercle bacillus and that before
she is aware of il her child is a con-
lSumptive, "a little weak in one lung.
her physician may assure her. bat the
seed is there and the plant IS likely to
flourish until we get the too familiar
type of the hacking cough; the sunk
EN- cheek. the emaciated form. surely
but slowly splitting away his lfe's
blood.
| would. too. that every such wretch
ed sufferer could be made to- realize
how easily he may infect his fellow
creatures and yet how easily by follow
ing a few simple precautions he may
be made as harmless as at present he
is harmful.
When we, sir. first heard of consump-
] ton. we heard two things about it:
firstly it was incurable. and secondly,
that it was a hereditary disease.
| presume tonight that no one here
would defend either of these PROPOSE
lions. but are the general public so en-
lightened? And if not. is it not our
duty to teach them; should not two
things be brought before them.
| Consumption is durable,
Consumption is catching.
We, as physicians. are no longer sat
isfied to fold our hands in resignation
before the curse of consumption.
We are no longer satisfied to regard
it as a mysterious product of inner
litance or bad climate.
We recognize il as an infective dis
ease to be prevented and we know that
the means most effective for its pre-
lvention are likewise those most eff
fectual for its cure.
Is it not our duty, | say again. to
make this information matter of
common, everyday knowledge?
Recognizing in consumption pre-
yentable disease. how are we to pre-
vent it? The means fall under two
heads.
First. Those belonging to the region
of general sanitation which improve
the dwelling, the workshop and the
bodily conditions generally.
Second. The destruction of the spu-
tum The removal of those affected in
the later stages; if they cannot he suf-
ficiently isolated at home, i. q. ii they
are dangerous to others owing to over
crowding the removal of such. | say To
a home free from faint of pauperism.
but in the hands of the sanitary auth
ority.
The question of notification would
have TO be carefully considered, always
with the proviso that the sanitary Of
fcer must never come between the pa
tient and the physician. There is no
need TO treat the sufferer as leper.
In considering the question of max
ing tuberculosis a notifiable disease. a
mere. notification would do neither
harm nor good. but only serve to I'LL
, up a spare moment of those who amuse
themselves with making statistics.
Voluntary notification is only play
ing with the matter and suppose
J that compulsory notification follovc'
by inspection and disinfectiCn r'uSt bt
the basis OF any radical preventative
measure.
The difficulties in the way of any
arbitrary measure are many and great
\ but l think not altogether insUperah!e
and | do most certainly think comrul
sorry notification is the only way TO ed
ucate the more ignorant classes.
| feel that compulsory lotifCatio,
will raise storm of opposition. bu
is il not the only logical solution o
- the difficulty. but while l believe thi
will surely come. is opinion yet rip
J. for it?
But I am leaving other measures q
prevention.
After a room has been vacated b
y constructive. il should he thorough
cIeansed. disinfected and papered b
the authority.
Spittoons with disinfectants thcrei
should be placed in all public place
and conveyanceS.
Special inspection of diaries an
schools should be added to the alread
established inspection OF slauShte
4 houses. and am plad TO learn. too. a
mich COWS are tested with tubercJ