The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-31
NOBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
PHILANTHROPIC RICH.

|
DR.. A. S. Knopf, in the Forum" dis
cusses the proposition preached in Cal
ifornia to establish a quarantine at the
borders of this State to prevent the in
coming of persons afflicted with tuber-
culosis. He takes exception to the harsh
criticisms which have been made Of the
suggestion. and proceeds to inform the
Eastern as we'll as other readers of that
review of the facts in the case which
have moved thoughtful men in this
State to propose exclusion of citizens Of
other States from entry to California in
certain cases.
His observations Of some years re-
suited in the conviction that there is
rapid increase of consumption in Cali
fornia, especially among the native
population, and that the mortality is
steadily becoming greater He at
tributes the increase to carelessness,
thoughtless conduct of consumptive Wis
itors, and to. ignorance, by reason of
carelessly expectorating in the streets
and in public places. He is confirmed
in that belief by the observations of
others. In New Mexico the same condi-
ton, heretofore free from tuberculosis,
is found to be contracting it and dying
of it with increasing frequency. Sim
liar testimony comes from France and
| FOL cd 70
consumptives.
With the positive evidence Of the
spread Of the disease because of the
acts of visiting patients, can any one
blame Californians. asks the essayist.
for moving to apply a drastic remedy,
if they think by stopping the immigra-
ton Of consumptives the end can be
accomplished? On economic grounds
the doctor defends the exclusion sug-
gestion. It is not essential to cure a
case in primary stages to send the pa
tent to the southern or any other part
of California. There are many localities
at the East with pure air and proper
elevation where, with proper treatment
and hygienic regulations, the disease
may in its incipiency be arrested.
If by removal to California the pa
tient from the East is cured. he may
expect a recurrence of the disease on
returning to his home at the East One
cured in his home climate stands a far
better chance. The number of patients
or recovered invalids who have had
consumption, who are seeking employ
ment in Southern California, says the
doctor, is appalling. The people Of that
section, and he might have said of the
| whole State, are not in favor of estab-
fishing colonies of consumptives in the
State, as proposed for the poor by DR..
Cofer. a well-known philanthropist.
Employers always prefer sound men,
the people always prefer healthy, ro-
bust immigrants to come among them.
An astonishingly large number OK
those who come to the south section
from the East to effect a cure of tuber-
culosis are without sufficient means,
and early become inmates of the county
hospitals, thus imposing a heavy bur-
fornia does all she can for her own
poor, why should this additional bur-
den be thrust upon her?
However, while Dr. Knopf does not
blame Californians for the position they
take, he expresses the belief that less
Draconian measures than guarantees
and exclusion may prove effective. he
holds consumption to be not a con-
tagious, but communicable disease.
1t is mainly through the dried and pull
verified results of the expectoration of
consumptives that the disease is
spread If this castoff matter is prop
erly taken care of the patient is not a
menace to his fellow-men. In properly
conducted hospitals, for instance, 1t is
| exceedingly rare for an attendant to
| take the disease, though In constant
touch with many tuberculosis patients
If, therefore, proper laws are enacted
| and vigorously enforced, the evil feared
can be avoided. There must be stern
enforcement of ordinances against pro-
miscuous expectorating, and against all
other means of communicating the
germs of tuberculosis. The people of
California, he adds, may we'll say to
consumptives, resident or arriving, no
matter what the station In life, that the
violation of. these laws will be punished
by expulsion from the State. Here we
know Of no legal right to make exile a
penalty He holds that in this enlight-
ened age no government should prevent
tuberculosis patient from entering, If
he obeys the law regarding commune
cability of his disease, and gives assur-
ance that he will not become a charge
| upon the community.
The essayist has a word to say to the
consumptives of the East contemplate
ing resort to California to have cures
effected. There is not. because they
might be excluded, therefore no hope
for them. On the contrary, competent
physicians at the East can direct them
to plenty of spots where their chances
will be equally as good, without re-
moval thousands of miles away from
their homes. Climatic conditions are
not, he asserts, of prime Importance. In
treating tuberculosis pure air and more
or less elevated regions are desirable