The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-06-06
Paper on Tuberculosis Given for
Public Benefit.
4 TELLING PHRASE USED
''R Prsventabie, Why Not Prevent
ed7"-Ths Constant Dangers
Warnings All May Heed.

The Medical Association paper that
is perhaps of the most general interest
was presented by DR.. +. Howard Hum
phris under the line IF Preventable,
Why Not Prevented" and is here given
in full
Mr.. President, Vice President and
Gentlemen:
For a 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 I think
that in the light of recent discoveries,
that a generation perchance even yet
born will look upon us, even as We
look upon a generation not altogether
extinct. 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 fippant manner. I would that
every mother in this town could be
made to realize that her child could
catch consumption as readily as 1t
could catch other diseases. not one
half SO dangerous. but by her far more
often dreaded, that when her child IL
recovering from only measles" that
child is a happy hunting ground for
the tubercle bacillus and that before
oh 10 nf 10 N
sumptive, "a little weak in one lung"
her physician may assure her, but 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 cmaciated form, surely
but slowly splitting away his life'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 II was a hereditary disease.
presume tonight that no one here
would defend either of these PROPOSE
tons, but are the general public so en-
lightened? And II not, Is 1t 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
1t as a mysterious product of inner
itance or bad climate.
We recognize II as an infective dis
ease to be prevented and we know that
the means most effective for its pre-
yentiOn are likewise those most eff.
fectual for its cure.
Is II not our duty, ! say again, &c
make this information a matter OF
common, everyday knowledge?
Recognizing in consumption a pre-
ventable disease, how are we to pre-
vent It? The means fall under two
heads.
First. Those belonging to the regior
OF general sanitation which improve
the dwelling. the workshop and thu
bodily conditions generally.
Second. The destruction Of the spu
tum. The removal Of those affected II
the later stages; II they cannot be suf
ficiently isolated at home. !. e. II the,
are dangerous to others owing to over
crowding, the removal Of such, say t.
a home free from faint of pauperism
but in the hands of the sanitary auth
GRITTY.
,f 4
have to be carefully considered, Away,
with the proviso that the sanitary of
ficer must never come between the pa
tient and the physician. There is NJ
need to treat the sufferer as a leper.
In considering the question of max
ing tuberculosis notifiable disease, {
mere notification would do neither
harm nor good. but only serve to III
up spare moment OF those who amus'
themselves with making statistics.
Voluntary notification Is only play
ing with the matter and ! suppose
that compulsory notification follOwc,
by inspection and disinfection must b.
the basis of any radical preventative
measure.
The difficulties in tn way of an.
arbitrary measure are many an9 great
hut | think not altogether insuperahlo
and do most certainly think c)mpul
sorry notification Is the only way 10 ed
ucate the more Ignorant classes,
feel that compulsory aoih1ltlo
viii raise storm Of opposition, bu
is II not the only logical solution q
the difficulty, but while ] believ" tn
will surely come, II opinion yet rip
fpr NJ