Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-18

come to him from his own kind who are
suffering from the disease, man is menaced
by nearly every one of the domestic ami
mails. The disease may be the least con-
tagious of the germ disea SEES, but the ele-
, ment of cOntasiOn is strong enough to
make prevention worth soberest considera-
ton.
Preventing TubercuIosis.
In general, that prevention is best as
sured by careful attention to ones general
health Just as the wolves Of the forest
hang round the herd until they can cut off
the aged or weakened member which stray
giles. so the bacillus of consumption turks
for the weakened constitutions of men.
Avoidance of close relations with con-
suInptIve, pure air, sterilzed milk and pure
foods are considerations.
Above all, the great masses of the people
nave TO learn sanitation and to put them
selves In line for the things which the med
zeal world Is preparing for the worlds
good
Today, with case of scarlet fever. diph-
liberia or smallpox In a city household the
ne ads OF that household are not only will
ing but anxious that the stricken one shall
De Isolated from the rest of the family. For
the protection of his neighbor the health
department may step in placard the door
or even remove the sick one With tuber-
culOsls, however. there is no such thought
or sur; there may be no care taken as to
the approximations of the patient and even
ne may share the same bed room with a
we'll member of the household
This must be changed. At the interna-
uondl congress of hygiene i'll Brussels in
1877 resolution was adopted holding that
the disqualification of tuberculosis ia ur-
gent and will not long be withheld"
Hospital for Consnmptiyes.
Only recently Chicago has made two dis
unct moves in recognition of this truth
Chief OF these has resulted in the building
OF the Cook County Hospital for Consump-
HVcs' the first public and charitable insti-
tuition or the kind i'll the United States 1t
was built and equipped at a cost of $3.50
and has accommodation for $50 patients
III ADMITS only such persons as are de-
pendent upon the county. The structure
was designed especially for the p,,rnosa
with every ward arranged to admit light
ahd ar IN greatest quantity Sanitation is
enforced IN strfctest degree. Each patient
mas TWO granite ware cups for sputIIm one
used at night and one through the day
Night and morning these cups are put into
steel drum superhe6ted by steam in
Whlcn they are thoroughly disinfected
Freedom of the wide central corridors Is
allowed to patients, but no one NAV ex.
pectorate save into the one vessel allotted
TO him
Naturally the inmates of this hospital are
not subjects TO inspire great enthusia SIN in
It's medical staff Many of the inmates are
alone IN the world. They are life's failures
and are discouraged and hopeless But the
STAN OF physicians is there. alert and Crap
pling earnestly with this greatest problem
OF the nineteenth century.
Societies for Prevention.
Not only this. but a society for the pre-
Vehtlon or tuberculosis is forming In Chi
eag0 Some of the most prominent ply
sicians in the city are behind the move
ment- It's chief mission In the beginning
Will be educational, 1t will endeavor to
awaken public sentiment to the vital I'M
portance of hospitals and homes for tboss
! suffering from tuberculosis and to impress
/ upon the patient his personal obiiga tions TO
society I'm minimizing the danger of infect
| ing his fellow man. In the end It proposes
| to have developed, broadened and pro.
crossed until tuberculosis no longer
menaces as the greatest and deadliest IN
known to mankind.
New York state Is preparing to emulate
| the Chicago experiment in q hospital for
cousumpttves- A blu now Is under consid-
Grafton at Albany providing for a hospital
building TN the Adirondack forest presarye
| which shall cost Si50, 900 and accommodate
200 patients. II is pointed out that Ii 600
| persons die of tuberculosis every year I'm
/ that state, and that If only half Of these
may be saved the economic saving to the
| state viii exceed 81 600 900 annually. The
| senate committee reporting on the new
measure regrets the lack OF special hospital
! facilities IN the large cities and towns n
| says that the recognized righteousness of
! tuberculosis shuts these patients from the,
! regular hospitals wherever 1t is possible to
| refuse them admittance, and II recommends
\ tnat suburban hospitals for consumptives be
established wherever they may be found
1 necessary
As leading up to the necessities of thesa
| institutions. the state board of health Will
| De asked to issue circulars educating the
| people upon the subject of tuberculosis.
slowly but surely the knowledge of this