The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-25
MEDICAL NOTES.
prepared for the Sunday Journal by
an Old Probationary

An example of the necessity of more
stringent quarantine is shown by the case
of young man who came from North
Carolina on the steamer jefferson and two
days later applied for admittance at Belle
vue Hospital New York, complaining that
he felt sick. The physicians who saw him
did not realize his condition and sent him
to the Metropolitan Hospital. but it was
Sunday he could not then be admitted
there. He accordingly wandered about the
city streets on foot and in street cars all
the day, and in the evening turned in at
the city lodging house. where he was taken
in for a nights lodging. but three hours
later he was found to be so sick that he
was sent to Bellevue Hospital, where the
physicians discovered that he had small
pox. He was at once isolated, the health
authorities notified and prompt measures
taken to disinfect the lodging house and
vaccinate the ninety-five men who had
been there that night. OF course it was
impossible to take any preventive measures
in the case of the many hundreds who had
come in contact with the man before he
had applied at the lodging house, and yet
people wonder how it is that they catch
diseases.
:: =
People believe, with a certain amount Of
reason that many physicians are unfortu-
nately victims of drug habits. DIR. Evert
states that within his knowledge 20 per
cent of opium habitues are practicing
physicians. Dr. Dewey writes that of TWEEN
ty-eight cases of morphine and cocaine adj
dictions coming under his care thirteen
s-so Af hA
sporting fraternity form another large per-
centage. There is a great difference, how
ever, in the reason for this. The physician
wears himself out in loyal and unselfsh
service, the other class in vicious and
licentious pleasure; the physician takes the
drug to brace himself for a new effort in
behalf of humanity. while the other class
are engaged in plundering and pandering.
Dr. Dewey while he confesses there is far
more inebriety of this kind than appears
on the surface, believes that it is likely
to be overestimated in the public mind and
that an unjust suspicion thus attaches to
the physician. AS professional body med
ical men should not only be virtuous but
above suspicion, and If necessary should
promptly repudiate drug habits and those
who practice them.
DR.. Whalen, in a paper upon the preven-
ton of tuberculosis, says that the United
States government annually spends mill
lions of dollars to prevent the spread Of
cholera, yellow fever and small pox. yet to
the presence of tuberculosis there exists a
spirit of apathy that is a reproach to our
intelligence While he believes that infec-
ton from milk may be possible, he thinks
It to be extremely infrequent. the chief
means of communicating disease in child
hood being by direct infection, by inspired
air He welcomes the new crusade against
tuberculosis. but does not believe II would
he judicious at the present time to make
the registration Of this disease compulsory,
since inspection and infection can safely
be carried on without working such a hard
ship to those unfortunates- Too rigorous or
inhuman restriction might undo the work
already done of bringing 1t into disrepute.
consequently only such precautions should
be taken as are really necessary.
Recent Investigations at the Soldiers
| Home at Bath, New York. have shown that
seemingly excessively large amounts of
| whisky have been used there. The quantity
of liquor allowed at Bath was found to be
| three and half times greater than that
| at Dayton. the largest home in the country.
The allowance at Bath had been three bar
rels per month, but latterly it had been re-
| duced to two barrels. the physicians being
| quoted as saying that the supply Of liquor
was not half enough for the needs of the
| hospital. The free continuous use of whis-
! Ky in conditions OF chronic disease is a
matter in which there Is room for great
| difference of opinion. but IT may lead to
| euthanasia, and. there are many who
would be glad Of the opportunity and think