The times., 1901-04-07
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
The Danger From EXpect0rating
i'm Public Places.

4 stringent LAW Enforced in New
YorI.-How Disease Spreads From
the Sputum-FIcading for Fruit
stand Current Notes of Interest.
49, A correspondent of the Commissioners,
signing himself "A Citizen. has called
the attention OF the board to the crusade
now sailg on in New York City against
expcctoration in pubiic places. lt appears
that 1. stringent law has been enacted for
that city upon the subject and that sew
eral arrests have been made and several
persons rgmau8cd for trial under the
law. If convicted. these viii be fined ae-
cordinc to the nature OF the offence.
Citizen also submits statement OF
pr John Is. crosby. Commissioner Of the
BOARD of Health. I'm defence of the law
and relative to the dangers of promlscu-
ous expectoratior on the sidewalks ana
elsewhere. With reference to the latter
subject. Dr Crosby says:
lit is "a well-known fact that most OF
the diseases of the respiratory tract IN
Guiding diphlheria measles, scarlet fever,
pneumonia. tuberculosis influenza, anu'
probably. all forms of acute pronchillS'
are the result of the action OF germs
which are present i'm The sccretonS OF the
resniratorv ORGANS it has been shown
many Instances these germs are present
for long periods OF time during convaiesc-
ence from these diseases in the mucous
secretions and in mild and unrecognized
cases
Through splitting in public convey
ances. on sidewalks. station platforms Of
elevated railways. in public buildings,
etc. the germs producing these diseases
are widely disseminated and are constant
" tracked into the houses on the soles OF
shoes. and by means Of the trailing skirts
of women, which have been soiled by the
expectoration These considerations from
a public health viewpoint are quite SUI
ficient in themselves to justify the en-
actment Of stringent regulations promo
iting the practice. aside from the nlthi-
ness of the habit and the public nuisance
which those who practice 1t become
As showing the great Importance OF
this relation TO only one disease, II may
he mentioned that in the Borough Of Man
haitian during the last year there were
over 5000 cases Of tuberculosis reported
and il is conservativeIy estimated that at
least Z0.o10 cases of this disease exist IN
the Borough OF Manhattan, and the vast
majority OF these latter. in the infectious
stage are moving freely around the
streets OF the city eNpectOr%tng on the
sidewalks in public conVeyances, ana
wherever it may be convenient
1T is not necessary 10 emphasize the
dangers which arise IN this way through
tha disst rniuation Of the tuDercule bacli-
Ii which are the cause OF this disease, ana
which are contained in the eNpeCtoratlon
in almost incredible numbers II mas
ba4r ,-tlug.+i,a ,E..l one person IN the dc-
rf.-e STAGE of the maI3dy may discharge
not less than 5.otj.uJjOy0 oI these IN tIle
sDuturn ia the course OF twenty -lout
hours. The department of health has long
enlphasIZed the fact that tubeTcuioSlS i
communicable and distinctly preNentahlS'
that il is not directly inherited, buJ IS
11rodul-ed solely through its Transmission
rom some human being or animal suf-
fering with IL. by means OF the germs
rhroysu of in the diseased tissue.
ssThe danger from this disease Is even
greater because the large majority OF
cases are among the poor in the over
crowded badly ventilated tenementS @Iid
among the labOreTs In the Workshops
printing Offices, sweat shops, and stores
of-the city. Through the presence OF such
Iaree numbers OF cases ana the lack OF
precauti0u in regard to the dls2'sai 81
the eNpectoTatIon. the streets anu uDic
conveyances. floors Of public buildings
etc become infected, ana the germs
sDread through the drying and puiFeTlz-
ing OF the sputum, floating IN the air as
dust
The Commissioners have referred the
comm uricaIiun to the Health Department
Tor consideration ami report, with eS-
TeciaI reference TO what may De done 70
lessen the evil Of promiscuous eNpectora-
1iou on the sidewalks, streets ana puDic
places in Washington.