Evening star., 1901-09-09
CONSUMPTION QUARANTINE
GOV. MURPHY'S RADICAL RECON-
MENDATIONS AS TO ARIZONA.
Will Urge the Legislature to Pass q
Bill Which VIII Give Health
Board Full Powers.

The recent important recOmme endations OF
the tuberculosis congress in London nave
caused much agitation in this country as
to a means of preventing and controlling
consumption.
The principal recommendations, which
urged the separation of patients and pro-
tested against public expectoration, holding
that the germs of the disease were thus
conveyed by inhalation to the unaffected,
are to be followed by legislation in this
country, in one territory, at least, Arizona,
If the recommendations of Gov. N. o. Muir
ply Of that territory to be made at the en-
suing session of the territorial legislature
are made into a law.
Gov. Murphy. who was formerly delegate
from Arizona to Congress and who is well
known in Washington, Is at the Arlington.
He stated to Star man this morning that
while his recommendation would be rad
ical measure in the matter of controlling
the actions and the lives of consumptives,
he believed nevertheless that the time was
opportune to raise the question in an OFF,
cial way, far the territory of Arizona
was concerned, to the extent of passing
restrictive measure regulating the habita-
tions and residence of consumptiyes in an
effort to prevent the spread of the disease
by communication.
No legislation is as yet in effect in this
country which directs as to where a con-
OF Sweeping Effect.
"There Is considerable agitation in Ari-
zona," said Gov Murphy, ION the question
of the treatment of the thousands Of per-
sons afflicted with consumption who have
come to live with us because Of the salub-
rity of our climate and the wonderful effect
the dry air of the desert has upon the
lungs Of those who do not postpone their
ott 10 fnr y~olin ,,y,ti1 fhau IN, he
helpless stages of the disease.
I'VE do not desire to shut out cOnsump-
tives from the privilege Of coming to us in
an effort to get well, but my object is to
prevent their promiscuous intermingling
with the we'll While have as yet given
no intimation of my intention, will now
say that 1t Is my purpose to recommend the
creation. under legislative authority, of
territorial board Of health, investing its
officers with full power to quarantine and
segregate persons coming into the terri
tory afflicted with consumption. precisely
along the lines of the power Of the boards
Of health OF the various states In quaran-
timing against any dangerous contagious
disease.
"Of course. know that this law, If pass
ed. would be of the most vital importance to
the great army of those afflicted with con-
sumption, and 1t Is legislation which would
arouse much discussion as to it's merits and
ultimate effects. But there are two sides
to the question. / think our people are
contagion. at least on an equality with the
patient who Is In turn entitled to exhaust
all reasonable efforts to get well. 1t would
be inhuman to deny them this chance but
I shall recommend that a law be passed
prohibiting them from living In hotels and
boarding houses with well people. and re-
quiring them to live upon the desert in
such places or sanitariums to be provided.
and in such localities where the possibility
of contagion will be as greatly reduced as
circumstances permit.
THE recent declaration Of the tubercu-
losis congress in London as to the means OF
&C ntagion. while not influencing my deter
mination, has affirmed the need Of isola-
tion and control In communities where
there are great many consumpttves. The
newly created board would have power to
examine the arrivals In the territory In
the trains, and determine whether they are
proper subjects for control. Persons COM
ing to would be obliged to obey these
dir ections. or pass out OF the territory.
Persons afflicted with consumption. espe-
cially those in the last stages. who flock
to one center are a great menace to the
Inhabitants, and cannot be said to be de-
sir able companions for close association"
Local Physicians Views.
A well-known Washington specialist, to
whom Governor Murphy's remarks were
made known. said:
SHOULD Arizona adopt Governor Muir
phys recommendation to seggregate con-
sumptives from the well. and to stipulate
where they may live should they become
residents of the territory. the result would
be startling to patients, physicians and the
country. II Arizona should enact such leg
isiation and it stood the test in the courts.
there would be little doubt that other states
and territories would adopt ultimately the
same law or a modification Of 1t, and an
entirely new and far-reaching aspect would
be placed upon the subject OF consumption
and it's treatment.
"The experiment OF isoiating and treat
ing consumption In a sanitarium was tried
at Liberty, N. Y, small village IN Suiii-
van county. about LOO feet above sea
level. and situated among the hills. Good
results were obtained In some instances,
but the people Of the village strongly pro-
tested against the maintenance OF the san
itarium. as they did not desire consump-
tives as q class for residents or visitors.
The sanitarium was burned one night. the
fire presumably being OF incendiary origin
for the purpose Of wiping out an instftu-
tion which could not otherwise De enaceo.
''In the Adfrondacks, where many con-
sumptives 60 to recuperate. some or the
hotels and boarding houses already decline
to receive them as guests. ana insert In
their advertisements and pamphlets line
that 'consumptives are not received While
this may work q hardship upon the patient.
It insures the guests Of such places Inn
muritty from contact with the afflicted. and
such is the purport of the greater and
very sweeping measuFs proposed for Ari-
zona. an entire territory, as large as sew
eral states. being affected. On the other
hand. some of the Colorado resorts are
peopled and sustained by consumptives.
notably Colorado Springs. where they con-
stitute a majority OF the residents. over
so per cent. believe.
'sThe law would be good one In some
respects and work a hardship in others,
and the difficulty would lie In its enforce
ment. It's principal commendable feature
would be that 1t does not close the gates
to patients. It might result beneficially. as
II is the outdoor life In the dry. clear air
of the desert which works a cure or brings
relief; but many consumptiyes, especial y