The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-08

etc. 1T the pnTt-pf eTnbarkatiOn. If ii is
declared by this Government that cases
of tuberculosis shall not enter the United
States their detection at the port OF de-
ton Is not only in conformity with mod
CTn sanitation. but il Is a saving Of time
and money for the immigrant, who can
i'll afford to he returned after he has spent
his savings for transportation to this
country Furthermore. this method would
better prevent infection which possibly
may Dr propaEaJsd during the transit Of
the ship As those occupying SteeTaEC
quarters are frequently crowded together
IN large numbers. with Only a minimum
amount Of ventilation particularly during
All viii app-ove Of The effort Of the
PUreau of immigration TO prevent the IN
crease Of tuberculosis. but the medical
profession will rot endorse q policy WnIcn
IS not practical and consistent and which
tends to defeat the end in view. Even
now eYuigrautS CmbaTkIug at large for
eiSH ports are inspected by medical ON
GERS OF this Government therefore, II
would only require a larger force OF lheSS
officials to carry out in d reasonable man
n9r what the Bureau Of Immigration
hopes to do at United States ports, and
which I believe to be impTaCticable-
When asked regarding the order relat-
ing to tuberculosis patients arriving at
this port, DR. Hermann NJ. BiEgS said:
i think that q distinction should be
made as between the diseases which we
call communicable and those that We can
contagious The Department Of Health
has always insisted strongly that tuDer-
culOSiS was a communicable disease, but
was not contagious, and it has emphasized
the fact that under proper conditions
cOnsumptive need not be in any way
source of danger, even to his most fmnae-
date associates.
I have always been the stanchest ad-
vocate of sanitary supervision of tuber-
culosis- and, in connection with others,
vigorously favored the adoption Of meas
ures ~ the Department of Health for the
prevention of this disease thirteen or four
teen years ago But / cannot believe,
under the conditions now existing in this
country, that consumptives can be prop
eTly excluded because of the nature Of
their disease unless they are likely to be-
come public charge. Certainly if con-
SumDtfveS are to be excluded it should be
through examination previous to embark
alton ] would say, further. that no eX-
animation such has been ordinarily made
of immigrants would result in the eXclu-
sion Of any but very advanced cases.
Do you think that other countries are
ted States?"
Much less definite action has been
taken by the sanitary authorities in Eu-
rope than in this country within q few
days. ] received 4 long letter from Dr.
Robert Koch asking for more specific in
formation IS to the nature of the meas
Ures that had been adopted in this coun-
try by the sanitary authorities, and ex-
pressing a hope that the Berlin officials
would he induced to take more vigorous
action as to the general prevention Of
tuberculosis.
If so little has been done in regard to
the prevention of the disease in these
countries they are not likely to adopt
quarantine measures against it unless de
signed for retaiiatOry purposes.
Il believe further, that the step is IN
wise because it places tuberculosis in the
public mind in the class of diseases where
1t does not belong, and soon State or nnu-
nicipal authorities might be tempted to
ADOPT similar measures, as. in fact, they
have almost done in California. Such ac-
tiol- Is unnecessary, inhuman, and IN
scientific
Or. Edward G. Janeway said: This
measure will probably react upon US, and
persons here who have tuberculosis and
who desire to make their homes abroad
or TO travel in Europe may be compelled
70 remain IN their own country"