New-York tribune., 1901-06-21
TO COUNT CONSUMPTIVES.
DIR. LEWIS WILL UNDERTAKE CENSUS
OF THE AFFLICTED.

THE PURPOSE is TO GET AN ACCURATE
KNOWLEDGE OF TUBERCULOUs PERSONS
THE ENUMERATION TO BEGIN SOON
A census Of the consumptives in this State is
soon to be taken by DR.. Daniel Lewis. Com
missioner of the State Board of Health. 1t will
be the first census OF the kind undertaken
by this State and of the most important
from physicians and a layman's point Of view.
The records in the majority Of medical libraries
show. it is said that many boards of health of
large cities have tried TO learn the number OF
persons suffering with tuberculosis within the
territory over which they have control. but
none of the statistics regarding consumption in
dicate that any effort has been made to take
the census of tuberculous persons in any State
or in a large area inhabited by several million
people The census about 10 be taken in this
State is only for the purpose OF learning the
number OF consumptives in the State as far as
possible and the revealing of other facts relat-
ing TO the disease which will undoubtedly be of
great import to physicians and surgeons in
every part of the world. 1t is expected that this
enumeration will throw much light the ques
ton as 10 what the State should do for the care
of those within It's borders who are afflicted with
consumption and who cannot afford 10 pay for
treatment at the private sanatoriurns.
The annual number of deaths from corSump-
ton in this State is about twelve thousand
and some persons think that this death r1te
indicates that there are about seventy-fve thou
and persons in the State who have tuberculosis.
About eighteen twenty months after this
census is completed another one will be made.
and the results of the will form, II is eX-
pected. a good basis for comparison. The re-
suits of these statistical tables will reveal TO
the Commissioner of Health and to the public
whether consumption is on the increase or wane.
and other valuable data.
DR.. Daniel Lewis at his home yes
terday afternoon by a Tribune reporter. and in
reply as to when the census would begin said:
II will begin in about a week. and I hopeful
of excellent results. | first thought OF asking the
various boards OF health throughout the state to
[sSpGcIlvt Nv ded at % conId bHtter nbt9in The in
formation that l desire by sending circular 10
every physician in this State. or course, do not
firmly Of the opinion the majority Of them viii
do al in their power TO help me N ms work ana ,e
possible .-..,.,.. 49, .,o our,oso -, e.,,n,
out the extent of tuberculosis Of the lungs In this
State and. secondary, TO determine the effect OF
climate on the disease TO know the location OF
those suffering with the disease and how they got
rding the liberty OF those having the disease
because neither the seGregation nor the isolation
With this matter I hope that such a fear. If it
arises will be quickly dispelled. And I also hope
that no one will for one moment think that 1t
may reveal the names Of consumptives The ply
smfTerers only the initials Of the persons their
ages and a statement as TO how they got the dis
ease. Some consum2IlVeS 2 are uiueF me care OF
several physicians. The answers or these physi-
clans viii probably contain the initials of such
persons. the Of the persons and history of the
cases which facts would he similar; In the papers
from the physicians there might be nothing
that would tell that the patient was under
Similarity Of initials age and history would
lead the Inference that the letters were
about the same persons. and the reports would be
recorded relating to only one person. The con-
cusions deduced from the answers would. in the
r1aip rffy cf he he likelihood n
there being three persons having the same age the
sam initials and being in the same locality would
he something unusual
many consumptives In this State years
ago. 1t is presumed that the number Of cases Is
less, but don't think they less. Our opinions
about the number of consumptyes in the State are
little more than conjecturcs: From the number of
ton and better treatment afforded tuberculous per-
sons nave resulted in more persons being cured
than formerly. we try to determine the number of
consumptives in the State
The State of consumptives is momentous
knows almost the exact number of persons likely
be placed under its care. Few persons would
their homes They either send them to the State
hospitals or TO private sanatoriums. where such
Of these hospitals know how many luratics there
in the State: The idea should be borne in mind
that is very important. how much more important
is the subject of State for consumptives; for
far greater than the number Of insane persons In
the State For the State, IL ii Is to for some
of the consumptives within its limits Will ultimate
ly be called upon to care for nearly all the CON
sumptives within its borders. At present the State
is planning the erection Of sanatorum RI for the
about hundred beds and TO cost about s150oD
Within the next ten years 1t may be necessary for
he State build hospitals containing least ten
thousand beds for consumptives.
The cost of the census about to be taken will be
about four cents for each physician There are
about ten thousand physicians in the State.