New-York tribune., 1901-12-08
WANTS RULING on CONsUMPTIoN.
DIR. KNoPF SAYS GREAT HARDSHIP IS
CAUSED BY GOVERNMENT CONTEN-
TION THAT 1T IS CONTAGIOUS.

DR. s A. Knopf of this city, hopes that Francis
Tracy Tobin of Philadelphia, counsel for Thomas
P Boden, the Irish immigrant who is detained
from entering this country by the immigrant
thorities this port because he is consumptive.
will succeed in bringing the case before the United
States Supreme Court. He says the question to be
decided is a momentous for the issue involved
not only affects the few consumptive immigrants
who may arrive at American ports, but also the
several million American citizens suffering from
pulmonary tuberculosis Dr. knopf received a
prize from Berlin some months ago for treatise
on tuberculosis. He is considered by many physi-
clans 10 be one of the leading authorities on tu-
berculosis In this country. He agrees with Drs.
T. Mitchell Prudden and Herman NJ. Biggs and
many other well known physicians that pulmonary
tuberculosis is not contagious, but only COM
municable malady. DIR. Knopf says in regard to
the Boden case:
On the strength of declaration of the Surgeon
monary tuberculosis is a dangerous conta gious dis
ease the Superintendent of immigration issued last
tuberculosis Of the lungs be debarred from all ports
inquiry which heretofore had used their discretion
in the matter Formerly the board of special In
of tuberculosis from the chief of the medical
division Of the no t s 0f Of &
person and there have been instances in WHICH
hlh %th its its Pa Parens n but hencefoT5h one with
SUMPTION VIII - De sa1 nassenes 20 in the st and
second cabins well as to those in the steerage;
of the 1t' Marine Hospital Service and strengthened
By he on gden o. ns Is thR
shared by other great authorities on the question
q naG sass in ana geners sas u
SeS h % of ee hs aSs
illogical experiments all over the cvilizsd world 1
ease and without its presence tuberculosis cannot
be conveyed The bacilli are usually contained IN
very rarely in the muscular or osseous tissue Thus
does not transmit the disease and pulmonary
m m n2E the dePso of tuberculosis
expectoraton and other secretons, also & OF ih gu,
ali danger Of infection and transmission. There
fore is scientific basis on which to classify
Contagious diseases. and it is contrary to the re,
have studied the question thoroughly.
Now. what have the great European and Ameri,
Koch the dscoverer of the tuberele bacillus says
which 1 quote verbally. since it was delivered In
"A consumptve who coughs out tubercle. bacilH
is not necessarily source of infection on that ae-
pPoPdry so GnS ne and
a Herman of BT Tnshs ss bse
most highly Commented on by Koch in the same
tbrough the New-York Health Department:
IF the matter coughed up be properly DESTROYED
a person eo on do his usual Work Without giving the
disease % s GHs M Chances sO Of fhgs getting
This circular has served as model to many many
cerning the action of the Treasury Department
In regard to tuberculosis mmlgrantson0t pdupeTS rs
necessary and inhunane. Dr. T. Mitchell Prudden,
professor Of pathology and bacteriology at the
College of Physicians and Surgeans. declares dis
tincty that pulmonary tuberculosis is a CONS
municable and not contagious dlsease
For the United States Government to declare pull
monary tuberculosis to be dangerously contagious
disease in spite the opinions of these great al-
stamps several millions OF American CIT
fzens suffering from consumption with a stigma
wholly undeserved. That the general profession
is in thorough accord with the opinion expressed
by Professors Prudden and BiSgs may be CLEANED
leading American medical journals
The government decision to classify pulmonary
tuberculosis as a dangerously contagious disease
has ONLY been in operation few months, but It
has already had its consequences by increasing the
fear of people to associate with conSumptlVes
Healthy employees have been discharged because
some one of their relatives with whom they
suffering from consumption. 1 have learned or
numerous similar cases. and very recently Two
came under my personal observation A sewing
woman who had been employed frequently by
wealthy family mentioned incidentally that her
sister had been treated for tuberculosis or the
suit was that the poor woman was discharges ana
never employed again by the same family
similar case happened within this week with poor
wa washerwoman. How much suffering and hardsnlp
NAV thus be daily created only those who come IN
contact with poor conSumptiveS can appreclaIe-
All physicians will approve of earnest ana inte1-
gent measures prevent the spread of tuberculosis
sumption which is chronic. preventable, curaole
and only a communicable af1iction 10 be dan
gerousIy contagious malady, IS only 10 create an
other disease in the minds of the people which may
Justly be called phthisiophobia-