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


Not Yet Been Edncnted Up to the
Reform Authorities Interviewed.
NEW YORK. June 6--The announce
rnent that T Y P0wderIy. Commissioner
General of immigration. had instructed
Commissioner FJChie at this port TO de-
bar in future ali immigrants afflicted with
tuberculosis aroused keen interest among
those New York physicians who have
been trying for some time to press upon
the public the fact that consumption IS a
communicable disease Opinions were not
unanimous. however. as to whether II was
q conmendabIe step forward in Official
recognition Of medical science OF a rather
too drastic treatment of immigrants al
fIcted by a disease whose spread may be
checked by the use of extremely simple
precautions one physician said:
The public Is not get prepared for this
step: and while il is along the line Of
progress. vet II viii by its harshuess
check rather than help the growing feel
ing among the masses that Cousumptives
are dangerous TO those around them The
recent crusade of the local health board
against eSpectoratilg in the street cars
was one phase of the education of the
public and the hearty way in which that
crusade was supported by the press and
the people showed a gratifying increase
in the general intelligence Yet a propo~
sitlon made now forcibIy to remove all
persons afflicted with tuberculosis from
their friends and families as is done with
smallpox patients. would arouse q violent
storm Of Indignation and set back for
years the progress which has been already
made toward that end.
I think this bar TO immigrants VIII
have. the same effect, because the public
will get the idea that medical men have
become Cranks on tuberculosis The peo-
PIE viii ask: Is 1t reasonable to exclude
immigrants from our shores because they
are suffering from q disease against which
we raise no quarantine within our Dor
ders2' and I think We should have TO ad-
mt that such discrimination is not rea-
sonable- II would be better, I think. to
wait until we Isolate our cOnsumptives at
home before We raise an insurmouutable
barrier against consumptives coming fromA
abroad"
Another physician took exception to this
argument, and pointed out the fact that
while the authorities do not isolate per-
sons IN this city who are afflicted with
ieprosy or favus- they still debar all i'm
migrants suffering from those diseases.
and public opinion sustafns the fmmigra-
ton officials in so doing
DR. George B. Fowler said. This steD
IS TOO radical. I think I have given a
great deal Of attention TO tuberculosis.
and co not consider il to be cOmm1lnj-
cable IN its incipient stages, but only
when the expecIOTation has become pro
fuse The examination of a person sIs-
peCted OF the disease is not to be done in
haste and # not done carefully is not
worth doing at all In many cases it
would resolve itself into a battle of ex-
ri -lT,=
examinations would involve distinction
altogether toe fine for the practical work
ings Of an immigration bureau In
word the new regulation Is not practjca-
BILE"
At the Office Of the local Board Of Health
none u the COmmissi oners could be fy,,,4
yesterday, but a reporter was furnished
with copy Of the boards sanitary code
which shows that the board takes the
same view as Commissioner. PowIerIv IN
holding that tuberculosis is a dangerously
contagious disease Section 153 Of that
code follows:
mat pulmonary tuberculosis Is hereby
declared 10 be an infectious and commu-
nicable disease dangerous TO the public
health It shall be the duty Of every r1fv-
SiciaH II this city 10 report TO the sani-
Iary bureau in writing the name. age. sex.
occupation, and address of even. person
having such disease who has been at
tended by OF who has come under the OBJ
serVatlon Of such physician for the first
time within one week Of such time L
shall also be the duty Of the Commission
ers or managers, or the principal super
intendeut Or physician Of each and every
public or private institution or dispeusarv I
IN this city 10 report 10 the sanitary bu-
Teau IN writing. or TO cause such report 10 I
be made by some proper and competent /
person, the name, age. sex. occupation.
and last address Of every person afflicted !
with this disease who is in their care or
VINO has come under their Observation,
within one week OF such time Il shall be /
the duty Of every person sick with this
disease and Of every person in attendance /
upon anyone sick with this disease. and /
OF the authorities Of public and private /
institutions CT dispensaries, to observe and
enforce all the sanitary rules and reguIa-
tons Of the Board Of Health for prevent
ing the spread Of pulmonary tubercuIo-
sis
Dr.. Aivah H Doty, who is ex-of7cio a
member OF the Beard Of Health and also
Ihe State Health Officer and SANITARY IN
Snector Of the Port said
although the principle Of the order is I
ElgEJ- believe that il viii be frDpCssfbI. I
Tor the sanitary officers at This non ~ /
put II into execution Often four thou /
SAND immigrants land here in q single /
II - t4i-A--liL at -lTSL glance to de- {
1ecL consumption. except in the most aE- !
NaEcea stages An adequate examination /
Would therefore compel The retention of !
1LeSe thousands for weeks 4 Curs5~v [
examination, on the other hand, would
lie useless
4 believe that cases Of congquDtfon
should be- kept out by examination OF The /
IN grants at points Of embarkatio1-
IhrFe the work can be done thoroughly /
lSE TINS means also. the cases wifi NOT
De brought IN contact with others in the
steeraE=- 7 think therefore that the f-7s+ I
step u carrying out The new order should
. taken by the Inspecting officers at the I
great ports from which our I1nnizrants
come
DIT. Doty added that while he was not
opposing the Federal regulations. thav (
qld not affect him as q State officer and Z
IN that capacity he would not atter5Dt 10
bar out tuberculosis cases
Dr. @ W St0GeT, head Of the Medical
I5INlS-on of the Immigration Department /
IN charge Yesterday at Ellis Island ssff- /
Previous TO this rule the percentage Of
reported cases Of tuberculosis has been 1
small Hitherto ne have placed these /
cases IN the category of contagious or Z
chronic contagious, and referred them 10 .