Arizona silver belt., 1901-06-27
Official Paper of Gila County
AkIZONA'S DANGER FROM CON SUMPrIVE VISITORS.

Association held ID Phoenix recently, the principal subject of discussion WAS pulmonary tuberculosis, the disease more destructive 10 human life than any other, and the prevention and treatment of which has engaged the best thought in the medical circles of Europe and America. IL was hardly to be expected that much new light would be shed upon the subject by the Arizona medicos, tending to mitigate the gayuges of the dread disease, but lt was reasonable to expect an honest and intelligent discussion of the gGes. ton iD its bearing upon the public health in Arizona h this we are dis. appointed,
 There seemed to be A disInciination SmOug the members of the association present at the meeting to consider tbis phase of the question with that serious ness which it's importance demanded. The discussion resolved itself into two 1F three feeble resolutions recommend- Ing Co municipal authorities certain sanitary regulations to lessen the dan ger of the spread of consumption, one ot winch was that spittoons be placed on the streets or sidewalks to check promiscuous eApectoration. Ii that resolution indicates the capacity of the of such grave import, the association would better quit and go out of busi- hess. The writing of prescriptions for luugers in PhoenIx, Tucson aud Yuma IS lucrative practice. Does that ex- plain the apparent uuwillingness of the doctors to treat the subject fairly and vigorously?
 The danger to Arizona from the ever increasing influx of consumptlve touristr Is real and calls for serious consideration. For fear of the spread of disease among our domestic animals, we exclude or isolate the hog. the horse and bovine, suspected of having any infectious or contagious disease, yet h the lar graver danger menacing our fellow men and women from contact with consumptive patients we are either stolidly indifferent, or criminally negligent. For eight months in the year the trsnscontinentul railroads carry thousands of cousumptives; and they are met with in the hotels, the public resorts and the streets of Phoe- nix, Tucson and other towns ill the territory. To be brought in contact with these unfortunates Is extremely unpleasant, but that Is of small conse- quence in comparison to the danger to which the healthy person is subjected. The consumptiye may have last drank from the cup which you place to your lips, or have occupied the room and bed 10 which you have been assigned. The floors oi the railroad cars become filthy with iuberculous sputa, and the germs ind lodgment in the plush up- hois.ered seats and the curtains The tl .,.t lsap ditioDs could not be much worse.
 There appears to be no remedy ex. cept through national and state legis- iatiou We must have restrictive laws, and ssnltariuus built aud maintained by the national. state or municipal government. Compulsory registration of tuberculOus cases should be re- quired and the proper sanitary pie- cautions be enforced by boards of health Railroad companies who carry thousands of consumptives every year between the east and the Pacific coast should be compelled to provide special cars for these invaiids. Exclusion of consumptiye tourists Gin advanced stages of the disease) from the state or territory has been often suggested, but meets with strong opposition. Why Is 1t not as reasonable as quarantining against other diseases dangerous to the public health? American ports are now closed against the entrance of i'm migrants afflicted with consumption. If the national government deems this step desirable and necessary, why should not states and territories adopt like regulations against the introduc- ton of tuberculosis cases?
 The State Medical Society of Colo rado declares that tuberculosis has become indigenous ip that state, and