Waterbury Democrat., 1902-03-13
CONSUMPTION GER MS.

The health department has just put into effect a measure intended to en- courage the disinfection of rooms which have been occupied by patients suffering from consumption. The danger from consumptiye, it is de- clared, arises largely through the ma- terial which he spitS up. This mater ial even with the best informed and most careful patient, is liable to 1n- feet the apartment which he occupies and with ignorant and careless pa tients it is almost certain to do so. IL does this by drying on cloths and handkerchiefs, which are subsequently so handled as to scatter dry particles of sputa on the floor or about the room generally. With less careful patients the room may be infected with matter spat directly on the Ioor, which dries out and is subsequently pulverized by passing feet and wait ed about the apartment. These par ticles settle in various out-of-the-way places and are subsequently disturb ed by draughts or by the process or sweeping or dusting; thus disturbed they are inhaled by subsequent occu- pants of the room who may as con sequence develop consumption.
 The health department believes that every room which has been occupied by a person suffering from consump- tion should be disinfected before it is occupied by anyone else.
 In the absence, however, of any law requiring cases of consumption to be reported, the department learns only of fatal cases, and to these alone, therefore can direct particular atten- tion. For this purpose it has pre- pared a letter which will be mailed to each physician upon receipt of a death certificate signed by him report ing the death of q patient from pull monary tuberculois. This letter calls attention to the value of disinfection in such cases and suggests that the particular apartment or apartments which this patient occupied be disin- fected. The health department offers upon the request of a physician, to dis infect or cooperate in the disinfection of the apartments.
 The letter incidentally invites the attention of the physician to the fact that the health department is ready to disinfect, upon request or to assist i'll the disinfection of any apartment from which a consumptiye patient has removed.
 For the education of the public in such matters, the health department has caused circular to be prepared describing briefly the nature of con- sumption and the means by which it is spread, and laying down certain rules to be followed by persons suf- fering from the disease so as to re- duce as much as possible the danger of communicating it to others. These circulars will be furnished to the poor for the guidance of their patients and will probably be forwarded to the among their patients. They will be sent upon application, to physicians and citizens generally in such num- bers as they may desire for their own use or for distribution.
 The idea of the health department is that the first step which must be taken toward the limitation of con- sumption is the education of the pub lie in the belief that it is a prevent able disease. The department be- lieyes that when the public becomes thoroughly imbued with and acts up- on this idea, such legislative restric- and such hospitals and sanitariums as may be essential in order to prevent consumption and to care for those af- fected by it, will be provided without great difficulty.-Washingt Star.