Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-03
sANAToR1A FOR CONSERVATIVES.
Destruction Of Expectorated Bacilli
Chief Means of Prevention.

From the New York Herald.
+ The International tuberculosis Congress
held last week in Berlin discussed the sub
1ect Of pulmonary consumption from the
broad standpoint OF its wholesale prevention
and cure. In view Of the great Importance
Of the measures to be adopted 1t was emil
nently fitting that the leading experts OF
the world should assemble to compare ex-
per1sEces and formulate such rules as should
have universal adaptation to the urgent
need OF the sufferers. From the results OBJ
tained It is gratifying to note that the meth
DDS are simple enough in their application
and well calculated to minister to the needs
Of the greatest number.
That tuberculosis Is to a certain extent
infectious, especially with persons pretlis-
posed to the disease. there can be no rea-
sonable question. Hence the destruction OF
expectorated bacilli Is of prime import
ance In directly lessening tho tendency to
the spread of ths malady. 1t matters not
how much or how little the microbe has to
do OF itself in propagating the pesS the fact
Is that all possible causes Of disease dis
semination from such source should be
eliminated. The strongest argument in
favor OF such a proposition centers In the
taking Of no chances against possible in
lection even with healthy persons. who are
supposed to be ordinarily non-susceptible to
the invasion of the microbe.
fortunately 1t Is easy for each pulmonary
patient to protect his neighbor when prop
erly taught so to do. The expectorator is
thus held as one who menaces health as
well as one who outrages common decency.
So much. then, for the bacillus as a recog-
nized factor in the problem. We cannot
expect to abolish 1t entirely, but we can
very effectually curb Its influences for evil
1t Is danger to all susceptible persons
and probably always will be. But even ad-
hitting this much. we are not without the
hope Of eventually stamping out the dread
ed white plague" Its propagation Is az
ter all, q mere question of seed and soil
While we may not destroy the seed we may
make the soil unfit for its propagation
With the bodily constitution Of rock the
germ cannot take root.
Upon this proposition rests, apparently,
the main issue Of the whole question. The
savants at Berlin showed their wide grasp
OF the subject by making 1t their chief topic
Of discussion. The cure Of the disease was
thus the main issue. The bacillus cannot
be killed inside the body. The local med
icaments In the shape Of disinfecting inha-
latfons are OF no avail. nor can any Of the
much Wanted curative lymphs serve their
purpose. It fs the individual that must be
treated and not the microbe. Here again
we sec how much science and common sense
are in accord In advocating sanatoria for
the only proper care OF the consumptive.
From France, Germany and this country
come the most encouraging results of those
purely hygfenic methods which enable the
patients to get above the malady and by
induced extra vitality to eventually check
n ate its baleful influences. Here, then, Is
the real hope for the thousands of victims
every where.
The sanitorium treatment has evidently
come to stay. 1t Is no longer an expert.
ment but a veritable fact and best Of all
it can be adapted to the needs of every suf-
ferer In any country and any cline. Amer
lea may well follow the lead of Germany
and France In this regard. Already 1t has
done much to establish such rural hospitals
but far IT has made Only a heQfnniO0 of
what Is destined to be one of the grand.st
phiianthropic movements of the century.