The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-11-12
DISCUSS TUBERCULOSIS.

Tuberculosis was the chief subject
under discussion at the Capitol We'd
nesday evening. That the farmers
who are wrestling with this subject
might lose no opportunity to add to
their stock of information, their meet
ing was adjourned to the Hall of Rep
resentatives to listen to the several
speakers. Senator and DR.. Stiles of
st. Johnsbury called the meeting to
order and after reading the two bills
relating to the prevention of tubercu
losis, Is. 60 and go he turned the
meeting over to DR.. D. G. Hawley of
Burlington, president of the Vermont
Society for the Study and Prevention
of tuberculosis, who introduced DR..
j. Edward Stubbert of New York.
DR.. Stubbert spoke for half hour
concerning the ravages of the disease
under discussion. He said that his per-
sonal experience covering 1000 cases
had shown that 70 per cent of incipi-
ent cases had been helped out and the
majority of these cases cured by OBJ
serving proper rules regarding santa
ton and food. He stated emphatical-
ly that the disease, although danger
ously infectious, was not dangerously
contagious. Referring briefly to the
causes that promote the spread of
tuberculosis he said that all should be
guarded in eating meat unless they
were assured that it was free from dis
ease. eff the general health is up to
the normal physical standard we need
not fear tuberculosis, said DR.. Stub
bert. He advocated the compulsory
registration Of all cases with the pro-
posed tuberculosis commission, strong
~ urging the locating of a sanitarium
in this State, as he believed that the
education derived by the inmates re-
garding the care and treatment of
the disease would be worth the invest
ment to the State. The prime essen
tial for successful sanitarium was a
healthy location in our own climate,
He believed the fatality of tuberculo-
sis was caused by neglect and lack Of
knowledge.
Henry Ballard, Of Burlington, said
that one seventh of the deaths in the
entire world each year come from
tuberculosis He quoted statistics to
show that Vermont's death rate from
this disease WAS higher than. thirty
three other States in this country.
Concurring in what DR.. Stubbert had
said he heartily favored a State insti'
tuition for the treatment of the dis
ease. In closing he said, ''All that a
man has he will give for his life. "
DR.. G. S. Caverly of Rutland, pres
! ident of the State board of health
said there was but one side to the
matter and advocated the passage o.
the bill to establish tuberculosis
commission. He, as did all the speak
ers, put great emphasis upon the dis
posal of sputum, explaining the dan
ger of carelessness in regard to thi
particular phase of the matter. HI
said that the idea of sanitariun
ought to appeal to the masses.
| DR.. H. Edwin Lewis, secretary O
the society, did not think the subjec
could be over discussed when one
tenth of all deaths in Vermont cam
from tuberculosis. He hoped for ant
would advocate the establishment o
sanitarium for the care of consump
tives.
DR.. Henry d. Holton, Of Brattle
boro, secretary Of the State board o
health said, "The best hygienic ad
vice can give you is to go home an
go to bed as it is getting late, and
shall take the same stand as have tn
other speakers. He spoke but fey
moments upon the same lines as tn
rest.
DR.. f. e. Clark Of Burlington con
Cured in what the others had said bu
made his remarks brief as the hou
was late.