Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-30
The Crusade against Tuberculosis.


The Importance of the bills introduced in
the upper branch of the Legislature by
Senator Russell, and particularly that
providing for the prevention of the trans
mission of tuberculosis, may not be fully
realized by people in general. If any in
dividua suspects that talk about tuber-
culosis is simply fad. it may be well for
that person to consider developments an
nounced in Philadelphia. 1t is announced
that at least five young physicians who
were connected with the Philadelphia hos
pita are now suffering from tuberculo-
sis, which they contracted in that insti-
tuition. Two nurses have also become vic
tins of the disease, and young woman,
who contracted the disease in the hospi-
tai, recently died Of consumption. More
over Dr. Daniel e. Hughes, the chief re-
siden. physician of the almshouse, is dy
ing from tubercular pertonitis transmit
ted through food prepared by consump-
tive cook.
The coincidence of these cases would
seem to furnish conclusive evidence of
the need of care to prevent the transmits
sion Of tuberculosis: but while this evil
dcnce is cumulative owing to the large
number of individuals directly concerned,
here are host of others just as con-
elusive scattered throughout the country.
When consumption carried off various
members of a family in rapid succession,
il was formerly the custom to attribute
the disease to inherited tendencies, and
to give up all hope of battling the disease
in the case of remaining children 1t is
now recognized that such cases may re-
Hult from the direct transmission of the
disease, as in the Philadelphia hospital,
without any predisposition to such dis
ease, inherited or otherwise, but thorough
favorable conditions of q temporary char
acter.
These things being so, there ought to
be no need of argument to show the
necessity as well as the desrability of
precautionary measures to prevent the
exposure of people to the germs of this
dreaded disease, The measure in question
provides for the reporting to the secretary
Of the State board OF health Immediately
after the passage Of the act Of the names
and addresses of all persons under treat
thereafter of each new case within ono
week after application for treatment has
been made. The object of this provision is
shown in the second section which in
structs the secretary of the State board
OF health to keep careful and accurate
record of all reported cases of tuberculosis
md the board to send to the address in
in IN he n al
made of sputum of the patient, and such
other facts, hygienic or otherwise, as are
necessary for the welfare of the person
afflicted and the protection OF the COM
munity.
With reference to the companion bill
providing for the creation OF a commits
sion to investigate the prevalence OF tu-
bercuoss in Vermont and the need Of
a State sanitarium for consumptives, we
believe three members would do the
work as well as FIVE, the number named
in the measure; and greater economy
would result, This change would unques-
tionably increase the chances OF the bill
becoming a law, inasmuch as there is a
pronounced feeling on the part of the peo-
pie in relation to the multiplication of
commissions and the increase of State ex-
penses. There may be a question whether
the State board of health could not at
tend to this matter If they were author
lied to secure expert opinion on the var
ious questions involved Opinions will diff
fer of course with reference to the man
ner of meeting and attemption to solve
the question: but there can be no doubt
about the need of the adoption of meas
ures to ensure greater precautions TO
prevent the spread of the disease and to
wipe out this scourge of humanity.