Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-06-07
HAVING ITS EFFECT.
Good Results From New York's Cam
paign Against Expectoration.
CONSUMPTION DECREASING.

health has within the past few days
been made more stringent than before.
Don't spit on the sidewalk is the new
command of the board of health.
The wonderful results accomplished
by the board of health since it began
its crusade of prevention are sufficient
to warrant the new step which it has
taken.
From 1884 to 1S96-thirteen years
there were 7S,943 deaths from con-
sumption in New York city, an average
of SOP a year.
Estimating the value of a human life
at $4,000 (the figure set by the board
of health). this has meant a loss to the
community of s12, 144,0 900 a year.
The active work done by the health
board has greatly reduced these fig
ures. The percentage of cases of con
sumption last yea was only 2.56, as
against 5.9S between 1881 and 1886.
The board vas stirred up to take it's
recent step by DR.. Herman M. Biggs.
who called its attention to the diseases
caused by those who expectorate in
public places.
Many a consumptive," said DR..
Biggs, owes his death to this pre-
ventable habit"
HSC s1aAo o6O ~ hNoANh bOdIu
began an anti-spitting crusade. Fer
ries, trolley cars, IL" cars, stations,
etc, were protected by the new ordi-
nance. 1t has now gone a step further
and included "all sidewalks" in it's pub
lie notices.
In order to find out whether the anti
splitting law was being enforced, the
Sunday World recently made a thor
ough investigation. aided by DR.. Ernest
j. Lederle, president of the board of
health; Clark Bell, president of the
Medico-Legal society; DR.. Herman NJ.
Biggs, the well known authority on
consumption. and by a number of spe-
cial policemen belonging to the health
department.
Though the days work resulted in
no arrests it brought out very forcibly
one fact:
New York has learned the lesson
taught to it by the anti-consumption
crusade. mis- was evidenced by many
incidents which occurred during the
tour made by the health officers.
For instance, on Broadway car No.
1904. a well-dressed man who wanted
to e~xpectorate got up and went out on
the back platform of the car, prefer
ring to lose his seat rather than run
the risk of being arrested.
IN car No. 300, of the Eighth ave.
u line. a man about to expectorate on
the floor suddenly remembered the
sign. looked up at it. and left the car
rather than violate the law.
At Sixth venue and Fiftieth street
Health Officer Joyce found it neces-
sary to reprimand one man just as he
was stepping off the car. The rebuke
was taken in good part and no arrest
was made as the offense was not con-
sicered grave.
At the Manhattan entrance of the
b1dge 1t was found necessary to call
tie attention of a thouGhtless young
man to a sign on the platform, and
other people were reprimanded on the
Fifth avenue elevated train at Fulton
Terry and on the boat crossing from
New York to Jersey City.
The only places which heretofore
have needed attention are the ferry
boats, ferry houses, the platforms of
SOM stations and the stairways lead
ing to these platforms. Commissioner
Lederle has now made those places
safe.
The whole story of just what has
been accomplished is told on this page
in the series of special interviews
given to the World by DR.. Ernest J..
Lederle. president of the board of
health; Clark Bell, president of the
Medico-Legal society: DIR. Herman NJ.
Biggs. the noted authority on consump-
ton and chief pathologist of the board
OF health, and by Health Officer Ellis.
By Ernest l. ederIe M A. Oh n