New-York tribune., 1903-04-25
IN FRANCE
Prime Minister Combes and Mu-
nicipaI Treatment and PreUention.
Paris. April 13.

Paris, April 13.
tuberculosis, notwithstanding the sani-
tary regulations and in spite OF the preventive
and curative methods adopted by the Faculty
Of Medicine, is steadily increasing. The num-
Der Of persons who died from tuberculosis in
France in the year 1901, according to official
figures, exceeded 10000. Moreover. the ratio of
tuberculosis mortality in Paris during the same
year reached 4.25 per thousand, as against 2.34
per thousand in Boston, 227 per thousand in
Philadelphia 223 per thousand in New-York,
216 per thousand in Baltimore, and against
only 139 per thousand in Chicago. In view Of
these facts, recent publications in the Gazette
Medicale" and papers read before the Academy
of Science by DR.. Bertheau, of Paris. and DR.. Du-
camp, of Bordeaux, indicate that highly salts
factory results have been attained both in the
prevention and the of tuberculosis by the
Crotte Institute, opened two years ago under
the auspices of the city of Paris, and to which
numbers of tuberculosis patients are sent each
week by the mayors of the various arrondisse-
rnents Of the city and by the municipal charity
board. 1t appears that 4600 tuberculosis pa
tients were treated during the last year in the
Crotte Institute in the Rue de Turin, and it is
stated that of this number no less than three
thousand left the establishment cured.
The Crotte system the basis of which consists
in forcing into the lungs or affected organs
has for some years been as well known in the
United States as In France. Public interest in
the system is increasing in France, and is be-
ueved bv leading medical authorities in Paris
to be fully justified, owing to the number of
cures officially registered Consequently trea-
tfse on the subject, just published by NJ. Crotte,
entitled the Cure Of tuberculosis" attracts
considerable attention. Like DR.. Albert Robin,
NJ Crotte is a firm believer in prevention.
large portion Of his work is devoted to the pre-
cautions to be taken in the streets and public
places to prevent tuberculosis infection or con-
tamination and the new municipal health regu-
lattons adopted by the city of Paris largely
based on the recommendations of NJ Crotte,
were put in force on February Is last 1t would
be premature at this early stage of experiments
to draw conclusions in regard to slow, progress
sive disease like tuberculosis, but the city phys-
clans declare that they have great hopes or ex-
cellent results from the new method or isoa-
ton Of tuberculosis patients in the hospitals
and the precautionary measures, which are SINH
lar to those employed in New-York and Chicago
and which have been made possible and prac-
ticable in Paris, Lyons and Bordeaux, owing
largely to the intelligent initiative of NJ Combes,
Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior,
who is himself physician and member OF the
Facu Of Medicine.
The principles of Eygienic precautlon, Whlch'
with the approval of NJ. Combes. have been
adopted in France. consist % of the destruc-
ton of bacllary expectorations: (2) dislnfectant
washing Of floors and walls: CD disintectlon Oh
clothing and bedding; "a isolation OF declareu
cases Of tuberculosis; % salubrity Of sleeping
rooms and dwelling rooms; 90 inspection of
meat and milk. and % the recommendations in
the cases of women and girls 10 abandon wear
ing corsets Premier Combes, even as drastic
as he has shown himself to be in regard TO his
enforcement of the association laws shrlnkS
frorl issuing a ukase suppresslng the corset
hut rr Conbes in his double capacity of Min
ister of the Interior and physician, strongly IN
dorses the opinion expressed by NJ Crotte that
the corset is "one of the most prolific causes OF
the propa cation OF tuberculosis with women ana
girls" The statistics compiled in the Crotte IN
s+{tute show that the corset is responsible for
three -fourths of the cases Of female tubercu-
losis The corset, by compressing the lnternaI
organs, leads to anemia, ana with growing sIitS
it is only one short step from anemla 10 tuoer-
cuIosis The prevention of tuberculosis in the
barracks is fully treated by M Crotte- Inc
army authorities, under the energetic direction
Of General Andre. Minister OF War have Sc
cured additional credits from the Chamber OF
Deputies to put to experimental trial many OF
tho ,,ronosed reforms which far more neces-
car, NOW than was the case during the epoch or
standing armies composed Of professional SOL
diers of mature age. Youthful, almost juvenile
soldiers fresh from homes more comfortable anu
better heated than in the Napoeonic perlou' are
fer more "codded" and tender when they JOIN
the reeinental colors in the cold, damp barnlike
draughty barracks. which are verltaple fac-
tories of typhoid fever and tuberculosis than
was the case with the seasoned soldiers OF the
enpire Attention is also called by the munich
nal authorities to the new food that has oeen
tested in the Crotte Institute. This alinent con-
tains tenfold more azote than the best 'eeL'' 1t
Is light easily digested, and consists OF the es-
sence of beans and peas mixed with concen-
tratec yolk of eggs. The new food is called
.suraliment," and is one Of the highest nutritive