Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-30
and to destroy the sputa Of recognised cases


Of pulmonary tuberculosis.
New York city, under the able leader
ship Of DR.. Herman NJ. Biggs, medical Off
Ger Of the department Of health. has taken
the lead in the carrying out of these meas
ures for the prevention Of the disease. and
with most notable results. The death rate
from tuberculous diseases has been gradu-
ally and progressively reduced from AZ
per cent in 1886 to ESQ per cent in 1892. DR..
Bggs says in a recent paper During the
first six months of 1902 4.673 deaths from
tuberculosis occurred, equaling q reduction
of 10 per cent tile death rate of 1901,
which was the lowest ever recorded.
The New York Idea.
"As to the methods adopted in New York
DR.. Biggs says that in 1888 commence
ment- was made by issuing circulars setting
forth the essential facts regarding the ma
ture Of the disease. the usual methods OF its
transmission and the precautions necessary
to prevent It's spread. Small circulars Of
information were also freely distributed IN
the tenement house districts, and the public
press was utilized for the education Of the
public as to the communicable nature OF
tuberculosis This campaign of education
was continued until 1898, when the city
board of health required all public fnstitu-
tions to promptly report all cases of pull
monary consumption coming under obser-
walton and requested physicians IN private
practice to do the same In 1897 section
was added to the sanitary code declaring
pulmonary tuberculosis to be an infectious
and communicable disease, dangerous to
the public health and requiring physicians
to report to the health department al cases
coming under their observation.
Or Biggs concludes his paper from
which have quoted as follows:
1T seems evident that sure progress IS
being made and with the cordial suppoLt OF u
now freely accorded by the best elements
of the profession. followed as this must pc
by the universal popular appreciation OF the
oic tY,
unreasoning fear or careless indifference
which have largely prevailed, we may con-
fidently anticipate, as the result OF contln-
ued effort. the almost complete eradication
of this, the most fatal disease with WHICH
sanitary authorities have to deal.
Deaths From Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
"In the city Of Washington the number
of deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis IN
1901 was ST., and in 1902 72I This Is
considerable decrease over the preceding
year. but is about the average for the past
ten years. We cannot expect any notable
Improvement until we adopt the methods
which have proved so successful in New
York city, and this Is urgently recommend
ed in the report Of the public health conf
mittee, as contained tn the recently pup
lished Twelfth Annual Report of the Board
Of Trade I wish to especially emphasize
one Of the recommendation made In this
report, which Is as follows.
at. That the honorable Commissioners
Of the District Of Columbia be requested to
make suitable arrangements In order that
the first hospital building constructed on
the site selected for the municipal hospital
be devoted to the care and treatment OF
tuberculosis
s"The treatment Of cases Of pulmonary
tuberculosis in special hospitals has two
fold advantage. It is In the interest both
Of the patients and Of the general public
1t has been demonstrated that under proper
foH ia a
siderable proportion Of the cases may re-
cover, and that the methods adopted IN
such sanitaria for the destruction Of the
sputa of tuberculosis patients prevents the
infection Of the buildings and grounds;
ION the other hand, private dwellings,
especially among the poorer classes OF the
community, are almost sure to become In
fected by the prolonged residence IN them
of a case Of pulmonary consumption, and
sad experience shows that a first case Is
often followed by series of cases, which,
occurring In one family, were formerly
ascribed to heredity. We now know that
this disease Is not inherited, although a
predisposition to contract 1t may be In
herited, and susceptibility to infection de-
ponds upon various conditions relating to
the mode of life and environment OF the
individual All agencies which lower the
vital resisting power increase tho snscepu-
Among these we may mention especially
bad air, insufficient food, an indoor life and
excuses Of all kinds.
1.-THE persistent infection OF localities in
which cases have occurred is illustrated in
the vital statistics of every city. Thus in
New York city on a single street block as
many as 1O2 cases have been reported with
in a period of four and three-fOurths years,
and as many as twenty-four cases in a
single house. II we were speaking of bu-
bonic plague, and the same number Of
cases had occurred within the same period
the whole country would be alarmed and
the most vigorous efforts would be made to
eradcate the disease, but the great white
plague which is now recognized as pre-
ventable disease, continues to claim Its an
nuaI quota Of from 10 600 to $780, 600 victims
within the limits of the United States. and
the known measures OF prevention are
either entirely neglected or carried out in
very inadequate manner not only in our
own national capital. but in large portion
o, our great and prosperous country
Other Topics Discussed.
Mr.. Smith Thompson. secretary Of the
public health committee, spoke Of his work
in drafting biIl for public baths and pub
lie comfort stations. and Of the informa-
ton he had obtained from other cities on
the subject.
An estimate for the establishment of pub
lie comfort stations had been obtained
from Epoipeap ComrniSat0per Riddle ord