New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-29
TO CHECK PNEUMONI4.
Erpert Com mission, Noe Com pIete
to Begin Work IN October.

The special commission Of bacteriologists
which will make study Of pneumonia for the
Department Of Health and endeavor to formu-
late measures which will cgrtail the alarming
spread Of the disease viii hold its FIRST session
about the middle OF October. Health Commits
s!oner Darlington made the announcement yes
terday. when he received letter OF acceptance
from the last one OF the eight experts asked to
serve on the commission.
The city has provided $4,000 to pay for the
investigation. The first meeting will be at the
headquarters Of the Health Department. Fifty
ffth-st. and Sixth ave. and then the work viii
be subdivided. a great deal OF laboratory work
Will be necessary, much of which will be done
In the extensive laboratories of the department.
under the direction of the experts. Some of the
Investigations will be carried In laboratories
OF the members OF the commission The depart
ment is now compiling statistics showing the
spread of the disease, which will he laid before
the commission al its first meeting
The medical profession in America and abroad
will await the result OF this investigation with
great interest. Every member Of the commits
sion is n man Of standing and reputation in the
profession. 1t Is composed of Or w II. Welch
and DIR. William Oser of Johns Hopkins Balti-
more; Dr. E. G. Janeway, of New-York; Or. l..
r. Holt and DR.. T. NJ. Prudden OF the College
OF Physicians and Surgeons Columbia Unver-
sity; DR. Theobnld Smith. of Harvard: DR. John
II. Musser. of the University of Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia and president of the American
Medical Association. and DIR. Frank S Billings.
of Chicago
In outlining the work OF the commission DIR.
Darlington said yesterday:
The public health Of the country demands that
some means be found 10 check the ravages Of
pneumonia. The records Of this department show
that the death rate from most diseases is steadily
decreasing. For twenty years the dea rate from
pneumonia mas steadily increased
that the micro-orsanisms responsible for the dis
ease do not multiply 10 any extent outside Of the
human body. These germs not like the typhoid
germs which multiply in milk and water, and out
side Of the human body
AS the germs communicated directly from
one person to another the disease certainly must
be preventable The difficulty lies In the wide dis
trihution OF the germs and in the fact that they
are often present In the normal respiratory tract.
They produce symptoms until developed by
some outside influence such exposure TO cold
surgical operation, injury extreme fatigue or
sDrce ANY OF these may reduce the resistance
OF the individual so that the germs will multiply
and infect :.
outline series of Investigations which the final
Sndinqs can be based. They will endeavor to
certain how widely the germs are distributed, how
Commonly present In the normal body and In the
sick They will endeavor TO determine the dit-
ferent kinds of Infection.
7, Is likely that the methods of prevention which
~ conomission will recommend will be of simple
snrt that any one follow. There Will doubt
oT dust and ventilation The idea that the Depart
nent ~ Health is going TO placard houses shell
saring rpeumonia cases, as Is done IN the case OF
smaiipex scarlet fever and dphtheria, is absurd