The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-25

habit of indiscriminate eXpectoratfon;
the disinfecton Of the apartments
where consumptives have lived; the
education of all members of society in
. few simple facts which they should
know about the cause and prevention
If consumption; and the isolation OF
the tuberculous patients in hospitals
an sanatoriums where they can be
cared for under the proper medical
guidance in all stages of the disease.
1.-THE people must be taught that
ANYTHING that lessons the bodily re-
sistance predisposes to the disease;
that the wear and tear of the system
resulting from privation or intemper-
ance are great factors in the causa-
tion of the disease. And here it must
he stated that the excessive use Of al
cohol triples the predisposition to tu-
berculosis. / quote another great au-
thor. knott: There is another point in
regard to alcohol and tuberculosis /
wish to emphasize, and that is: the
idea that alcohol is a remedy for con-
sumption. There has never been a
greater mistake made. Alcohol has
never cured nor never will cure tuber-
cuIOsiS. 1t will either prevent or re-
tard recovery
"In considering this question from
the viewpoint of economy our Legisla-
tufe SIlOulu DC illuuCGd 10 COIlSlu6T the
advisability of establishing hospitals
and camps for the cure and treatment
of the cOnsumptiVe poor of the State.
The State is spending many thousands
of dollars yearly for the care of the
insane, which is cOmmendable and ne
cessary for humanitarian reasons, but
I have no hesitation in saying that
greater returns would be attained by
the expenditure of one quarter of the
ri
tubercular diseases.
'"ro be convinced that consumption
is a durable disease one has only to
consult the statistics furnished by the
large sanatoriums. From any of
those Institutions which receive pa
tents only in the very early stages of
the disease, Is per cent: are dis
charged cured. And in most of the
sanatoriums in Europe where people
in all stages are taken, statistics show
that % per cent are absolutely cured,
and so per cent are greatly benefited
and sent home capable OF making
living. If people would only rcmem-
Der these statistics they would never
question any more the durability OF
consumption.
From the latest data at my COM
mand, / estimate there were in 1902
about 5000 tubercular people in
tality rates it would give 5000 an
nual deaths from tuberculosis. Are
not these figures alone sufficient to
convince us of the necessity of the
mobilization of all our social and poll
tic forces in education of public
opinion up to the point of demanding
| legislation on the subject? And when
we have done this the ways and means
will be forthcoming for the establish
ment of hospitals and camps in suit
able portions of the State for the care
| of the INDECENT, sick cOnsumptive.
81 therefore present this idea for
the consideration of the Committee on
Public Policy and Legislation, and
ask them to discuss the proposition OF
the advisability of presenting, through
the House of Delegates, a paper to
the next Legislature OF North Caro-
lima for the Governor to appoint
| committee OF five members to be com
posed of two laymen two medical ana
one from the Board of Health. Whose
duty shall be to report plans, speclfl-
cations and cost of one or most nos
pitfalls or camps to be erected on the
most desirable and healthy climate of
the State, for the cure and treatment
of people affected with tubercular dis
ease The cost of this enterprise is
not beyond the ability of the state
to pay, when we consider it from an
economic and human standpoint. Bas-
ing our calculations on the eXpendi-
ture of Senatorial institutions in other
States. there could be built and
equipped hospitals for the accommo-
dations Of 500 patients for 100000,
and for the expense of running the
establishment not over 100000 per
annum These figures dWindle into
insignificance when compared to the
loss of millions sustained by the
State as u direct result from the raw
ages of this disease. A great deal can
be accomplished for this great move
ment through the organized efforts of
the individual county society Sixty
two societies with 927 active mem
bers can accomplish much in the way
of moulding public regard to prevail
ence and prevention of tuberculosis.