The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-19
OPEN AIR CURES
FOR TUBERCULOSIS
Doctors in National Association
Discuss Problem of Great
White Plague.

association for the study and .preven-
ton of tuberculosis today discussed
many phases of treatment and sociology
question. The pathological and bac-
THEOLOGICAL section confined it's work
to the strictly technical features en-
braced under those heads.
One Of the points of interest brought
out in the sociological discussion was
that every effort so far made to estab-
lish self-supporting communities or set
Elements Of tuberculosis patients had
proved failure. -,...- ,a.sss.
It was the general opinion that all
cases of tuberculosis should be allowed
to remain at large where proper care
Of the patient was maintained and
proper sanitary requirements observed
to protect members of the family in
which the patient resided. Nowhere
except in New York is there legal au-
thority to compel the retention of a
patient against his will. Such author
ity, it was argued, was most desirable.
DR.. Bracken's Paper.
DR.. n. NJ. Bracken Of Minneapolis
read a paper on "Infection in Trans
portation.' He said:
In discussing this subject it can safely
be said. I think that there should be no
while travelling in public conveyances. For
tubercular infection there must, as a
rule, be prolonged exposure and this
should never occur in any public convey
ance. In streetcars one spends but
a short time on any single trip. In the
suburban trolleys the crowded condition
in the cars and the longer trips make the
possible exposures moro pronounced than
in the city cars. In the day coaches Of
;- S,,r oof
with other individuals and even should
tubercular patient be sitting nearby.
the tubercular bacilli expelled in the act
Of coughing are in a moist state and not
in condition for general distribution I'M
til the sputum becomes dry. In Sleep
ing cars and on steamers one Is even
more isolated than in the day railway
coaches, and the danger of possible tuber-
cular infection should be still less.
Cleanliness Is Essential.
In speaking thus Of possible infection
during transportation we are assuming
that all public conveyances and their fur-
nishings are kept well cleaned. If such
is not the case there may be danger in
every streetcar, railway coach and
steamer berth. If tubercular patients de-
post infected sputum in public convey
ances and it is allowed to become dry,
it may then be a source of danger. The
greatest danger from lack of cleanliness
Is undoubtedly to be found in the Sleep
ing cars and steamer berths where one
| may be in contact with infected bedding
during an entire night. The danger OF
tubercular infection during travel may be
| intensified by the lack Of proper ventila-
| ton, for when an individual is confined
| in close, stuffy quarters, the irritation OF
| the respiratory tract may be sufficient to
| increase his susceptibility; or an already
| infected individual may have an 1nf1am-
| matory condition of the lungs intensified
| by foul air draughts, thus changing a
| latent to an active infection. Admitting
| that tubercular infection is not apt tc
occur during any single trip in day
| coach, we must still appreciate the fact
that exposure in such coaches Is possible
| for many people spend a considerable
| amount Of time each day in city anG
| suburban cars on their way to and from
| business.
Cleaning a Simple Problem.
! Car cleaning is simple problem, for il
| is one Of dollars and cents OF course
there are many times and condition:
| when car may temporarily be in an un'
avoidably foul condition. This applies
especially to streetcars during certain
seasons Of the year. Such conditions ar,
excusable, but they do not justify gen
| eral negligence of cleanliness.
Ventilation Not So Easy.
Car ventilation is a difficult problem
for the temperature and the motion of tn
car, as well as the creation Of disagreeabl
draughts. have to be taken into considera
ton. It is estimated that for good venti
lation in a. closed space 5000 cubic fee
are required per hour for each individual
The ordinary passenger coach and sleep
ing car furnishes from tenth to one
| sixth as much fresh air per hour as is re
, quired according to the above estimate
From a sanitary point Of view, the e
fects of foul air as a means Of causin
; disease must not be overestimated. TIL
fact must be recognized, however, tina
person in badlyventilated car Is NOR
susceptible to tubercular infection than h
? would be in a we'll ventilated car. TIL
/ great offenders in car ventilation are tn
r streetcar companies.