The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-01-25
DR.. Jones SECOND
PAPER ON TUBERCULOSIS
Wheeling Physician Writes Ably and
Interesting Upon aWell Known Dis
ease and SugSests Preventatiyes.


writing a series of articles for the IN
! teldgencer on Tuberculosis, " the first
of which we reproduced in this paper
last week. While the doctors articles
are written more especially on condi-
tons that exist in Wheeling, they will
apply to almost any city in the State,
and as the first article was well received
/ by our readers, and much interest has
been manifested in the subject, we here
with reproduce the article that appear
ed Monday. Says Dr. Jones:
While Wheeling does not have as
many deaths in proportion as large cit
les, there is a sufficiently large number
to institute some measure to prevent its
increase. In looking over the deaths of
last year | find that more deaths oc-
CURED in Wheeling in 1905 from tuber-
culosis than from typhoid fever, scarlet
fever, whooping cough, diphtheria, la
grippe, and meningitis, all together.
Not long ago the whole nation was
aroused, and the President called to aid
thelUnited States Marine and Hospital
Service, in the suppression of yellow fe-
yer, after 100 deaths had occurred.
There are three times that many deaths
from tuberculosis every day in the year,
and yet no one seems to be excited
about it. More persons have died from
tuberculosis since the Russo-Japanese
war, than We're killed and died in both
/ armies. And these men and women are
from our families and friends. Not
children and aged people, but the young,
in the.days of their greatest usefulness.
This is question not only for doctors
to discuss but for the public in general.
Working in harmony with the board
of health should be the charity organi-
| cations, teachers in the schools, preach
ers in the pulpits, and the public press.
All should work together and carry on an
educational campaign. This disease may
be preventedin two ways, by legislation
and education. We have seen without
the aid of state and municipal authori-
ties, the medical profession is powerful
enough to stop this dread disease. Ev-
cry member of the community is enti-
| tied to protection in regard to his health,
as-well as his liberty and property, and
he ought not be permitted to interfere
with similar rights of others, nor be in
| furious to the community at large. The
public should demand the same protec-
ton sfrOm tuberculosis that it receives
from other contagious and less fatal
! diseases.
Health authorities should be given the
necessary authority to deal with tuber-
culosis just as with other infectious dis
eases. An ordinance should make am
pie provisions for its compulsoryenforce-
ment. There should be law requiring
physicians to report to the authorities
all cases of consumption within their
knowledge. This is not for the purpose
of imposing any additional burdens upon
the sick, nor for interfering with their
! personal rights and liberty. It is to Sc
cure3 to the well that protection which
they have legal right to demand. If
tuberculosis patient is a menace to
others and refuses to obey the law, then
ne should be compelled to obey, as any
other law-breaker. We do not let pa-
tients with smallpox, diphtheria and
scarlet fever run at large, and why have
no restrictions for the patient with tu-
berculosis, from which more people die?
So long as a patient with CONSUMPTION
is reasonable and obeys the law, he
should be unmolested, and if too poor to
comply with the law, he should be helped
by being taken care of, in a suitable
place, where he can get well, and at the
same time not be a menace to others.
Reporting these cases and registering
them in no way exposes them to public
ity; their names will not appear in the
public prints; no placard will be placed
upon their es;they will be approach
ed only through the family physician,
and so. long as he and the patients fulfill
their obligations to society, taking all
necessary steps to protect others, ard
protect the spread Of the disease, they
are not interfered with. In New York
City since 1897, all institutions and phy-
sicians have been required to report all
cases of pulmonary tuberculosis. with
the result that the mortality from IT,
berculosis has been reduced 40 per
cent
New York has been fortunate in hay
ing had for its medical officer, DR.. Her
mann M. Biggs, who has shown especial
interest in tuberculosis. Provisions have
been made for free examination Of spu-
tum in doubtful cases, and for gratuitous
treatment at their homes Of those afflict-
ed with consumption who are financially
unable to employ a physician, and for
free disinfection of bedding, clothing and
premises. 1t is proposed to erect a tu-
berculosis dispensary especially adapted
for free treatment, and to follow up this
treatment by visits to patients in their
homes by trained nurses in the employ
of tba cit,, Tho o,-4,,,.-.z :----l