The Jersey City news., 1906-07-11
FRENCH FIGHT
WHITE PLAGUE
Prevalence of tuberculosis
In France Reuses the Au-
thorities to Action
TRADES MOST AFFECTED
POLICE ARE GREAT SUFFERERS
FROM THB RAyAGEs OF CON
SUMPTION = PRECAUTIoN A
NATIONAL Duty.

WASHINGTON, July 10, 1906.-Au-
gustus E. Ingram, consular clerk at Par
is,G has written a report on the preva-
ience of tuberculosis in France and the
efforts being made by the French au-
thorities to suppress it. Mr.. Ingram
says:
THE Academy of Medicine at Paris
has been discussing quite recently the
value of the official statistics as to the
mortality from tuberculosis in france.
According to these statistics. 10000
persons die each year in France from
this disease. This represents three
deaths out Of each 10000 inhabitants,
while in Germany. it is said the same
malady carries off only % persons in
10000.
"The campaign against tuberculosis in
France has assumed such national inn
portance that the academy has during
the past three months been discussing
the necessity for the compulsory declara-
ton of cases of tuberculosis by the doc
tor in attendance; but this has met with
storm of opposition, as it is claimed
that thereby the large army of consump-
tives would be deprived of all means OF
support, since no one would then know
ingIy have them in their employ. A few
days ago. however, the academy passed
a recommendation looking toward this
compulsory declaration, namely, that the
doctor in attendance should indicate to
those surrounding the patient and to the
patient himself, the measures to take to
preven eontagion.
ssThe necessity of a special law to COM
fbrt rififs disease svstsa ssfgetls spENEta
take into consideration not only It's trans
missibility, but also the other Geological
factors, such as unhealthy dwellings and
|
alcoholism.
s"The question of the effect of certain
occupations on this disease has also been
carefully investigated in France. 1t has
been found that those trades that bring
one into contact with dust tmetiers a
poussieres) are especially dangerous. Pro
| fessor Landouseys investigations among
policemen and postal employees (both of
whom have also very insanitary offieesl,
| and also among laundry workers, have
revealed a disastrous condition of affairs.
Also among 25T worknlen carefully kept
under observation by Professor Lam
! dousey, consisting Of carpenters, joiners,
/ floor layers and packers, all living under
practically the same conditions. the NOR
tality from tuberculosis amounted to
more than 80 per cent
laundry workers were found to be
most seriously affected. From the sta
tistics made at Billancourt, Boulogne-
sur Seine, etc. districts in the nefghbor-
hood of Paris, where laundries abounl,
the mortality from tuberculosis reached
the alarming total of 10 per cent. Sc
deadly is the handling Of mdiscriminata
soiled linen that young women succumb
after an average of fifteen years, while
men last from eighteen to twenty-taA
years.
"The Paris bakers a few days ago
formed an Organization for the improve
ment of the unsanitary conditions under
which they have to work. [ It's stated
authoritatively that despite he govern
mental inspection of bakeries and the
most modern hygienic apparatus. out of
100000 bakers in Paris 100000 suffer
from tuberculosis.
The state department of public chari-
ties, regarding this struggle against tu-
berculosis as d national and social duty
is considering the establishment of spa
cial hospitals for tuberculosis. both in
Paris and throughout the country. where
such patients can be properly isolated aud
given special treatment. Already at
Bngny model hospital or sanitarium
has been erected, at a cost of 100000
francs (S2sa.500). the annual cost OF
maintenance being 1sosoo francs (S34,-
T40,. Its present capacity is 100 pa
tents, so that only very small per
centage of the applicants for admission
We're successful"
THRouGH PULLMAN SERVICE