The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-15
TUBERCULOSIS IN
FRANCE ALARMING
10000 Persons Die Each Year
from Malay
OCCUPATIONS ARE FACTOR
In Laundry Districts the Rate of Nor
tally Is In Some Cases rs Per
cent-6olIed MIX Is
Not Safe.
OCCUPATIONS ARE FACTOR

gram, consular clerk of Paris, furnishes
the bureau of manufactured a timely
report on the prevalence of tuberculosis
IN France, and efforts that are being
snade by stringent sanitary rules and hy
genic regulations. The report will be pub
ashed in consular and trade reports to-
morrow. Ingram writes:
The Academy of Medicine at Paris has
been discussing recently the value of the
official statistics aus to the mortality from
tuberculosis in France. According TO these
statistics 10000 persons die each year
Hrom this disease. This represents 80
deaths caused by tuberculosis out of each
10000 inhabitants. In Germany, 1t is said,
tho same malady carries off only % per-
sons in 10000
1.-The consensus of opinion would seem
to be that 1t is almost impossible to
make any serious deductions or COMPARE
sons from the official statistics as at
present organized, owing to their In
completeness and in some cases, in ac-
curacy Though some departments, nike
that ofAthe Seine, furnish absolutely exact
statistics as to tuberculosis, others do not
FURNISH any at all. In certain towns, since
the declaration of death from tubercu-
iosis has been made obligatory, only per-
sons in hospitals die from that disease.
The rich die from bronchitis
consumptives Protest Posting.
1.-THE campaign against tuberculosis in
France has assumed such national impor-
lance that the academy during the last
three months has been discussing the nee
essity for the compulsory declaration of
= cases of tuberculosis by the doctor in
attendance: but this has met with a storm
of opposition, as it is contended that
thereby the large army of eonsumptives
would be deprived of all means of support,
as no one then would knowingly have
them In his employ.
1.-The necessity for the compulsory disin
lection of dwellings that have been oc-
cuped by persons suffering from tubercu-
losis has been shown Overwhelmingly not
only in towns but also in the country,
where hygiene and disinfection are often
ignored. and the Academy of Medicine
strongly urges this measure. In reference
TO the subject of the effect of insanitary
dwellings M. Paul Juillerat, chief officer
in the health department of the prefecture
of the Seine, recently has reported that
out of $4,000 habitations under observa-
ton it was found that tuberculosis was
more prevalent in houses where there was
little light.
1.-THE question of the effect of certain
occupations on this disease also has been
investigated carefully in France. 1t has
been found that those trades that bring
one into contact with dust are especially
dangerous. Professor Landouzys investi-
cations among policemen and postal EN-
poyes Cloth of whom also have extremely
insanitary offices-indeed public COM
plains against the impure air in postoffices
in Paris are most frequenD and also
among laundry workers. have revealed a
disastrous condition of affairs Also
Among PSI workmen carefully kept under
observation by Professor Landouzy, con-
sisting of carpenters joiners floor layers
and packers. all living under practically
the same conditions. the mortality from
tuberculosis amounted to more than 30
per cent
Laundry Workers Most Susceptible.
Laundry workers. though. We're found
to be the most seriously affected From
statistics made at Billancourt. Boulogne-
eur-Seine, etc. districts in the neighbor-
hood of Paris where laundries abound).
the mortality from tuberculosis reached
the alarming total of IS per cent. So
deadly is the handling of indiscriminate
soiled linen that young women succumb
after an average of fifteen years. Men
last from eighteen to twenty years.
ut is stated that despite governmental
Inspection of bakeries and the most mod
ern hygienic apparatus, out of 100000 ba-
kers in Paris, 100000 suffer from tubercu-
losis. A professional bakers school has
consequently been opened to educate the
men to practice hygenic methods.
at has been suggested that school
children suffering from this disease shall
carry booklet reporting the progress
of their physical condition, so that the
teachers shall separate the unhealthy
from the healthy. Paper handkerchiefs
have also been proposed for distribution.
but their use would be undesirable If not
dangerous unless the handkerchiefs were
systematically collected and destroyed
Boiling MIX No Preventive.
'Ine minister of public education has re-
Gently issued an order that, inasmuch as
the permanent commission for protection
against tuberculosis had learned that re-
cent Investigations had shown that In Ger
tain countries so to so per cent of the
cattle affected with tuberculosis. all milk
consumed in the boarding schools be
pasteurized. boiled or sterlized.
..In this connection 1t is of interest to
note that Dr. Calmette. head physician Of
the Pasteur institute at Lille, has recently
declared that his experiments proved that
even sterilization by heat of the milk from
tubercuous cows did not render it safe
either for persons suffering from tuber-
culosis or even those free from 1t.
THE tuberculosis commission has been
examining a cuspidor invented by M.
Fourier 1t consists of cardboard cylin-
der rendered waterproof, containing some
pulverizcd peat impregnated with some
Microscopic and antiseptic substance.
When 1t needs emptying it can be seized
with pair of tongs and thrown the
fire.
THE state department of public chart
ties, regarding this struggle against tu-
berculoss national and social duty
is considering the establishment of special
hospitals for tuberculosis both In Paris
and throughout the country"
Shelley at Eton