New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-09
WHITE PLAGUE VICTIMS.
DR.. Rankin Suggests Restraining
irresponsible and Vicious Ones.

The forcible restraint of irresponsible tuber-
cuosis patients in sanatoriums and hospitals
was recommended measure OF public saiety
yesterday to the members of the Woman's NM
nicipal League by Dr. f. Gurnsey Rankin, chair
man of the tuberculosis committee OF the Met
ropolitan Hospital. on Backwelfs Island In
the course of a paper THE City's Tubercu-
iosis Problem Dr. Rankin urged the passing
of new rules and regulations to cover one phase
of the great white plague that seems to nave
escaped serious attention-the danger OF infec-
ton from the person afflicted with tuberculosis.
yet we'll enough to be about. and from tubercu-
losis patients who insist leaving the hospital
before they cured.
What" he asked, rs to be done with the
tuberculosis man or who is still able to
work and has a family to provide for? Or
with the tubercuar patients who leave the
hospital uncured. to die among friends, very
likely TO circulate freely through the city for
the next nine months year, scattering I'M
checked the germs Of tuberculosis for you and
to breathe?
I'VE need new laws and regulations to cover
cases like this, as we'll great increase in
the present totally inadequate number of sana-
toria and hospitals to make the detention Of
consumptive patients possible"
DR. Rankin urged the appointment of a COM
the situation in tuberculosis, prior to the crea-
ton of a bureau for the purpose, among other
things of evolving better system of preven-
tive measures, especially such as relate TO the
restraint of the irresponsible vicious
Miss Chanler, the president. asked if means
were not now adopted to teach consumptives
and their families how to for the disease.
Yes" replied the speaker, but all such in
structiOns leave it voluntary with the afflicted
one whether he will follow them not. He Is
told to sleep the roof in suitable weather. to
spit into Sputum cup or bottle, and so on, but
it is left to him to follow these directions not
Some tuberculosis patients are irresponsible In
all this; others vicious. In either case, they
must be fOrcibly restrained In sanatoria and
hospitals until they cease to be a menace to the
public health"
But if the patients at these tuberculosis hos
pitfalls spit the grass, isn't there the same
danger of infectiOn?" asked member
But they aren't allowed TO do that" was the
answer They must use the bottles that are
provided. The first time patient is caught
breaking this rule he is warned; the next time
he is dismissed"
Where tor" asked Miss Chanler. And a shud-
der that was haff a laugh at the irony of things
swept over the audience as DR.. Rankin answered.
"Oh, back to the city Some of them go to
other institutions some come back to us after
a while, others stay here and die
Among the lower classes, according to DR..
Rankin. consumption affiicts in the proportion Of
about three and One-half or four to one
woman He attributed this inequality to the
fact that more exposed to depressing
influences which are favorable to the develop
ment of the bacillus, such incement weather
and the ravages OF liquor.