The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-09-15
Deaths From White
Plague Declared to In
crease During the
School Age.
How the Cities of Europe
Are Meeting the SAM
tation Problem.
By JOHN H. LowMAK, N. D.

The surprising statement that the NOR
tality OF the young has increased. and
especially during the school age. re-
quires the most serious and thoughtful
consideration This apparently new fact
may not be due 70 an Increase Of the
disease. but TO a discovery. The tech
nique Of diagnosis has improved, the
mind Of man is more alert 70 the whole
question, ideas Of the pathology OF the
disease, especially as far as the lynn
pathatic system Is concerned, have
changed, and. consequently. disease is
detected with much greater precision.
All this, true though IL may be. does.
nevertheless. not invalidate entirely the
position that the danger Of contracting
tuberculosis increases with the age OF
the child and constitutes a peculiar and
extraordinary menace during the school
age. The great majority of children,
says Grancher, who come 10 autopsy IN
the hospitals show tuberculosis Of the
bronchial glands not recognized during
life Naegeli. Of Zurich. found that
q per cent OF children had tuberculosis
Of the glands, and Comfy that 81 per
cent were affected.
Accurate Statistics Lacking.
Regarding the danger Of infection in
school from this source accurate sta
ustics are lacking. From Kirehner's
table It is deduetible that the proportion
ate number Of deaths generally fncrea ses
during the school period. At the tenth
year he finds that out Of 100 boys who
die, 9.25 per cent die Of tuberculosis. and
cut OF go girls. 1902 per cent die Of tu-
tereulosis- In order to decide definitely
the matter. systematic examinations. OF
children in various grades must be made
In the same spirit as e done 10 deter
E'ine the Increase OF myopia 81 the var
ioUs higher grades.
In the childrens clinic OF the Tuber-
culosis Dispensary OF Cleveland. 504
Children, up 10 the ages Of sixteen who
have been associated with a case Of
tuberculosis in their homes. have been
examined. Thirty-eight, or rs per cent
nave positive pulmonary tuberculosis.
sixty-four, or ll-9 per cent could easily
become so affected under unfavorable
conditions. In ono school district Of 1 go
families. 5T2 families were visited and
sixty-seyen cases OF adult tuberculosis
found In the ffty-seven houses in
which these cases were found. Isl chill
dren We're exposed 10 infection.
Exposure Greatest in Homes.
It mus. however. be admitted that
infection would be more probable in ahe
home. were a contagious disease there
present than IN the school. The inter
change Of objects Of personal use are
constant in the houses of the poor. in
deed all the conditions that favor CON
tagiOn are there
When the infected children are dis
covered they should be segregated in
rooms by themselves in small classes
and these rooms should be frequently
cleaned and disinfected. As soon as tJ,e
tuberculosis cases are known and the
pupils collected in special classes the
actual WORK Of protecting such children
By positive measures VIII begin.
What We might call sanafors,,p,
schools in the suburbs. as has already
been projected IN Milan. with especial
~ constructed buildings having wide
verandas, would undoubtedly result
sGch schools would lead naturally tn