The Washington times., 1907-02-01
Members of District Med
ical Societies Aligned
Against the
Bill.
Both Sides Give Com
mittee Their ReSpec-
tive Views.

Opposition on the part OF the Medical
Society OF the District and of the
Homeopathic Medical Society 90 the
proposed bill TO provide for reports and
registration OF all cases of tuberculosis
IN The District. for free examination Of
sputum in suspected cases and preVen-
len of the spread OF the disease, devel-
cped az a hearing ON the bill before the
Senate District Committee this morning.
Dr. d. Is. Shute. professor OF anatomy
at Ge0rse Washington University.
strongly denounced the pending bill. Dr
Shute is president of the Medical So
clety- He submitted a substitute 10 the
bin advocated by the commissioners ana
tne Health Department
MS blii represents the wishes of
lte DISTRICT of Columbia Medical Sn-
cety, II differs radically from the
peHdin= biIl- Its essential points of
ulIlcfence. as explained uy Dr. SHure
are that IL does not provide for general
registration 1I tuberculosis patients nor
Tor free examination OF suutum THe
Medical Society bill proceeds on the
Theory tHat registration is not necas-
SaE} Tor the well-tu-do, buE only for .he
i-diEent- that Jhe INDECENT only should
have sputum examined az public eX-
IrAse, ana that not the physician llI
tae householder should be compelled 10
report tuberculosis cases.
Assails Pending Measure.
lr- sRuta-s-.a-the Medical Society
was as anxious as the friends of the
pending bill for legislation on the sub
Ject and 10 prevent tuberculosis. He
did not deCry the efforts OF the chari-
ties committee. he said. but he assaiIed
in severe terms the bill that has. been
introduced.
1t would be useless. irritating, and
bureaucratic declared Dr. Shute. OF
the proposal 10 compel registration Of
the tubercul0us.
Strong objection was made by Dr.
Shute 10 the fact that people who regis
tered would be placed under the ban of
society. and would be unable 10 get en-
plOymenL Registration" said he
should be limited 10 the INDECENT popu-
latiOn OF the District"
II was urged by DR.. Shute that the
wealthy could have their own sputum
looked after. Moreover. ne denied com
puisOry registration had accomplished
what was claimed for II. the mortality
IN the District having been reduced as
greatly as In New York where there
Is compulsory registration. since the
present New York law went into effect
Free examination OF sputum was de-
nounced by DR.. Shute as one of the
most vicious provisions in the whole
bill. He deemed IL much more import
ant that there be legislation 10 insure
the public plenty of sunshine and good
air and pure milk.
Views Of DR.. W. B. Carr.
Dr. ". B. Carr declared registration
had never done any good and never
would 1T is unjust 10 the poor, il is
barbarous and inhuman, said DR.. Carr.
Dr. Carr explained the nature OF tu-
bercul0sis at some length 1.-The aver
age man contracts tuberculosis and gets
over il as quickly as he gets over a bad
cold" was one OF his statements. He
thought il unWise to excite undue alarm
In the public mind against the tuber-
cular patient.
Several other physicians spoke against
the pending bill
The leading statement IN behalf of
Inc plll was made by William H. Bald
win, dI this city, director and member
OF the National Committee on the Pre-
Neutlun OF tuberculosis AIR Baldwin
Htl tilb4f t4lO-dlru IeElHtIE ton % tubaT-
eulous people, aud free examination of
sputum. Tie submitted a pamphlet pre-
pared p} lu@ national committee. which
contained letters from "a large number
or phN slclaus ind0rsing compulsory
registration and free aNaminatfon Of
sputum. Tie called attention 10 an gd-
dress delivered al los Angeles by DT
George M hober, OF this city. in favor
or the proposed bill. He was authorized
he said, Dy Dr. koher 10 saw TO the
committee these were DT E0ber's seuti-
ments nov. He gave the history Of .he
movement Tor such legislation in rne
District, showing IL was favored by the
Health Department and by me WASH
ingtOn Board of Trade and has baen
so favored repeatedly. He quoted statis-
Continued on Eighth PagaD