The Republican journal., 1907-05-30
Boycott of ConSumptives.

LOnOOn newspaper recorded his con
viction that the march of mode RI
thought had set a destructive heel u por
most of the shibboleths of the middle
nineteenth century. H is list of out
worn creeds was lengthy enough, anG
among the lifeless relics he included
the utilitarian philosophy. 1t is true
that in those places where moral
philosophy forms branch of education
the greatest-happiness principle is utter
ly rejected, and the familiar arguments
of Mill are held up by tutors as puppets
for their pupils to knock down in week.
ly essays. But, if the utilitarian prin.
clple considered as an ethical criterion
has suffered eclipse among thinkers,
its general Interpretation as the great
est happiness of the greatest number
finds increasing acceptance as rule
for everyday social conduct.
In one direction particularly the ap.
plication of the principle is being
carried out with growing strictness.
There is no doubt at all that within the
last few years the attitude of society
at large toward the invalid has greatly
changed. The custom is to point to the
number of hospitals and sanatoria as
evidence of kindlier disposition to-
ward ill-health. 1t would be more true
to assert the reverse. For the feeling
which now prompts the building Of
hospitals has less in it of kindly emotion
toward the suffering than of desire to
safeguard the healthy. The existence
of such an attitude outside the medical
profession would probably be denied,
but the tendency to consider the in
valid as having no right to a place in So
ciety is everywhere observable. No
where is this tendency so evident as in
the so-called health resorts of the Con-
tlnent. the resentment felt by the more
| fortunate guests in such places against
the presence of invalids is steadily in
creasing. There is no doubt that it is
becoming more and more difficult for
those whom ill-health drives from
home in search of suitable climate to
find accommodation in civilized places.
The difficulty is most felt in the case of
those who suffer from the scourge of
the white races,
| Two quite separate causes have COM
bined to bring about this condition of
affairs,-the fear of infection and the
dislike of holidaymakers to be remind
ed of the existence of suffering. 1t is
not likely that the latter feeling will
pass, tendency is all the other
way,-but it is possible that time and
| the spread of knowledge will beget a
more reasonable frame of mind with
regard to the question of danger to
health to be apprehended from ii con-
Sumptive patient.
| The benefits which should ultimately
result from a universal recognition Of
the communicating of consumption
can scarcely be overeStimated, but to
| Spcnrp thpSp it Sl1ra1v To
exaggerate the danger which actually
exists. Pulmonary tuberculosis is a
communicable disease, but the danger
of communication is nullified by GER
tain easy hygienic precautions. That
is to say, 1t is not infectious in the
ordinary sense of the word, and it lies
with each individual patient whether he
! is, or is not, a danger to those with
whom he associates. Practically speak
| ing the sole risk of infection is caused
by careless expectoratlon, and, it the
sputum is properly disposed of, the risk
| disappears. This is simple fact, and
one which ought to be universally
known; but, outside medical circles and
| the great army of those who suffer
| from consumption, it does not appear
to be grasped The belief is not un-
common that the tubercle bacillus is
bourne in myriads upon the breath of
| the invalid, and that merely to be in
the vicinity of any one suffering from
phthisis necessarily implies exposure to
| Infection.
Each year sees an increase in the
multitude of those who go abroad for
pleasure, and the feeling grows con-
tinually that the invalid Spoils the pic
ture. In addition to those travellers
! Chiefly GERMANY who protest against
the proximity of the consumptive from
fear of infection, there is a large class
! Chiefly English which POUNDS its objec-
ton on the ground that the presence Of
! consumptiveS is $50 depressing" This
argument is more difficult to meet than
! the other, for it is impossible to deny
the fact asserted. The feeling is natural
enough; but is it just to the invalid, is
! it creditable TO those people who mani
fest it so plainly The pure air and the
sunshine are a relaxation, a luxury
| even, to the holiday maker; but to the
! invalid they too often mean the chance
of life itself Yet this intolerance on
| the part of the pleasure seeker has con-
tributed not less than the fear of in
lection to the adoption by hotel keepers
of their present attitude. and of the
two causes it is the one which stands
less chance of being removed. The fear
of infection is due in the main to ignor-
ance, but the resentment felt toward
the depressing proximity of invalids in
holiday resorts is only one manifesto
ton of feeling which is gradually per-
vading society.
Plainly Interpreted, this feeling de-
MES to the invalid the right to any
consideration as member Of the social
comfy If not danger to the healthy,
the invalid is at least an Inconvenience
to them. The savage's expedient of kill
ing eff the weak members of his tribe
to the benefit of the strong has been
rendered repugnant by the progress of
civilization, but the principle which
animated his action has survived his
particular manifestation of it, More,
the present day is witnessing a remark
able recrudescence of opinion in its ia
vor. If the invalid must not be put to
death, he must be put where he will
not interfere with the rest of society.
Hence the increase in the number of
hospitals and sanatoria which has been
a feature of recent charitable effort.
That this increase is not due primarily
to compassion for suffering IS perfectly
obvious, and few doctors at east would
advance such a claim.
There is no great profit to be gained
from further discussion OF this point.