Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-29
COSTS
BILLION EACH YEAR
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Continued From First Page.)
! morning-Dr Edgar Copeland. who spoke
before section on the relation of mea-
sizes, whooping cough and influenza to
tuberculosis in children and A. d. Melvin.
who spoke on the economic importance OF
animal tuberculosis.
Cerious Children's Troubles.
DR.. Copeland said in part:
Measles whooping cough and influenza
are diseases much more serious in their
| nature than is generally supposed They
| are all followed by tuberculosis in a GER
tain proportion of cases, but In just what
proportion is difficult of determination.
The insidiOus nature of the onset Of tu-
berculous conditions renders the acquisi-
ton of definite data impossible. There
seems now to be but little doubt that the
common portal of entry is the gastro-in-
testinal tract, and that latent tuberculosis.
as the result Of early infection, exists In
| large proportion OF cases.
These acute infectious diseases are all
characterized by catarrhal conditions OF
the respiratory passages. Such catarrhal
inflammatiOnS are attended with greatly
increased Emphatic activity and furnish
conditions suitable to the disseminate
and generalization of latent diseases.
"A careful study of available data seems
to justify the following conclusions: First.
that considering the enormous number
of children affected from time to time by
measles. vahoOping cough and influenza.
the incidence of tuberculosis is not great,
secondly. that such cases as do follow
are almost invariably dependent upon pre-
viously existing latent disease; thirdly.
that the disease becomes active through
the agency Of Emphatic activity"
Cows Heavily Infected.
In paper read by DR.. A. d. Melvin
before section Z of the International con-
gress on tuberculosis he stated that 10
per cent Of the cows Of the United States
are infected with tuberculosis. His con-
illusions drawn from many years obser-
| walton in the Department OF Agricul-
| ture are:
The main effort should be directed
against the disease in cattle. Among
| the measures proposed are the following:
Live stock owners should be edu-
| Gated by means of official publications,
the agricultural and general press. lee
lures at farmers institutes. etc. Public
authorities should make a systematic
effort to determine to what extent and in
| what localities the disease exists. and
should apply the tuberculin test gener-
ally and Systematically to cattle in sec
tiOns where this seems desirable.
"Reacting animals should be slaugh-
| tered under competent veterinary inspec-
| ton, SO that the loss may be minimized
| by passing carcasses for food where the
| infection is SO slight that this can safe
| ly be done: dangerous carcasses. OF
course. to be condemned. In the case
| OF valuable breeding animals where
slaughter would involve great sacrifice
the Bang system Of segregation may be
used
"A system of tagging all cows sent to
market is advocated, SO that when ami
| mails are found tuberCulOus in the meat
| inspection they may be traced back to
the place of origin. centers OF infection
located. and steps taken for eradica-
ton. The bureau of animal industry is
| already cooperating with the authori-
ties or some states In reporting and trac-
ing the origin Of tuberculous animals.
Each state should require that all
| cattle brought in for breeding or dairy
purposes shall have passed the tubercu-
| lin test.
LAS the eradication Of tuberculosis Is
| largely public health measure, 1T is
only reasonable that the persons whose
| cattle are slaughtered should be paid in
| demnity, at least in part This is not
| only just but Is absolutely essential If
the cooperation of cattle-owners is to
| be secured. Several states already have
provisions Of this character
The benefits to follow from the eradi-
cation of tuberculosis from farm animals
are SO great and so obvious that the
| hCSCScdEy expenditures, even though
they must be heavy. may be regarded as
highly profitable investment"
Cuba's, Fight Against White Plague.
Cuba's fight against consumption was
explained by DR.. T. L. Jacobsen OF Ha-
| vana.
He said in part:
The problem Of tuberculosis is the
same generally in Cuba as in any other
I thn
the same causes and presents the same
| clinical picture. Let the presence Of a
great many tobacco manufactures gives
a certain special character to the problem
| In Cuba, as these are doubtless the great
| source of tuberculosis.
| Another special character in Cuba is
| that hitherto at least the private societies
1.-The league among them-and private
agencies have lacked the necessary re-
| sources to undertake prOphylactic, meas
| ures and in order to be really effective
| they should be supported by and under
the control Of the government. On the
| other hand. the geographical conditions of
| the island easily permit OF accurate and
extensive statistical work. which is a
| fundamental basis in the problem of tu-
| berculosis.''
| DIR. Jacobsen pointed out its Importance
| and proposes among other suggestions q
! strong organization for the collection of
| statistics in Cuba. He referred to the
| hospitals. sanatoria and dispensaries. and
made a strong plea for a speedy organiza-
! ton OF dispensaries In the provinces-at
least one In every large city of the island
| One Of the prominent speakers this aft
ernoon will be David ]. Brewer. associate
justice of the Supreme Court. His ad-
dress will be on the legitimate exercise of
police power In protecting the life and
health of employees.
Speakers on Today's Program.
Other speakers on todays program were:
Prof. n. PHI. Tendeloo. Leyden: DR.. Ju-
Illus Bartel. Vienna; DIR. G. kuss. Angi-
court. France; DR.. s. Berheim. Paris;
Prof Francis Harbitz. Christiania: DR..
| Carl Hart, Berlin: Prof. B. Stiller. Buda-
/ pest; DR.. Simon Won Unterberger, st.
J Petersburg: DR.. Johann Won Szaboky,