New-York tribune., 1909-07-04
Human Beings Who Go About
Immune but Spreading
Disease Germs.

New York has many walking pesthouses-'
This startling statement, IN effect, was made by
d. BerseL sanitary superintendent Of the Health
Department. 70 a Tribune reporter last week. That
to say, TIE metropolis is infested with peripa-
etc disease carriers. human beings Of both sexes
Eho quite healthy and normal in the usual
ense, but who while pursuing their daily vOcations
disseminate the microbes Of dangerous maladies
Immune themselves from the diseases which they
asTbor and unaware OF the havoc which they
7ause, these human incubators Of germs re-
iponsible for many outbreaks OF sickness which
feena 10 hs Of mysterious and unaccauntable or
sn- Epldemcs OF typhoid. diphtheria, cholera and
'!sentery are largely due 10 innocent and healthy
eoAFeyeTs,' who are greater menace to any
srsists
II yog know who they are. why don't you get
iier themE' asked the writer
We aont know, and we don't want 10 know"
-es ne surprising answer Of Dr. Bensel. Il don't
@ ~ik ms Is Z subject that want publicity on.
0oat want 10 investigate it. It looms up too
The case OF Mary Mallon, or Typhoid
sIs' "hieh Is now in court on habeas corpus pro-
o'ss-she objects 10 the Health Department
s1s her IN solitary confinement on North
s1-g Asiand-is our classic example II is enough
. Know about her
WY way eoaldut you isolate the rest~
sie could we put them all? Mary MaIlon IS
81 IS U valuable space in the Riverside Hospi-
= Ass3lse n the two years of her detention
- NSS1afe ali The disease conyeyers and confine
80 1of The period OF their natural lives is TOO
proposition TO contemplate. The department
" " ready 10 handle anything like that
,,r' WY % sou shun publicity? Isn't It worth
.s :. e warn people OF the danger?"
warning VIII hardly do any good" was the
=. Scu can't warn the victims, for they have
<hs OF Identifying those who give them dis
e. = might be slightly useful TO warn the germ
--eis .ra whose suspicion OF their state has been
.s--I me- b. meteorological examination. They
-, . careful for d while not 10 infect others,
-Al1s such precautions as washing their hands
- - o. oat this would not last long. They would
t,ess siess ana wo1ld relax precautions. II is not
- nature 70 look after the welfare OF others
! - - .oar own welfare is not al all concerned. II
r,, mat TIE danger is much greater IN some oc-
a. ~ -o's AAsn In others-in a cook. for example,
tb,, = Mary Mailoa. A cook handles food. and
-, e.feetly conveys germs TO her victims A
po. L,ig oig compel him 70 stick 10 that trade and
& Oecoine cook. The supervision Of occupations
- extensive programme
u0a,~ e ioF the germ carrying coial-
tsor ihs positive Sometimes 8 surgical opera
a 49,. me removal o: the gall bladder. which Is
rsr,ss. breeding place OF microbes. effects 3
g., = If1ss have been tried, but fear that a
OF ;, s-e enough to kill the germs in the body
T,pba,a - 1is subject would kin the subject. TOO
x.vsr y -e'eF anc tuberculosis are our worst con-
sir1r -..tases. Their germs may. thrive end mui-
srsr,N" -" uiiGbafed vlrulence IS the systems Of
o..,, '"F many years. The same is true OF
5r<,- Diphiherta persists for periods ranging
suai,, .sN weeks 70 four or Eve months after the
.s.ry '.l - recovery OF the patient We know that
S'o1s disease is communicable for .