New-York tribune., 1909-10-19
TO FIGHT TUBERCULOSIS
Small Increased appropriation
Granted by Board of Estimate.

me Board OF Estimate learned yesterday that the
oeaeh rate from tuberculosis had not materially
aeofessea IN the last seven years. although that
HOIn other contagious diseases had. The hearing
was on the request for increases for the prevention
and cure OF tuberculosis for the following depart
ts: Health, sST2. eco; Education s221 14O; Bellevue
sno Allied Hospitals. s7,4so: Charities $4,000: total
fio''zSV. AT the end OF the hearing 1t was an
lowed
4he first speaker. Robert D. de Forest president
- the Charity Organization Society," pointed out
.nat II the conditions now existing which breed
tuberculosis were the cause Of smallpox, typhus
ciOlera' the city would be up in arms. and money
wouio De Immediately voted. The economic loss in
.As community from tuberculosis he estimated to
De at least s15.00o,Oo0 annually
1ohn Flynn. of the Central Federated Union. pre-
eIeo resolutions adopted by the Central Federated
Union and by the Central Labor Union of Brooklyn,
heartiy indorsing requests of the several depart
inents for money TO fight tuberculosis.
Dr. Woods Hutchinson said that long the
oa1ser 70 the community from the careless con-
sutnptive in his tenement home continued. little
progress could be made In reducing the death rate
from tuberculosis He said there were twenty-four
thousand new cases OF tuberculosis year; that
thousands OF parents infected their children, and
mat In 81 per cent of cases in families more
or the children in these families affected.
Dr Alexander Lambert made the startling asser
ton that advanced cases of the disease were sent
out from hospitals 70 infect the tenements. No
efforts are made he said. to follow up the patient
after he is discharged from the hospital and 10
that he has the proper treatment. advice and care
and the same patient visits many hospitals in turn
lncurable cases crowd out those that could be
cured. the physician declared.
DR.. S A. Knopf showed in detail how families
moved into tuberculosis infected apartments and
contracted the disease from the germs in the wall
paper in the woodwork. the floors, the ceiling.
etc There is practically d1sinfection renova-
tion of apartments vacated by tuberculosis patients
ne said. except in OF death. If the city could
spend sS00O60 year to see that houses were kept
clean. he thought it could keep cOntagion out of
them.
Dr. knopf was followed by Dr. James A. Miller.
president Of the Association of tuberculosis Clinics
who urged the appropriation asked by the Health
Department for the needs of the clinics. That an
Italian clinic is greatly reeded pointed out by
Dr. Antonio Stella, for the Little Italy district.
between 104th and l16th streets and from Second
avenue &c the East River. DR.. Samuel Lambert
urged the maintenance OF ferryboat clinics as i'm
portant places for the and education of tuber-
eulous children excluded from the public schools
by the Department OF Health. For the diagnosis
laboratory Of the Health Department, DR.. Simon
Flexner urged increased appropriation. DR.
Abraham Jacob urged outdoor classrooms for chill
dren in the public schools.
Lawrence WELLER, director of the committee on
the prevention of tuberculosis of the Charity Or
ganization Society. summed up the remarks Of the
previous SPEAKERS.