The San Francisco call., 1909-09-03
OBJECT TO CLINIC
FOR TUBERCULOSIS
Property Owners Protest Before
Health Board Against Con-
sumptives' Visits

The san Francisco association for
the study and prevention of tubercu-
Iosis and the owners of property in
the neighborhood of Jackson street
between Polk and Larkin, where the
association has constructed a building
TO be used as clinic, clashed yester-
day afternoon at a special meeting of
the board of health The property
owners declared that the clinic, with
its diseased patients moving in and
out would prove a serious menace to
the health of the community. The
members of the association insisted
that the experience of other cities had
shown that a clinic improves the gem
eraI health of the district in which 1t
is established.
Walter Macarthur. director of the
association, took leading part in pre-
senting its case, and Attorney P A
Bergerot whose home adjofns the
clinic building, conducted the attack
OF the property owners.
Macarthur produced evidence to show
that clinics had not been injurious to
the districts in which they were To-
Gated and arraigned the property own
ers in burning words, declaring their
course selfish and heartless. 'Bergerot
responded with the declaration that the
clinic was to be established near a
school and would endanger the health
Of the children and the entire neigh
borhood.
The health board made it plain that
the supervisors had asked for advice
regarding the ordinance it is proposed
TO pass making il necessary for any
private association desiring to estab-
lish a clinic to first secure permit
from the city. The only question to be
decided was whether or not the estab-
lishment of a clinic for the treatment
of tuberculosis was a menace to the
health of the district.
The medical side Of the question will
come up for argument again Tuesday
at 4:3O o'clock before the sanitary
committee of the board, and then the
board members will make their rec
concentrations to the supervisors.
From the opinions of the health board
given yesterday it would seem that
they are inclined to favor the estab-
lishment of as many clinics as pos
sible for the treatment OF tuberculosis
Ordinance to Check Disease
Tuberculosis is communicable dis
ease. These apartments have been Oc-
cupied by a consumptive and may be
infected. They must not be occupied
until the order of the health officers
lion is complied with. This notice must
not be removed, under penalty of the
law. except by the health officer or
other duly authorized official
The above notice is provided for in
one of the main provisions of an ordi-
nance the draft of which was sent to
the board of supervisors yesterday by
the board of health and the adoption of
which was urged as matter of public
safety.
Other provisions empower the health
department to isolate tubercular in
dividuals who, by persistent habits of
careIessness. may be endangering the
lives OF the public.
The school department is forbidden
to receive a tubercular child without
a certificate from the health officer, and
all physicians are required to report
the name, residence and occupation of
all tuhercular patients under their
charge
The ordinance will first be consid-
cred by the supervisors health COM
mittee next week.