The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-01-15
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NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. LEAGUE
NOTES. t'c !

lft5 ssFy q Nsss1 T .l1a'. n
The Ad ministratlve Control Of Tuber.
culosis. 4raa y
BY Hermann NJ. Biggs,M. d. Chief
Medical Officer, Department Of
Health, City Of New York.
When we consider. the transcendent
Importance to the human race OF the
observations OF Koch on the etlology
OF tuberculosis. and the completeness
OF his demonstration of the commnni-
cable and prevcntable character OF the
disease. 1t seems difficult ito under
stand the limited extent OF the sani-.
tary procedures since adopted and en-
forced for its restriction The im'era-
tive demand for the enforcement OF
comprehensive measures for the pre-.
yentlon OF tuberculosis should have
been rs evident to sunitarians twenty
wears ago as Ii Is to-day. No facts
have been added to our knowledge
within this period which are really cs.
sential to the intelligent sanitary sur
yclllance of this disease. The univer-
sal prevalence of the disease. It's IN.
fictitious and communicable character,
its IprcventabIlty and durability, all
OF these facts-the Important ones
bearing ION the administrative control
are not Of recent discovery. They
nave not been developed by the agita'
ton Of the past few years, but we're as
manifest to the student OF this sub.
ject fifteen or twenty years ago as
they are now. Very slowly has q par.
tial comprehension Of the tremendous
Significance OF these simple well
known facts forced itself on the minds
Of the medical profession. the sanitary
and civil authorities and the people.
Even now only here and there
throughout the civilized world nave
measures been put into effect look
ing to the administrative control OF
tuberculosis. Notwithstanding all
that has been said and written, not
withstandlng the popular education
anda gitataion. notwithstanding the
formation OF anti.tubcrculosis socle-
ties and antI-tuberculosis leagues. not.
withstanding the organization OF many
associations for the erection OF 5sani:-
torla, and the foundation OF institu-
tons for the study Of tuberculosis, not
withstanding the measures adopted for
the prevention OF the disease In anil
mails, still only q very small. percent
age Of the governmental municipal
and State sanitary authorities OF this
country, Great Britain and the Cont.
nent have adopted provisions which
can be regarded as In any way COM
prehenslye. or effective In dealing
with this disease. ~ y y
II We seek for IN adequate cxpla11a-
ton for this attitude, it is not after
all dlt1icult to find. In speaking Of this
matter some years ago. Koch; said IN
substance to the writer. the adoption
in Germany Of such measures as are
already in force in New York City will
not be possible until the generation
Of medical men now In control have
passed away. Not until a younger
generation has appeared, which has
had different scientific training. and
holds views more in harmony with
the known facts regarding the etiology.
Of tuberculosis. will it'be possible In
my opinion ito bring about IN intelll-
gent supervision of this disease"
The idea has been SO firmly fixed
in the minds OF the authorities and OF
the medical profession, that admins
tratlve control applies only to the more
readily communicable acute diseases:
like smallpox. scarlet fever. diphthe:
ria, etc. that the inclusion of tuber-
culosis with these diseases has seem
ed to them impractlcable, and the en-;
actment OF suitable LEGISLATION confer
ring power on the authorities to deal
with this disease in another way has
either not been considered. or has been
rgarded ms impossible. In only a few,
Instances have effective measures
been adopted. and IN these instances
as was the casein'New York, the pow
or has usually rested with the SAM
tary authorities themselves to deter.
mine what diseases should come un-