The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-03-05
STATE BODIES TAKING ACTION.
Are Fighting Tuber-
Culosis.

CuloSiS.
Only five States in the United States,
including the District of Columbia. have
laws directly compelling the reporting
and registration of tuberculosis, and of
these, but two and the District Of Col
umbia, make very much of an effort to
enforce the law. Only eight States have
laws forbidding splitting in public places.
and in none of these States is the law.
strictly enforced. Realizing the dangers
FROM promiscuous splitting, and inability
to locate tuberculosis cases without
registration law, bills are being intro.
duced in over dozen different Legis-
latures to remedy these defects.
| According to report issued by the
National Association for the Study and
Prevention of tuberculosis, the reporting
of tuberculosis cases is one of the first
requisites in the stamping out Of the
disease. Uatil the health authorities
know where those afflicted with tuber-
culosis reside they are powerless to re-
move the dangers caused by these>in-
fected persons. It is now established that
tuberculosis must be classed with small
pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, or any
other infectious disease. This being the
case, the report declares it is just as
necessary for the public health that it be
registered.
The most decided step in the regis
tration of tuberculosis was taken in 1904
by the State of Maryland, where a law
was passed compelling the reporting of
this disease. and infiicting heavy fine
for noncompliance. This law requires
that the State Board of Health pay $I.oo
to every physician reporting a case Of
tuberculosis, and also that it furnish him
with literature and preventive supplies
| for the use of his patients. This measure
was influenced by the success of a move
ment started in New York city in 1897,
to compel the reporting of tuberculosis
| In 1908 laws modelled somewhat after the
Maryland laws were passed in New York
| State and the District of Columbia The
State ofVermont had passed a registration
law in 1902, and in Washington it had
been law that tuberculosis be reported
| in the first and second class cities as
early as 1890. These laws had, however,
never been of much service. and few new
cases were secured through them. Be-
sides these States, which have direct and
special laws compelling the reporting of
tuberculosis, there are six which require
reporting of tuberculosis as one of the
infectious diseases. They are California,
Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts,
are of little value.
The following States and Territories
have regulations of the Health Depart
ments requiring that tuberculosis be re-
ported : Connecticut, Iowa, Michigan,
Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New
Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsyl. |
vania, Philippine Islands, Rhode Island
and Tennessee, These regulations seldom
secure the desired results. The other
States of the Union have no laws or regu-
lation on the subject.
Other legislation affecting tuberculosis
is, in the main, that concerning splitting
and with regard to State sanatoria and
dispensaries. There are nine States and
Territories which have laws forbidding
splitting. They are Delaware, Kansas,
Maryland, Massachusetts,. New Jersey,
New Mexico, Philippine Islands,. Ten
nessee and Virginia. Twelve States and
the District of Columbia now maintain
sanatoria or hospitals for INDECENT tuber-
culosis patients. They are Massachusetts,
New York, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota,
Michigan, Missouri. New Jersey, North
Carolina, Pennsylvania. Rhode Island.
and Wisconsin. Besides these, in In
diana, Ohio, New Hampshire and Vir-
ginia. sites have been purchased for SINH
lar institutions, and in Massachusetts
work has been commenced on three State
hospitals for advanced cases in addition
to the State Sanatorium at Rutland. In
Alabama and Georgia, laws have been
passed authorizing and providing for the
erection of State sanatoria. In Con-
necticut, and West Virginia. commissions
are preparing to recommend the estab-
lishment of such institutions at the en.
suing legislatures.
In Washington, Oregon. California,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,
Kansas. Nebraska. Texas. Oklahoma, |
Arkansas. Louisiana. Alabama, Florida,
Tennessee Missouri Illinois Pennsvl. 1
vania. Rhode Island. Connecticut, Maine
and West Virginia. active campaigns will
be carried on this winter in the various
legislatures to secure action affecting the
treatment and prevention of tuberculosis |
Free to all subscribers of this paper.