The Washington herald., 1909-05-14
WOODWARD DENIES
PHTHISIS INCREASE
Takes Issue with the Letter
Written by Mr.. StrauS.
DEFENDS THE HEALTH OFFICE
Declares II Is Accomplishing Much
Toward Reducing TubercuIOsis in
Washington, Despite Indifference
of COngress-AveraEe Death Rate
Greatly Reduced Since 1896.

Replying 10 the statement o. Nathan
otraus. in which the Washington milk
supply Is attacked. ard the recent cam
paign against tuberculosis dispsraged in
tts results, Dr.. u. c. Woodward. Dis
trict health officer. last evening produced
statistics q show that this city is &C
oompllshiug success. despite lack OF leg
islaJive facilities. in stamping out the
disease
Nj StTaus assertion that one out
Of every eighteen samples Of milk IN
vestigated IN Washington was found tu-
berculous is probably true" said Dr..
Woodward But his declaration that
thece has been an increase OF 9 per
cent n two years Of tuberculosis in New
York City. does not apply 10 Washing
ton. The average annual death rate
from pulmonary tuberculosis since 1885
has decreased from IS in every l10.60e
persons, 70 eos in 1913
I would further state that two years
IS hardly sufficient time IN which 10 gauge
the death rate In any city. Working in
conjunction with the Department Of Az
riculture. We have considered the question
of legal restriction 20 improve the milk
supply in the District. and have framed
q regulation which is now before the
Commissioners. This regulation viii be-
come active just as soon as II IS reduced
10 an effective form.
Not Assisted by Congress.
1T is well 10 remember that Congress
has never acceded 10 our demands for 4
archaeological laboratory. With the
means az their command the District
health authorities have done effective
work. as the records show. fully agree
with Dr. Strsus that pasteurization Is
essential. and Will continue 10 be so until
We have eradicated al danger from
tuberculOus cows. Matters snouid so ex-
ist that all milk sold IN the market should
be certified as pure and free from ali
germs OF tuberculosis Tu0eTCulin test
ing in connection with pasteuriZation
would be q still more effective means OF
preventing cOntagion.
Figures showing a decrease IN the death
rate among consUmptlves in Washington
follow, From 1896 TO 1850 inclusive. IS in
every 700; from 1sf 10 1896. %. in 1895
80; IN 1907. rs; in IsJS. 21S.
The health officer explained that the
greatest death rate was noticeable in Ins
negro population, which comprises one
third OF the population Of the District.
Last year the mortality from pulmonary
tuberculosis totaled 124 white persons and
Al negroes. This is based on a proportion
of 90 inhabitants
Straus Letter Read ai Convention.
UT. Straus' statement was contained in
a letter sent 10 the ffJh annual meeting
OF the National Association for the Study
and Prevention OF tuberculosis. al the
New willard
Referring 10 alleged impUrity in the
Washington milk supply. Mr. Straus
said: Investigation in Washington
showed one out Of every eighteen samples
of milk taken 70 be tubercul0us and that
one out Of every ten dairies supplied
tuOercUloUs milk DR.. Schroeder mas
shown that milk IS not only infected when
the cows Udder IS diseased. but that
one tubercUlOuS- COW may infect the milk
OF the entire herd.
Considered in its entirety. Mr Straus'
letter was directed 10 prove his asser-
tiOns sntagOnized AZ the recent Congress
on tuberculosis, by Dr. Koch, the Ger
man scientist. Mr.. StraUs Is a leading
advocate Of psSteurizatiOn as the only
sure method Of freeing milk Of the danger
or tuberculous infection. Dr. kOcl
maintained that the relation between ami
nal and human tubercle bscilH Is TOO
indefinite 10 make the former a menace
70 the human being
Prevention that deals only with in
fection that may come from the tu-
berculOus patient, and ignores the mis-
chief wrought by the tUberculOus dairy
COW. Is the sort that we have had, and
& has failed 10 prevent 2 80 per cent
increase IN the number Of victims OF
the disease" he adds. This association
would be untrue 20 the international cor
gress. for which II IS responsible. II il
we're 70 rest content with this sort Of pre-
veation. for that congress unanimously
decreed that measures are 70 be con-
tinUed against bovine tuberculosis and
its transmission 10 man, said Nj
Straus IN conclusion.