The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-02-11
State Bodies Taking Action
Legislatures are Fighting Tu-
berculosis.

berculosis.
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 Columbia, make very much OF
an effort to enforce the law.
Only eight States have laws for
bidding splitting in public places,
and in none of these States is
the law strictly enforced. Real
izing the dangers from promis-
cuous splitting, and inability to
locate tuberculosis cases without
a registration law, bills are be-
ing introduced in over a dozen |
different Legislatures to remedy
these defects.
According to a report issued
by the National Association for
the Study and Prevention of Tu-
berculosis, the reporting of tu-
berculosis cases is one Of the
first requisites in the stamping
out of the disease. Until the
health authorities know where
those afflicted with tuberculosis
reside they are poWerless to re-
move the dangers caused by
these infected persons. 1t is
now established that tuberculo-
sis must be classed with smallpox,
diphtheria, scarlet fever, or any
other infectious disease. This
being the case, the report de-
clares it is just as necessary for
the public health that it be reg
istered.
The most decided step in the
registration of tuberculosis was
taken in 1904 by the State of
Maryland, where a law was pass
ed compelling the reporting of
this disease, and inficting a
heavy fine for noncompliance.
This law requires that the State
Board of Health pay $1.00 to
every physician reporting a case
of tuberculosis. and also that ii
furnish him with literature and
preventive supplies for the use
of his patients. This measure was
influenced by the success of .
movement started in New York
City in 1897, to compel the re-
porting of tuberculosis. In 1905
laws modelled somewhat after the
Maryland law were passed ir
New York State and the Distric
of Columbia. The State of Yer
mont had passed a registration
law in 1902, and in Washington
it had been a law that tuberculo
: sis be reported in the first andsec
: ond class cities as early as 1899
q These laws had, however, neve
9 been of much service, and fey
=. new cases were secured throug
e them. Besides these State
e which have direct and specis
: laws compelling the reporting O
e tuberculosis, there are six whic
e require reporting Of tuberculosis
/ as one of the infectious disease:
n They are California, Indiana
n Kansas, Maine, Massachusett
1t and Utah. For the most par
N these laws are of little value.
20 The following States and TIE
" ritories have regulations {
r the Health Departments r
L quiring that tuberculosis be r
err ported: Connecticut, low
"a Michigan, Minnesota, Montan;
te Nebraska, New Jersey, Mort
> Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvani
OF Philippine Islands, Rhode Isla1
and Tennessee. These regul
Re tons seldom secure the desire
at results. The other States of Il
as Union have no laws or regulate
ed on the subject.
Other legislation affecting
berculcsis is, in the main, tn
,,a concerning splitting and with !
h. h. gard to State sanatoria and d
lie, pensaries. There are nine Stat
'ed and Territories which have la
es' forbidding splitting. They 6
he Delaware, Kansas, Marylar
Massachusetts, New Jersey, NJ
- Mexico, PHILIPPINE Islands, Te
nessee and Virginia. TIVE
/ States and the District of Colu
- bia now MAINTAIN sanatoria
hospitals for INDECENT tubercu
sis patients. They are Mas
chusetts, New York, Iowa, Ma
e land, Minnesota, Michigan, N
~ souri,, New Jersey, North Ca
lima, Pennsylvania, Rhode Isls
and Wisconsin. Besides the
in Indiana, Ohio, New Han
shire and Virginia, sites h;
been purchased for similar
e situations, and in Massachuse
work has been commenced
three State hospitals for adva
, ed cases in addition to the St
Sanatorium at Rutland. In 4
" bama and Georgia, laws h
y been passed authorizing and |
viding for the erection Of ST
are sanatoria. In Connecticut
h West Virginia, commissions
preparing to recommend the
tablishment of such institute
at the ensuing legislatures.
In Washington Oregon, c
'NE fornia, North Dakota, South
70. kota, Minnesota, Kansas,
braska, Texas, Oklahoma,
= kansas, Louisiana, Alaba
Florida, Tennessee, Misso
" Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ri
y Island, Connecticut, Mrine
West Virginia, active campai
will be carried on this winter
the various legislatures to Sci
or action affecting the treatn
and prevention of tubercule