New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-24

that there IS anything the matter with
them. Such cases receive but little recog-
milton Yet il is through them that disease
is largely spread. In patients who have
recovered ana in those who have never
been sick at all bacteria Of disease con
tinuc To develop for weeks. and even for
years, condition which is particularly
true of those who are known as carrier"
cases. And while these cases are little
noticed by most doctors and writer's on
medical subjects, they are Of the utmost
significance, and in many cases the real
: source Of contagious disease"
The argument supporting the practice Of
fumigaton IS based on the claim that the
virus of disease retains its life for weeks
and months on toys. books walls and
woodwork. and that the only way to sup
press the germs which this virus contains
lies i'm fumiGaton.
with others Of his profession, Dr. G. y
Chaplin, y no has long made q study of the
problem Of disease prevention objects to
this theory.
This argument is believed" he says,
because numerous cases are on record
in which infected things are assumed to
have caused sickness In the present state
Of our knowledge, 1 would not for a mo-
ment deny that clothing, books, and even
a room itself may he infected and may re-
main SO for a considerable time. and then
give rise to a fresh outbreak Of the dis
ease. What / do believe is that reports
OF such Infection are rarely well authanti-
Gated.
"Racteriology tells but little about this
matter Of the infection of things, and II
must be admitted that there has been
very little investigation ~ this question,
although it lies at the basis Of sanitary
theory and practice Examinations show
thai dphtheria baclli are rarely found
even on objects most likely to be infected
by the patient. Search on floor and walls
for tuherclc baclli usually fails To reveal
them 1t is not an easy thing to find patho-
genie germs outside of the body"
Here, then. is another blow at the efficacy
OF fumgation.
Not long ago the theory existed that
yellow fever was often transmitted by
fomitcs. which are substances supposed 10
be capable Of absorbing, retaining and
transporting contagious or infectious germs.
such as woollen clothes and bed covering
ANY one who questioned this was consid-
cred deficient in meteorological knowledge.
Tie proof OF II was felt 20 be conclusive to
almost everybody. To sleep In bed lately
occupied by a yellow fever paten; would
have been thought to he an unpleasant
way of committing suicide. Yet Sine that
belief OF a few years ago. men have slept
IN the beds'of yellow fever patients with
out harm IL has been discovered hat
clothing. bedding. letters and otner OBJ
Jects are never carriers OF yellow fever
virus. and that the sine of the sickness lies
at the door Of the mosquito.
II is on the grounds of such evidence as
this, as well as ON the basis OF lack of
evidence In other quarters. that doctors
question whether or not an infected"
room really does cause diphtheria In it's
occupants whether a woCllen coat trans
mits scarlet fever or whether toys act az
, hearers OF measles. Further. they say that
! Ia most cases OF alleged Infection through
/ contact with things handled by infected
patients the fact Is not proved at all at