Newark post., 1911-08-16

below par. Most Of them come to
the prison tainted by hereditary |
predispositions and with acquired |
ills-the result OF dissipation and
unhygenic living. They are for
the most part human wrecks, un-
healthy both in body and mind,
with vicious habits and perverted
physiologic functions. Even un-
der ordinary conditions they fall
ready victims to tuberculosis.
How much more are they likely to
contract the disease under the
conditions prevailing in Our work
house! That tuberculosis is the
bane of every prison is attested
to by numerous statistics. Even
in the Massachusetts State Prison,
over so per cent. of all deaths
were due to tuberculosis; this
death rate has been reduced of
late to 80 per cent. by the adop-
ton of precautionary measures.
Moreover, since 1905 the State
has been maintaining a special
hospital for tuberculosis prisoners
at Rutland, an example followed
by several other States since.
In fact, in Our own State, we
find splendid example of special
care of, tuberculosis inmates of
State institution. As far as con-
hnement goes there is but little
difference between the inmates Of
the State Hospital for the Insane
and the workhouse, and yet wise
and liberal Board of Trustees in
the former institution long ago ap-
preciated the necessity OF isolating
the tuberculosis insane in a sep
arate building.
1t is ridiculous to rise in holy
wrath against well founded criti-
cism and shut ones eyes to conLi-
tons which are SO glaring as to
attract the attention OF even a
Ipasserby. 1t is equally unworthy
! of the dignity of public trustees to
defend an evil by the assertion
that similar evil exists elsewhere.
The statements frequently made
by the trustees OF the workhouse
in refutation of charges made
against the institution remind rne
of the statements that used to be
made by the Water Commission
ers about the old Sellers filter,
which, they said, worked to the
satisfaction of the citizens" AS
matter Of fact, the citizens had not
the slightest conception of the
value of the filter, and the COM
missioners did not see fit to in
form them. However, while the
filter was working ito the salts
faction of the citizens" typhoid
fever was claiming about 500 VIC
Tins annually. Later, when the
lpeople were informed as to the
true condition of the water supply,
they willingly permitted the city
to spend a million dollars on a
modern filtration plant with the
result that not single case of the
| disease in this city can be traced
to our water supply.
| When the late DR.. Ralph Stubs
was physician to the workhouse,
we had frequent conferences on
the subject, and he deplored the
TACT that he was unable to handle
the problem satisfactorily, owing
to lack of provision for the care Of
the tuberculosis prisoners.
| DR.. Rumford, the present ply
sician to the workhouse, admits
the prevalence of tuberculosis in
the Workhouse, in one form or an
other, and also deplores the same
want OF provision for the proper
care OF the consumptive inmates.
There are only two ways of elimi-
mating tuberculosis: One is to
raise the resistance of the individ-
ual by a proper mode of lie, and
the other is to prevent infection.
We realize that the workhouse is
neither a boarding house nor a
hospital; it is penal institution,
and tie inmate must take such
chances OF having his system un-
dermlned as are inseparable from
a life Of enforced confinement.
Therefore the only remaining me-
thod of dealing with the problem
is to prevent infection, and this
can be readily accomplished by
, lsolating the tuberculous inmates
either in a separate wing of the
present building or separate
building, especially constructed for
that purpose. OF course, it will
cost money. But is it just to ino-
culate prisoner with fatal dis
ease in addition to the sentence