The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-23
CITES POINTS IN THE TUBERCULOSIS FIGHT Rev. c. Henckell Comments
 Commission CITY MUST BE ALERT Tells How Easy It Is for Germs to Spread and Gives Some
 Examples of Dangerous
 Conditions

| The Rev. Dr. c. Henckell has issued an open letter to the city commissioners of
 Birmingham commenting them for their decision to give further aid to the anti tuberculosis camp and calling attention l to dangerous features in the spread of the disease in Birmingham. He writes: october IS. 1912. "Gentlemen:-I am taking the unusual course of addressing you through the col
 ums of The Age-Herald, so that all the people also may have some part in the discussion. My topic is the great tuber- l culosls work that is going on, and the greater work that ought to go on in this community. I speak to you as friend of the people.
 "In the first place, desire most heart fly to commend your anticipated action in response to the appeal of the local anti-tuberculosis association, raising the amount of the city's gift to that asso- ciation. My hearty concurrence goes with the statement of pr. Eaves, made at yours meeting on Tuesday, that the associaton's work is not primarily char ity work. but health defense work for the whole community. It is in fact an extension of the work done by yhe health department. and 1t Is being done at much greater advantage than if in the hands of officials appointed by the city; for 1t should be remembered that the work of that association is being done very largely gratis both by the committees in charge and the physicians. And it appears to me, the need for in creased gifts for this work is indicated along two or three lines which I will name.
 First, more money will have 10 be spent in the discovery of the infection in homes. This is matter of prime importance. Owners of property ought to be compelled to funigate whenever ten- ant in whose family tuberculosis has ex- isted moves out. The district nursing work done by the association in my Judgment is the most important work they do, because these nurses discover points of infection otherwise unknown. can make my meaning clear by the following illustration, derived from my experience in the city:
 MT. K. died of tuberculosis in cer- tain house about three years ago. He had lived with his mother, sister and a young niece. After the funeral the fam
 fly moved out and a day or two after another family moved in, without fumiga- ton. and unaware of their peril. This family consisted of father, mother and two children. The father shortly after wards developed tuberculosis and has re- gently quit work and gone to the country. could give many such instances from re- cent facts
 in this connection I may add that the people need to be warned. I have seen little children carried by their mothers into rooms where neighbor was dying of consumption. T ordered them out. of course. But how few in- stances does anyone know enough to do this How necessary. therefore, these district nurses of the association
 'In the next place. provision must be made for the accommodation of persons in an advanced condition of the disease; and in a great many instances compul- sion will have to be exercised to prevent such persons from travelling from point to point through the city when such pro- vision has been made. With all our sym pathy for sufferers in an advanced con dtion. we must recognize that they arc very frequently nervous and often selfish and quite indifferent to the danger with which they threaten those who come in contact with them. The association ought to be equipped with means to build the proper hospital and with authority to detaln people who are unwilling to stay and who have no means of support out side. On the other hand, those who are willing and intelligent enough to guard against infection may find employment in certain directions. and the associa- tion should be encouraged to find such employment, to hold good as long as the patient is amenable to rules and coop erating to protect the community.
 My third point is as follows: All those who have the disease should be prevented from working in bakeries. groceries. candy-making and other em- pioyments where they handle foodstuffs. Again, I am able to refer to facts within my own knowledge.
 A woman working at the packing of pre- pared food products was found to be suffering from advanced conditions of tuberculosis. She was put into touch vith the assocation's dispensary and afterwards admitted to the sanatorium on Red mountain. Imagine person with myriads of germs on the hands handling food to be consumed by ourselves and our children, To earn a living for her self she is permitted to give us death in a package.
 Birmingham. leader of the south surely does not want cheap and danger ous labor in any or her industries. Her labels must stand as guarantee of clean liness and frst-class sanitary conditions. especially on packages of food.
 This means that every person em- ployed in food-making in the city of Birmingham ought to pass through the hands of properly equipped physicians so far as tuberculosis and some other diseases are concerned. I understand from the secretary that the association is endeavoring to establish relations with all employers of labor for the ad- vice and protection of their employees. This Is a most coramendable step. II ought to be supplemented by careful