Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-02
GOVERNMENT WILL GEEK 70
STOP TRAVEL " CON.
sUMprivEs.
TO INDUCE PATlENrs 70
TAKE HOME TREATMENT
Public Health Service Aims 20 Aid Vic.
tins and Project othsr Travs,srs-
Demand For RssulsAien Springs
From Wsst-Dry Climate Not Nee.
sssary 70 Effect curs.

Washington. Dec. 2.-Drastic regula-
ton Of the transportation Of victims
Of tuberculosis from state to state Is
contemplated by the federal government
as result of an investigation now
being conducted by the public health
service.
The move will have the effect OF cur
failing to great extent the migration
OF tuberculosis patients to the dry cli-
mate Of the west and southwest. The
service will puncture the belief that a
dry climate Is necessary to cure the
disease.
Already the investigation has dis
closed that Chicago harbors more
transient consumptives than any other
city In the country. Because II 10 the
greatest railway center in the country
and the gateway of the west thousands
of victims of the white plague pass
through 1t annually seeking salubri-
Gus climate.
Chicago Stations Catch All.
These sufferers change cars In Chi
cago stopping few hours in a railroad
station generally. The conditions I'M
der which these patients spend this
waiting interval has been investigated
during the last fortnight by agents OF
the public health service. The investi-
gators also counted the number Of
sufferers arriving and departing on all
the lines.
From Chicago the agents have pro-
ceeded to the southwest, investigating
the conditions under which patients
travel and mingle with other healthy
passengers.
The findings OF the investigation will
be embodied In a report setting forth
exactly what danger the travelling pub
lie runs of infection from tuberculosis
passengers. 1t also will lay down n
set Of regulations for preventing con-
sumptives from coming into contact
with healthy passengers both on trains
and In railway stations.
Demand Springs from West.
The demand for this investigation
came originally from California. Arizo-
ma. New Mexico. Colorado. and other
western states which have been en-
deavoring for years to stem the tide
Of tubercular immigrants.
In many western communities lung
ers." as they commonly are known
there, constitute large part OF the
population. They are regarded as I'M
desirable citizens by the natives. who
complain that these sufferers are a
menace to public health.
Some OF the protests state that many
cities have suffered commercial de-
cline. business being driven away be-
cause Of the increase OF the number
of "lungers."
Letters from this part OF the coun-
fr1v ne M tho
public health service state that unless
this migration is diminished the south
west will face Serious economic
problem" Thousands Of sufferers run
out OF money It is stated, and become
charges on communities In which they
are only transient residents.
There is good ground for stating that
the report Of the health service will
recommend transportation regulations
which will tend to curtail the migration
Of consumptives. While 1t is regarded
as out OF the question to attempt to
prohibit tubercular persons from trav-
cling between states It Is deemed pos
sible to do much to dissuade them.
1t Is suggested that such regulations
might prohibit n consumptive from 60
ing far from his home unless he could
give satisfactory assurance that he
would not become a public charge.
But the main point the report will
make is that It is unnecessary for con-
sumptives 70 seek the arid region in or
der to be cured. The national health
officers take the position that such a
! Migration furnishes the patient no
~eatment that can not be procured at
ono.
They will lay stress on the open air
treatment. proper diet and other mea-
ures which will prove moro effective
It home. where the patient is sur.
ounded by relatives and friends, than
would be among strangers.