Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-06-18
IS NFEcTIOUs.
Noted EXPERT Denounces Attack OF
Christian Scientists and Urges
Precautionary Measures.

II
Precautionary Measures.
Replying to an attack on the move
ment for local tuberculosis hospitals
made by the Christian Science church.
DIR. Hermann NJ. Biggs, State Com
missioner of Health of New York,
says in statement published today
through the Journal of the Outdoor
Life. the official organ of the National
Association for the Study and Proven
ton of Tuberculosis, that tuberculosis
is an infectious disease and that every
precaution should be taken, especially
for the protection of young children.
He particularly urges local hospitals
The occasion for DR.. ,Biggs' state
men is the recent wide dissemination
of an article purporting to show that
Tuberculosis is not infectious. By
quoting only a part Of medical paper
! written by DR.. E. r. Baldwin, of Sar-
anac Lake, the Christian Scientists
Iave given the impression that tuber-
culosis is not infectious, when, as q
matter of fact, DR.. Baldwin laid stress
on the extreme danger of the disease
to children.
Tuberculosis is an infectious and
Communicable disease, says DR.
Biggs. qNo age is exempt, and no
one is immune against tuberculosis
Infection, but differences in suscepti-
bility exist at different ages. The
frequency of infection increases rap
idly from the first year until at the
age of fifteen perhaps IS per cent Of
the population show a positive reaa-
ton to tuberculin, although only. q
small proportion have signs of the,
disease which can be detected by other
means.
"The conviction has been gradually
strengthened that the first infections
from tuberculosis often occur during
infancy and childhood. It seems
probable that many of those who de-
fC4Op inc uASCdSO IL duuAL LIE nave
carried the latent infection since
childhood, and have no recent and new
infection when the symptoms of the
disease appear.
1T has been found by experiment
that it is difhcult to re-infect an an
imal that has already been previously
inoculated with tuberculosis. Hence.
it is inferred that some degree of i'm
munity may be thus produced that
may serve to ward of bacilli which
might find Judgment in an individual
not previously infected. Therefore,
it will be understood how the<mild in
fections, which are healed and pres
ent ia most persons who have reach
ed adult age may, and presumably do,
offer some protection against further
limited invasions of the tubercle
bacilli. While persons are in good
health the protection thus offered is
an advantage having some resem-
blance to vaccination, but only very
limited in nature and not complete
Prologed or intimate exposure, how
ever, or exposure to a virulent type
of tuberculosis may result in new
infection, even of those who have
overcome a previous mild infection
1t is, moreover, by no means certain
that i'll debilitated conditions due to
o4lonr dicaococ 70 S;cc;nofioy1 or To hod
environment, new infections may not.
occur. We know positively that the
first childhood infection may under
such circumstances break out anew
and thus become doubtful advant
age, real sword with two edges.
Considering the natural and ac-
quired resistance to infection by |
adults, much unreasonable fear or
'phthisiophobia" has prevailed in late
years. Because theer is no precau
years. Because there is no precau-
the young and delicate, this does MOI
justify healthy adults in exaggerated
fears for their own safety. In view
of the present wide distribution of the
disease, and lack of adequate means
for segregation, some exposure to in
lection is practically unavoidable.
Efforts should be redoubled instead of
relaxed for the better isolation, hi
name care and intelligent treatmen;
of consumptiVes."