The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1914-02-19
TUBERCULOSIS Is
NOT INFECTIOUS

In very little danger from infection of
this disease, will come as n matter Of
extreme qualification to many SEN
sible men, both In and out of the pro-
fession, who have long deplored the
excited condition of the public mind
on this subject. The gentleman who
makes this comforting statement is
DR. T.. Il. Baldwin. of Saranac Lake,
who Is o recognized specialist, and
his assurances lose nothing Of their
value because they are referred to edi-
torially, and with approval, by the
journal of the American Medical as
ISOLATION.
DIR. I3aldwin's conclusion Is that
adults are very little endangered by
close contact with open tuberculosis,
and not at all In ordinary association"
and he further says: Qualify these
statements as we may. 1t Is time for
n reaction against the extreme ideas
Of infection now prevailing There
has been too much read into popular
literature by health boards and lee
lures that has no sound basis in facts.
and 1t needs to be dropped out or re-
vised." He believes that "the preach
inents about the danger Of infection to
adults in the present state of society
are without justification from an ex-
detrimental standpoint"
To all of which the Journal of the
American Medical Association adds
that these statements represent not
one mans views. but what seems to
be the growing conviction of the most
progressive and thoughtful students OF
tuberculosis at the present time"
1t Is fortunate that the disclosures
regarding the nominations nature Of
tuberculosis should come with the
authority of one who Is accounted
specialist on the subject. and that it
should be vouched for by so high a
medical authority as the Journal Of
the American Medical association,
since now there will be less room for
skepticism and less opportunity for
dissent. The medical journal referred
to calls the prevalent attitude of the
public thought on the subject by the
appropriate, If difficult title. "Phthisio-
phobia," and sommends DIR. Baldwin's
advice to apply check to this mania.
! Those who have observed the cam
paign against tuberculosis which is
now being waged by certain portions
Of the medical profession, will hardly
care to deny that 1t has resulted in
deplorable hysteria. which has not
done the country any good. Earnest
men and women have been beguiled
by specious arguments of humanitar-
ianism into lending their aid to pub
licity campaign that was ostensibly
Intended to warn the public against
the ravages of the disease, but which
has served only to spread in the
thought and hearts of hundreds of
thousands a paralyzing fear that never
should have been created.
Members Of state legislatures have
been impressed in many instances by
the dramatic and highly colored &C
counts of the dangers of tuberculosis,
furnished by over.zealous advocates of
radical repressive measures. This has
sometimes resulted in proposals to ap-
propriate large sums of the public
money to build tuberculosis hospitals.
Under the spur Of what now proves
to be an unwarranted fear, lawmakers
have been urged to pledge the state
to unthought Of expenses, in order to
treat all who might be thus afflicted.
1t has even been proposed to enact
legislation which would clearly be I'M
constitutional. It has been proposed
10 give to state boards of health I'M
limited authority to enter the home
and forcibly remove tuberculosis pa
tents to state hospitals, where COM
pulsory treatment would be administ
cred. All OF which has been justified
by the advocates Of these drastic
measures on the grounds that the
danger Of infection was SO great as to
demand such action.
Now that the medical profession
has modified its view about tubercul-
osis and it's menace to the public
health as transmissible disease, per
haps the revelation, or confession, |
whichever it may be, has come in
time to save good many heart aches /
and further spreading Of the debiiitat
ing fear which has hitherto accom-
panied the publicity campaign. Per-
haps also. the lawmakers. VINO have
been stirred to unwonted depths OF
benevolent desire la guard the public .
health. may conclude that great ex
penditures OF the state money to pro F..
tect citizens from a disease that has .
no serious infectious character would .
be poor economy, TO say the least.
Hereafter the Socialists o, Everett .