The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1914-03-13
DR.. BIGGS SAYS TUBERCULO-
SIS is INFECTIOUS

Replying to an attack on the move
ment for local tuberculosis hospitals
made by the Christian Science Church
DR.. Herman M. Biggs, State Commits
sloner of Health Of New York, says in
statement published recently
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 known should be taken, es-
pecially for the protection of young
children. He particularly urges local
hospitals.
The occasion of DR.. Biggs' state
ment is the recent wide dissemination
of an article purporting to show that
tuberculosis is not infectious. By
quoting only part of a medical pa
per written by DR.. E. r. Baldwin, of
Saranac Lake, the Christian Scien-
lists have given the impression that
tuberculosis is not infectious, when, as
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. mo age is exempt, and no
one is immune against tuberculosis in
lection, but differences in suscept-
Utility exists at different ages. The
frequency of infection increases rap
idly from the first year until at the age
of fifteen perhaps rs per cent of the
pouiation show positive reaction
to tuberculin, although only a small
portion have signs of the diesase
which can be detected by other
menas.
"The conviction has been gradually
strengthened that the first infection
from tuberculosis often occur during
infancy and childhood. 1t seems
probable that may of those who de-
velop the disease in adult life have
carried the latent infection since
childhood, and have no recent and
new infection when the symptoms of
/ the disease appear.
at has also been found by expert
ment that it is difficult to re-infect
an animal that has already been pre-
viously incoulated with tuberculosis.
| Hence, it is inferred that some degree
of immunity may be thus produced
that may serve to ward off bacilli
which might find Judgment in an indi
vidual not previously infected. There
fore, it will be understood how the
mild infections, which are healed and
present in most PENSIONS who have
reached adult age may, and presuma-
bly, do, offer some protection against
further limited invasions of the tn.
1 IL -,
good health the protection thus offer
ed is an advantage having some re-
semblance to vaccination, but only
very limited in nature and not com
plete. Prolonged or intimate expos
ure, however, or exposure to a virtu.
lent type of tuberculosis may result
in a new infection. even of those who
have overcome a previous mild infec-
ton. 1t is, moreover, by no means
I certain that in debilitated conditions
due other diseases, to dissipation sOr
| to bad environment, new infections
may not occur. We know positively
that the first childhood infection may
under such circumstances break out
anew and thus become a doubtful ad-
vantage, 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 there is no precau-
! ton too great for the young and del
! lcate, this does not 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 segrega-
ton, some exposure to infection is
practically unavoidable. Efforts should
| beredoubled instead of relaxed for the
/ better isolation, humane care and in
| telligent treatment of consumptives -
KENTUCKY TUBERCULOSIS COM
MISSION.