Evening star., 1915-06-16
$4,000 DIE IN 1918
FROM TUBERCULOSIS
DR.. Kober Tells Of Work Of
| Prevention and Cure of
Disease.

SEATTLE, Wash, June 16.-Tuber-
culosis in all its forms carried of dur
ing the year 1918 over 143.000 victims
in the United States, which signifies the
presence Of approximately 1,430.0oo
consumptives with an economic loss OF
at least $214.500.oo0 per annum. ac-
cording to the figures given by the
president of the National Association
for the Study and Prevention Of Tuber-
culosis, said DR.. George NJ. Kober of
Washington. D. c., in his annual ad-
dress at the meeting here.
Great and grave as the problem may
appear" he said. there is certainly
hope when we consider that the death
rate from this disease has been re-
duced from 32s per 100000 population
in 1880 to 1865 in 1913. which mean.
that If the former rate had been con-
tinued the number of deaths from this
cause would have been s29,oe7 instead
of 143.000 in 1913, equivalent to a saw
ing Of 179.027 during one year. While
much has been achieved more remains
to be done in the prevention of the
direct and predisposing causes"
DR.. Kober's Recommendation.
Among the recommendations for i'm
mediate action on the par. of the na.
ticnal association DR.. Kober made the
following:
81. In view Of the fact that from 6 tc
Z per cent Of the samples of the ave-.
age market milk contain bovine tu-
bercle bacilli, let US urge. by education
and otherwise. that all milk. unless de-
rived from tuberculin-te tested animals
be pasteurized or scalded.
"2. Since the mortality from tubercu-
losis among inmates Of insanitary
homes is often double and treble that
Of the general population 1t is our
duty to see that the building reRula-
tions are SO modified as to prohibit
the renting OF houses unit for human
habitation.
"3. Because Of tho fact that nearly
one-half of the 143.000 deaths from
tuberculosis in 1913 occurred among
the industrial workers. who constitute
should strongly urge the enactment
and enforcement OF laws for the re-
moval Of dust and fumes. the foes Of
industrial life.'
Precautions Urged.
Among the special measures to be taken
for the prevention of tuberculosis by
states and municipalities DR. Kober en-
phaszed the following:
L. Compulsory notification Of caSAs TO
the health authorities as soon AZ the
disease is recognized. The health author
tiles should also resort to disinfection of
the home and personal effects, especialIy
upon the death of the patient or yaca-
ton of the premises.
"2. The enactment Of enforcement Of
laws against expectoration. coughing into
the faces of persons. and the common use
Of individual drinking cups arc called for.
Provisions should be made for individual
drinking cups or fountains. and for suit
able spittoons and their disinfection in all
public buildings. The public should not
cultivate an exaggerated fear but has a
right to insist upon clean and decent
precaution.
"3. The sanitary conditions of hotels,
lodging houses. theaters. churches.
schools. ambulances and passenger
service should be under the control Of
the health department. and house.
cleaning should be accomplished as far
as practicable by the vacuum System.
a. Marriage with a tuberculous per-
son should not only be discouraged. but
prohibited by law. A tuberculous
mother should not nurse or kiss her
infant, and in the selection of q wet
nurse a certificate Of health should be
demanded.
IS. Isolation Of tuberculous patients
should be insisted upon In hospitals,
private life tho patient should occupy
at least a separate bed. use separate
eating and drinking utensils. and nsi-
ther receive nor give kisses Careless
and unteachable cases should be cared
for in hospitals"