The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-11
Health Board Accused
of Bluffing in Plague
Fund
ASKS ADVICE, BUT
MINDS MADE UP
Salaries Will Eat Up
100000 Voted, Says
DetrOiter
wv. ID. kILPArRicK.
10 the Editor OF The Times.


The editorial in your issue of Oc-
tober 5. How would you spend
sl0C. 900 TO fight tuberculosis? COM
menting on a letter from DR.. De-
Kline. In charge of the fight in the
state against the white plague"
wherein the opinion OF The Times
Is asked "a 10 the best way to ex-
pend the state appropriation OF
100000 for this purpose. relates
to a topic which seems to be giving
considerable concern throughout
the state at the present time, and
which. as should be the case in all
matters pertaining TO the public
good. demands more than super
fetal consideration.
To so back little, II will be re-
called taat our last legislature, al
most from its jncipiency to its close
was bombarded In every conceiv-
able manner and through the most
ounningly connived legislative meas
nres by various organizations of the
American Medical association. look
ing To the procurement of legisla-
tive enactments which would give
ly highly remunerative jobs at the
expense of the public. but which
also would tend to establish the
school OF medicine represented by
this association, as an adjunct of
the state, with state and police au-
thority back OF il and with the
state treasury as its most Potent
asset. II will also be recalled that
the legislature early become wise
to these schemes, and that all meas
ures of this kind met a most de-
serving defeat as fast as they APP
peared, until at the extreme end OF
the session. in one last dash OF des-
peration and with the purpose OF
appealing TO the popular desire to
rid the state OF tuberculosis and in
exploitation of the victims of this
dread disease, this association,
through the state board Of health,
secured the passage Of a measure
appropriating 100000 100000 a
year for two years. OF the states
money for the purpose OF fighting
this disease.
No well.intentioned citizen or one
who has the welfare OF his state
and community at heart, would gain
say anyone the privilege OF doing
whatever might seem possible to-
ward the elimination Of tubercu-
losis, and no amount OF money
rightly and effectively spent to this
end would be too much for state
like Michigan to give In behalf OF
its afflicted citizens, but to DELHI
erately hand over to one set OF prac-
titioners an amount Of this magni-
tude without any restriction what
ever and purely for experimental
purposes, was an act, the wisdom
Of which, to say the least. might be
considered highly questionable.
No medical system for the treat
ment Of tuberculosis has ever yet
been discovered whereby this dis
ease has been successfully combat.
ted, and II most certainly must have
been without any idea that the ex-
penditure Of 100000 or many times
that amount. by the persons In
whose hands this money has been
placed, would accomplish the end
for which this money was appro-
priated that this measure was rail-
roaded through the legislature.
Some of the most eminent authori.
ties In Michigan are very outspok-
en- in their opinion that the clamor
for this appropriation was entirely
without the hope OF accomplishing
the elimination OF tuberculosis.
Governor Ferris has recently an
nounced that he considers the ex.
penditure OF the states money In
the manner outlined by the state
board OF health in its campaign
against tuberculosis as utterly fooa-
ish and purposeless. He stated In
an interview as follows: Some OF
the work OF the tuberculosis experts
Is funny. Take the examination OF
sputum, for instance. II II good
thing, but It will have about a.
much effect upon the prevention Of
tuberculosis as the efforts Of flea
to dig the Panama canal. The san
itorium scheme will never prevent
tuberculosis. What we need II ed
ucation In the home md every
place." N4
And DR.. vanderlaan, an eminent
physician Of Muskegon. in the COL
umns Of the Muskegon Chronicle,
stated in substance that the claims
made by the state board of health
and the antituberculosis societies
throughout the state to the effect
that they could successfully eope
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