Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-01-06

out some years ago that from the
academic and theoretic standpoint, tu-
berculosis is about one-eighth as in
fictitious as typhoid, one-twelfth as in
fictitious as smallpox. But this is a
technical point which confuses those
not accustomed to deal with disease
as a daily business. What does it
matter for practical purposes, that the
theoretical infectiousness of these |
disease ranks as given above, when |
the actual figures for Minnesota 1873 |
show that while diphtheria kills 215, |
typhoid 235, and smallpox seven, tu- !
berculosis kills 1851, or ten times as
many as the highest of the others
Why should DR.. Johnson, a practical"
man, try to argue that the theoret-
ically smaller Effectiveness of tuber-
culosis justifies neglecting the actual
results! Which disease as q matter
of business will it pay best to exter-
inmate, smallpox with seven deaths a
year, or tuberculosis with 800 times
that number?
Again in his strenuous battle
against taking any effective measures
to abolish tuberculosis, he cites GER
tain instances where the disease did
not spread! But what does that prove?
Would he advocate permitting ran
dom rifle-fire in the streets Of Will
mar because he could cite certain in
stances where people were not hit?
1t is quite confusing at times to at
tempt to follow the doctors logic!
The whole argument for abolishing
random rifle-fire or tuberculosis is
necessarily based on the damage
done, not on the damage which is not
done! Is not any disease which kills
$500 people a year worthy Of atten-
ton?
Once more, DR.. Johnson where he
does not wholly despise isolation, de-
spite his other theories, wants the
the care of sensible adult" Yet
he must know that Flick, with all the
resources of the great Phipps 1nsti-
tute set out to teach Americans this
very method, fifteen years ago, and
failed; acknowledging it very hand
somely ten years ago. No physician,
no householder, no housewife who has
tried to isolate any infectious disease,
say humps, or scarlet fever, in the
home, for two or three weeks even
. but knows that human nature will not
keep up such isolation effectively for
months and years amongst the dis
= fractions and temptations Of home
Fifteen years ago, when the dried
, sputum, lying on the floor, was a]one
recognized as a source of danger
!. there was some excuse for CHI
y teaching, because it was not so very
hard to believe that many citizens
- might be effectively prevented from
y y splitting all about their homes. Now
- since Flugge has shown that mouth
- spray is far greater source Of dan
ger, and since Chaplin has shown tina
' hands are even more important thar
mouth spray, the mere technique o
:. effectively avoiding infection hal
. taxed the resources of trained ex
, perts in the sanatoria themselves
How much less possible is it for un
= trained adults, and particularly TO
- young people and children who form
- almost half the total population, t
=, maintain effectively such disassocia
=. ton from a patient left at home a
10 will protect them. But why theorize
- Lampson, here in Minnesota ma
y shown that consumptives living a
home in infectious stages, withou
supervision, infect in one year two
, thirds of those exposed to them
~ while under supervision, exactly tn
:, same proportion, two-thirds, are II
~ fected also. This is not made il
s Germany" or quoted from New Yor
~ or Philadelphia, but is work don
- slowly, laboriously, carefully here i
- Minnesota by a Minnesota investigs
- tor, testing condition among our oW
- Minnesota people. What is the US
~ of advocating supervision at home
- when the results are zero?
- DR.. Johnson quotes the noted d.
- E. R. Baldwin concerning the rel<
y; tive non-infectiveness of tuberculosis:
~ as published in the Journal of tn
y, American Medical Association. True
=, DR.. Baldwin said just what is quote
~ but DR.. Johnson must have ovel
~ looked the subsequent publication {
DR.. Baldwin to the effect that he ha
II been misunderstood by those who ha
~ quoted him against isolation, for h
- considered isolation the only effe'
~ tive method.
~ If I may be pardoned for one PEI
q sonal reference, l want to thank D.
=, Johnson for his complimentary refer
- ence to my abilities, and to say tina
~ in returning to my Minnesota hom'
49, where l have been resident and cit
~ zen since I left Boston in 1905, e,
- cept during my two years recently i
~ Ontario, no greater pleasure wa
:. awarded me than the warm WELDON
- If my old friends, DR.. Christian Joh]
~ son amongst them. Long may h
~ flourish, and very greatly may hi
=. logical technique improve.
With kind regards,
- H. w. HILL.
- Miss Mildred Severinson RI
turned Monday afternoon to St. Clou
IS after having spent the holidays visi
u ing at the home of her parents M