Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-12-03

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cal Society. at Clarksbure, Oct. 10. 1915.
Science has shown that disease is one of
the most destructive agents to both prop
erty and life, and that many diseases are
preventable. consequently the government
that does not put forth every effort posi-
Bile to protect the property and lives of its
citizens against disease is not doing its
duty.
tuberculosis is highly destructive to both
property and life. From 100000 to 200,-
600 citizens of this country die annually
of this disease. and the financial loss en-
tailed by sickness and death from this
cause is quite beyond computation, to say
nothing of the physical, mental and moral
deterioration that accompany this disease.
My purpose in this paper is to point out
some procedures that this State and county
should carry out in the suppression and
extinction Of tuberculosis. The early recog-
milton of tuberculosis is not only of extreme
Importance to the patient, but equally so
to the community, for if it is properly
treated and cured at an early stage it
ceases to be communicable. 1t has been
estimated that the ascertained mortality
from tuberculosis in any city is only one
tenth of the real number of those already
seriously affected with the disease. hence
very large number of the undiscovered
cases must be in the early stage.
Many are the difficulties encountered in
the early diagnosis of this horrible malady-
failure on the part of the physician to do
so; failure on the part of the public to
appreciate the Importance of an early
diagnosis lack of adequate facilities for
free examination; and fear that consump-
ton may be discovered and in consequence
ones occupation and hence means of sup
port may be lost Two serious and i'm
portant problems are involved in this fact
list, the common belief that the consump-
tive is necessarily dangerous to those about
him (it is not so when the sputum is prop
erly disposed of or in the early stage when
there is none); End. the problem of pro-
viding suitable occupations for such con-
sumptives as are able to do some kind of
work for their support
The nation, State and county can off
cially, directly and indirectly, promote the
early diagnosis of tuberculosis by estab-
fishing free dispensaries, free examination
of sputum; by providing sanatoria for early
cases; and by requiring its employees in the
army, navy, and civil service to be exam
ined at certain periods.
The economic loss to a community from
tuberculosis made up of several elements,
three of which may be roughly estimated
LIST. the loss resulting from diminished
earnings and increased expense during the
period between the onset of the disease
and the death of the patient End, the
loss of net earnings between the actual
date of death and the time when death
would have taken place had the person
not been attacked by tuberculosis 3rd,
the monetary loss to farmers and dairy
men each year resulting from bovine tuber-
culosis.
The role played by the sanatorium dur
ing the past forty years is undeniably of
such Importance as to be considered the
lever which brought the anti-tuberculosis
crusade to its present position. The spe-
cial dispensary has opened avenues of in
vestigation and control beyond the dreams
of its promoters.
What are we to do with the advanced
cases-that class of cases which is doing
the real damage, especially the indigentsH
Mr. Jacob H. Schiff. President Montefore
Home for Chronic Invalids, of New York,
says After quarter of century's ex-
perience as chief executive of large pri-
vate philanthropic institution which deals
with consumption in every stage of the
disease, among the dependent classes of
the tenement house population of New
York city, have become convinced that
if the scourge is to be dealt with effectively,
we must plan more largely than we have
hitherto and much more boldly. My obser-
walton and thought on the subject have led
me to the formulative of few general prin-
ciples for comprehensive action. That the
private hospitals and sanatoria exclude
from admission advanced and incurable
consumptive patients. That the State
make ample and adequate provision for
the proper care of sufferers from advanced
and incurable consumption. and that the
isolation of phthisis sufferers in an adj
vanced stage be made compulsory by law"
DIR. Livingston Farrand, Secretary Ma
tional Association for the Study and Pre-
vention of tuberculosis, says: THE object
of a popular campaign against tuberculosis
is the prevention of the disease. This is
to be attained LIST. by elimination of the
centres of infection; End, by raising the
resisting powers of the individuals. Elimi-
nation of centers of infection depend upon
facilities for the early diagnosis for treat
ment of durable cases, tine proper care Of
advanced cases, and upon such restrictive
sanitary regulations as may be found
necessary Increasing the resisting powers
of the population depends naturally on a
higher standard of living with a wider
observance Of sound hygiene. which in turn
can only be brought about by campaign
of education. The available agencies for
attaining these ends may be classified as
(a) official and (b) private. The official
agencies are the fundamental ones. In
the United States these are National. State
and local. The last named authority is the
chief factor to be considered, and our
present aim should be to arouse sense of
responsibility there. Private agencies are
necessary in arousine public sentiment
and official responsibility. Their object
should be to carry on campaign Of popu-
lar education until public authorities as
sumo the task, when they should turn
their energies into other fields. II may
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