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

tubercular hospitals. Denmark is un
doubleday one of the countries where the
fight against tuberculosis is most actively
prosecuted, having expended for this pur
pose among the poorer classes about g.,
100000 kroner or 81, SIS. 900 in our money
The Health Officer of Liverpool, DR.. E. W
Hope, calls attention to the decline in
tuberculosis and other forms of phthisis in
that city. His figures extend for the past
thirty years, but show satisfactory de-
cline in all forms of consumption in the
early stage period. These beneficial re-
suits must be ascribed to the great sanitary
operations carried out in that city. In
1897 the Legislature of Minnesota first
appropriated money for the State care Of
INDECENT crippled and deformed children
There being no precedent. the State was
reluctant to take such step. Since then
a number of States have made appropria-
tons for this class of unfortunates where
tuberculosis has attacked the bones and
joints.
would like to call your attention to a
paper entitled "A Study of the Spread of
tuberculosis in Families, published by the
University of Minnesota. The investigation
was made by committee, of which DR.. Geo.
D. Head was chairman. These were the
conclusions reached: LIST, that the spread
of tuberculosis infection in families where
open cases exist is greater than it is gen.
orally understood to be. Sixty-seven per
cent. of the individuals of these families,
including the center cases, show evidence
of tuberculosis infection. End. in families
where no cases of tuberculosis have been
found, no matter what the home life or
living conditions were, the number of in
dividuals showing evidence of this infection
was small. namely 2.5 per cent. 3rd, in
families where cases of latent tuberculosis
exist the spread of infection is not as
great as in families where open cases are
found, % per cent. against 81. 4th, in
families where healed cases of tubercu-
losis are present, the spread of infection is
less than in families where open cases exist,
33 per cent. against g. 5th, in families
where no tuberculosis is found, the number
of individuals showing evidence of infec-
ton is very small (2.5). in comparison
with families in which open, latent or
healed tuberculosis exists.
In view of the facts developed by this
investigation, think it is evident that we
should discourage the home treatment of
tuberculosis. and insist upon the removal
to sanatoriums and hospitals of open cases
Of the disease, who are living under con-
ditions which endanger other members of
their families. Unless this is done, a new
crop of cases will continue to develop in
the home circle of these unfortunate VIC
tins of the disease and our campaign for
the prevention of tuberculosis will be in
definitely prolonged.
am not unmindful of the fact that this
State has given us the advantage of free
examination of sputum for several years,
and that it has erected and maintained at
Sabillasville, Frederick County. one of the
best sanatoriums in the United States for
the treatment of this disease. This insti-
tuition was established with view of TAX
ing care of incipient cases, who could pay
at least $3.50 per week, consequently,
very few of the poorer classes from the
counties, especially. can obtain admission
and it is this class which has to be treated
at home; and it is this class which the
physician does not see until the disease
has reached the advanced stage. In my
judgment these are the ones who are daily
injecting those with whom they come in
contact.
The records of the State Department Of
Health show that 1878 citizens of Mary
land died from tuberculosis last year. The
figures of that department also indicate
that more than 1000 people of this State
are suffering from this terrible scourage
and that more than 1000 new cases de-
veloped in 1914. OF the two thousand or
more deaths Montgomery County contrib
uted fifty-one, and there are at present
about sixteen white and nineteen black
persons permanent residents of our county
suffering from consumption. These last
named do not include those cases reported
from Starmont Sanatorium at Washington
Grove. These figures seem to indicate the
progress of the great white plague is de-
cidedly on the increase, and am firmly
convinced that it will continue to do SO
until we awaken to the fact that the coun-
ties with the assistance of the State must
provide camp or hospital for the segre-
CATION Of its indigents suffering from ad-
vanced tuberculosis.
We all appreciate the splendid work
done by the Social Service League of this
county in the past four or five years. They
have carried on campaign of education
as well as having aroused considerable
public sentiment, and through their very
efficient nurse have made the last days Of
many of the victims of tuberculosis com.
Portable Neither the Social Service League
nor any others deeply interested in this
work seem to have been able to impress:
the local authorities that the work of ar.
resting the progress of this disease in oul
beloved county cannot be kept up indefi
nitely by voluntary contributions, and that
sooner or later the responsibility must be
upon them. Realizing this fact. succeeded
in getting the last Legislature to appropri
ate SIS, 900 towards the erection of camp Oh
hospital. and $4,000 per year for two years
for the maintenance of the same. provided
the County Commissioners would levy fol
twice the amount offered by the State
The board failed for some reason to take
advantage of this generous offer and we
are still fighting to the best of our ability
this plague among the poorer classes al
their homes. while the said board con.
tinues to levy vast amounts for the con.
| struction and renair of exnensiva roado