Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-06-15

Q The charity organizations OF the re-
sort cities have claimed that hun
dreiE Of consumptivss have become a
burden upon their communities. So
great vas che ogtcTy that confer
6ncc % representative from western
states vas called By the governor OF
Texas. and the federal government ap-
pral~d 20 Cor aid. Up until the pres
euf time few figures have been advauc-
60 showing extent % the problem
Nauy iuyalits are forwarded By
churches lodges and unions from
other states These people are soon
obliged 90 seek charitable relief
Wo-s o. often uuobiainabie. and COM
petition is 90 keen that eousumptives
have lftie opportunity % obtaining
lucrative employment.
Private charity FOR the relief % SUI
frrrrs is extensive. and too great
praise cannot De- accorded the people
Gf che southwest for the assistance
rendered. but the public charity dis
p~used has been little enough. and not
az uti commensurate with the ben
enfE derived from the coming OF health
seekers % one instance the exact
annual per capita cost Co the tax
payers VAS found 90 be . cents. where
az the city derived untold benefit from
che thousands % invaiids who were
able Co care FOR themselves. a large
percentage % cases are shown by their
origin and length % residence not 20
belong 90 other states. In estimating
the extent % poverty. the investigator
even vent 80 far as 20 determine the
proportion % bodies returned 20 rel
ativsH This varied from 80 per cent
az san Antonio 20 50 per cent al Al
buquerque.
The public health service warns all
prospective health seekers % the DIFF
ncaiiies thcy are bound 20 encounter.
and advises all who are not sufficient
- provided with funds 20 remain az
home. No Invalid should venture
forth unless he has sufficient money
20 last az least six months. The
chances of recovery are greatly les
scaeG when poverty exists.
Whether the coming % thousands OF
conGumptives into the arid region has
been OF benefit 20 that section IS hard
- considered a debatablc question.
The growth % cities has been favor
ed. Industries developed and popuia-
ton encouraged. ~ the Invalid class. I
Consumptives are engaged In prac-
ticaily every occupation. and the bus
mess and professional life OF many
cities e carried on In large part by
them The effect upon wages has
probably no; been entirely negligible. 4
OF particular interest 20 physicians. 4
a. well as the public. especially IN .
view % the newer theories regarding 4
the eommunicahiiity OF tuberculosis.
are the facts rrarshaled 20 show the .
degree % danger 90 residents of the
resort cities from the influx of con-
Medical statistics reiat-
ing 20 this aspect OF the question have
been VIGOROUSLY unreliable. Tables
are presented which 20 far toward
proving that the degree OF communtca-
bility OF the disease. at least 20 adults.
,as probably been overestimated. and 4
hat the dangers 20 healthy persons
are no greater IN the resort cities
han elsewhere
The defamation OF the Mexican pop
lia;ion OF the southwest by tubercu- I
osis is brought 20 the attention OF
he public for the nrs, time. The
suthor considers that the poems are
much less resistant than either ne I
grocs or Indians. and he paints n pa
he,ie picture OF the ravnges OF the 1
disease The tuberculosis death rate |
u this particular class was found TO
- four times that OF the registration
rec. and recovery. once the infec- {,
ion develops. r. sirnos, unheard of {
me causes are attributed 90 low /
'ae'ai Immunity ana insanitary living /,