Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-01-15
STARTL ING FACTS
Of TUBERCULOSIS
Ninety Per Cent of Human Race
Afflicted, is Report of Com
mission.
WARDS ARE RECOMMENDED.
For Care Of Negro Patients in County
Hospitals Commission Appointed
By Governor GoldsbOrough Made
Exhaustive Investigation in All
Parts Of the State.


Some startling facts have been re-
vealed by the commission appointed by
Governor Goldsborough, who have
made an exhaustive report on tubercu-
Eosis in all parts of the State.
That 80 per cent. Of the human race
is infected with tuberculosis and that
the infection occurs at very early age
is the startling statement made in the
report of a subcommittee of the State
wide tuberculosis Committee, which
viii be submitted this morning to Or.
John s. Fulton, the chairman.
The report recommends that wards
be established in the county hospitals
TO care for the negro tubercular pa
tients. The Statewide tuberculosis
Commission was appointed by former
Governor Goldsborough, and made an
exhaustive investigation throughout
the State. 1t deals largely on the
negro question, and offers as the only
remedy. additions TO the county and
city hospitals, to be known as tuber-
culosis wards.
is particularly prevalent in negroes,
says the report. Since they enter in
close and intimate relation with the
white people of the State. they are
potent channels OF infection. not only
for their families and neighbors. but
for their employees as we'll An anti
tuberculosis campaign to be effectual
therefore, must be directed against the
stronghold of the disease. Experience
at our State sanatorium. as well as the
results obtained elsewhere in this
country and abroad have firmly estab-
lished the following facts:
Tuberculosis is eurable only in the
earliest stage of the disease. In this
statement 'curable' is used in its or
binary practical significant sense;
that is, meaning the patient loses all
symptoms of the infection, is able to
return to accustomed ways of living
and is no longer a source Of contagion
to his associates.
The diagnosis OF pulmonary tuber-
culosis in an early stage is beset with
such difficulties that its practical ap-
plication on a large scale has com
pletely failed This failure has been
due to two factors.
The lack Of skill in early diagnosis
displayed by the medical profession
and the nature of the disease.
We have every accurate and ready
means of discovering tuberculosis in
lection. but this disclosure is OF little
practical value since its astonishing
revelations would require. were we to
undertake to treat infection, that the
vast majority of mankind should be
detained in sanatoria or spend the
larger part Of their existence in quiet
repose free from the duties and cares
with which life at present besets us
However. no such absurd extreme
need be fancied. for in the great ma
jority of people the infection gives US
no serious concern.
Reliable studies inform us that 80
per cent of the human race is tu-
berculosis infected. anG, that infection
ocure at a very early age. so that at
twelve years few children have es-
capped it. Relatively small number
of those infected subsequently become
tuberculous, so that something more
than infection is necessary for tuber-
culosis TO develop. What this some
thing is we do not know
Here is the field for wide social
activity Everything that makes for
higher standards of living and for inn
proved personal hygiene is a valuable
arm agents tuberculosis. Housing
laws. the wage question, municipal re-
creation centers. the liquor question
social service in all its departments
vacation lodges. open-air schools. fac
tory inspection. and SO on are indirect
~ reliable anii-tubereulosis agitation