Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-24
Prevention of con.nu,p,,on

Sir.-i have just read an accom-; az
the report of the Tuberculosis Commits
sion IN your issue OF December % which
- I. be presented to the Governor nr
your state. and In which grave fears are
expressed as to the spread of tho dis
case not only among the white. but to
II greater degree among the negro nan
uiauon; but at the same time ,ssur.
ahccs are given that the loss and sur
ferinS incidental to this scuurce arc
prcvcntable.
IS respecting the prcventahility of
inns disease that take the libertv or
offering few suggestions in this con
hection That consumption is amen
"nie 10 prevention is supported by an
overwhelming mass Of evidence; but
on tho other hand, IL is Just MS cor
tain that If the prevention measures
arc predicated on the basis that the
disease is carried from the sick to the
wen by contaeion or infection. they
are bound to end i'm failure
NO better evidence has ever bccn
furnished in support Of the contention
that this disease is not contagious tbon
that which has been worked ont nv
Your section Of this country and which
must he candidly considered by any
one who undertakes to discuss this
problem in an impartial manner. n
commissions report specially refers
to the increase Of this disease among
the coiored people Of your state.
history demonstrates that before the
Civil War comparatively little CON
sumption existed in the negroes OF the
south, bat since tina, period their NOR
tality from this disease has trehlcd if
not GuadruDled itself. WHY should
such a tremendous mutation come over
~ I..sI IL NT
in"rkably brief time who neither mi
grated nor became subject 10 any cH-
matte changes. and which at the same
Inn" icft the white race practically un-
touched. In so far as any radical in :
tease OF the disease Is concerned" WAS
ms Overwhelming transition brought
""o"t ny any sudden exposure tn the
o"niaSiun of the disease? Hardly. rnr
~ anything, these people were moro
dlrcctlr exposed 10 this disease before
/ IA" war than they have been ever
| since They were. understand tho
only nurses and caretakcrs which tho
white consumptiyes had ut that time.
lh"N aid their washing. cooking, he'd
making. sweeping, took care OF their
Si'dti'f, inhaled the common bacilli-
laden air, lived with them day ana
night and got were immune for n cen
Jury on longer. And the only radical
change which these people have under
gone 50 far rs the facts show. in all
THIS time. is n complete reversion OF
their social. economic ana Industrial
relations In place Of being Deepen
dent on their owners for food. cloth
IN" and shelter and medical care. as
'hev We're in slavery days. they are
thrown on their own resources and are
forced into struggle for existence
I which Is as unequal as /. is tragic
Without stopping to quote other cyl.
! dcncc that this disease is not de-
I n"h"cht on contaGion. as might readily
/ u" done. or to show that nll the prc-
, N"niiN" efforts which have been made
I" stamp out this disease on infection
grounds during the last ten or fifteen
wears, are absolutely futile. as ia at.
/ tested hy the increased mortality OF
! this disease in all the large cities OF
/ ms country during that time, il seems
i \" T." highly imperative the methods
: 'nat have prsved themselves useless
/ should he abandoned and prevention
| measures that really prevent should
/, 10 rcSoried to-
I heiore we strike the proper trail
! we must come to n realization that
: lhis disease * largely. as is shown In
! the career Of the negro population, the
/ outcome Of. social and economic short :
/ coming, or of poverty. and that neither
! IN" fattcniug Of tho patient nor n dis
"PpciTaic" 81 his symptoms and phySi-
B.. cal SIGNS are always guarantees or per-
! mahent recovery For stern and rigid
Facts show that If lie Is not socially
ana economically rchabiltatcd and
placed IN position in which he is
enabled TO maintain himself and his
family IN = decent domicile, ne is bound
70 go back whence he came and be cx-
posed Ia the same vicissitudes that
brought On his disease in tho first
, place.
The practice of discharEing patients
from sanatoria because they are de-
clared to be physically restored. al
though they are probably potential
economic hankrupts mt the same time
may III large part be responsible why
recent Investigation OF the large mum
her Of patients which hive been dis
charged from the leading New York
ana PENNSYLVANIA sanatoria during the
previous tive years demonstrate that
about 30 per cent We're either worse
or dead from six months to three years
after their dischargc---a result which
drives home the unwelcome lesson ihn
half of the money which Is invested
In such undertakings Is entirely wasted
In few years
| 1t Is encouraging to feel, however
that out OF this vast mass OF expc-
rlence relating to this subject. there