The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-05
City of Topeka Opens Strict
tuberculosis Campaign.
No Disease Here in Ten Years,
Physician Asserts.
. HUNDRED SUFFERERS NOW
b Apparent Concern Evil
denced by the Citizens.
Ordinance EnfOrces Radical
Sanitary Requirements.

Topeka will be freed of the Great
White Plague" in ten or twenty years
if terms of city ordinance being pre-
pared governing the isolation OF tu-
berculars be strictly enforced, accord
ing to a statement made today by Dr.
F. L. LoVeland.
Anticipating the passage of the or
dinance in a short time, it's immediate
enforcement and hundred fold addI-
ton to the work of the new city tu-
bercular sanitarium upon its enforce
ment a committee composed of DIR.
Loveland Horace Hall, Scott Hopkins,
Mrs. Charles Brook Thomas and 9TH
ers spent the day calling upon various
city commissioners and imploring
them to arrange for a still larger APP
preparation for the maintenance of the
sanatorium.
1.-THE cause they plead is one of the
most worthy I know" said Mayor
House, "and they may rest assured
that if there is any way in which we
may aid them with a larger appropria-
ton We will lose no time in taking
the necessary action" That was the
sentiment voiced by each commission
err upon whom the committee called.
Drastic Action.
Action probably more drastic than
any ever attempted by any city in the
United States may be taken under the
ordinance being prepared in the office
Of Commissioner w. L. Porter. If the
provisions of this ordinance be en-
forced, members of the Public Health
Nursing association expect that from
fly to one hundred patients will be
sent to the city tubercular sanatorium
for constant supervision, or for educa-
tional supervision of sufficient time to
teach them the hygienic rules, which,
if followed will protect their families
and the public, at large.
That many Will not be rushed to
the sanatorium Immediately" said DR..
IL l.. Clark, city physician, today
hut within the course of the next
year or two, it is safe to say that
number, and maybe more. will be sent
to the sanatorium, whether they wish
to, or not.
Elm short. stubborn tuberculars will
be treated the same as stubborn SMALL
poy or scarlet fever patients. They
are sent to a pest house for refusing
to comply with a quarantine. The
taberculars will be sent to the sana-
terium."
Quarantine Regulations.
actual quarantine will not be Great
ed in the home of a tubercular under
the ordinance. Yet, every physician
will be called upon to present to city
health authorities the name of all tu-
bercular patients and the environ
Tients in the home and the extent of
the knowledge of hygienic rules pos
sessed by the patients. Then, it will
beAoONe the nedllh dulHOFllleS 10 take
what action may be necessary to pro-
tect the public from the infectious dis
case.
s"Just think of it," said Dr. Loveland
today, there are more than 200 tu-
berculars in Topeka today" and there
is no apparent concern. Yet, if there
were 200 smallpox patients, think of
the excitement. Yet, who wouldn't
rather have smallpox than tuberculo-
sis. If the proper precautions are ia
ken we can stamp tuberculosis out of
Topeka in ten or twenty years"
3 DR.. Clark is calling in various mem
hers of the medical profession to as
stst him and Commissioner Porter in
preparing the ordinance. It probably
will be passed by the city commission
ers next week