The New York herald., 1921-03-06

From an article by DR.. Alcdh Fl. Doty
former Heoth officer OF the Port Of
New York, tn the "5fedtcaI Record"
History furnishes abundant evidence
that protracted wars which physically
exhaust a nation are followed by decas-
tating outbreaks of infectious diseases.
The principal reasons for this arc not
difficult to determine--poverty. flth and
overcrowding. frequently associated with
en- inability on tho part of the Govern
ment to enforce protective measures,
Those factors diminish Individual resist
ance to all forms of disease. We would
expect the outbreaks to be limited where
the people were intelligent and the Gov
sanitary regulations
Conditions In France at the present
time bcn- witness as to the truth OF this
deduction. Although this country was
practically the seat of hostnities and the
scene OF most extrerne desolation during
the recent wer, quick recovery has
taken place ard wo have no report OF
antinable disca.ses---cholera. plague. ty-
pnuS fever and smallpox.
We may very properly believe It to be
true that the spread OF quarantnable
diseases depends chiefly upon an un-
healthy and insanitary condition of the
people. associated with but little or no
enforcement OF modern protective meas
ures. and that they may be surely held
In check II proper means are employed.
Among Intelligent people and under
modern sanitary regulations there is no
reason TO fear that an outbreak of these
diseases may not soon be controlled and
eliminated. Experience with modern
protective methods fully justifes this
assertion.
Previous Outbreaks Controlled.
Unfortunately. the public tends to be-
lieve that since typhus fever. plague and
cholera are not controlled in the East
their appearance in the United States Is
apt to be followed by the same serious
consequences that occur in the alleged
home OF these diseases. Unfortunately
this erroneous belief Is encouraged by
some public health officials who have
not had long practical experience with
these conditions. Those who have dealt
with quarantinable diseases only In East
ern countries, where the conditions Tor
their dissemination are most favorable
and uncontrolled, are apt to be pessi-
mistic, believing that like results may
follow an outbreak in the United States.
This reasoning is absurd and quite In
consistent with the facts.
Outbreaks of typhus fever have oc-
Cured at various times In New York
city and have been successfully handled
with no alarm on the part of the public
for instance, an outbreak occurred In the
sos and one in 1898. The latter outbreak.
as was well known ~ the time. was
traced to some newly landed immigrants
in New York who soon afterward devel-
oped the disease and transmitted 1t to
many Others in crowded tenement
house district in the lower part OF the
city some days before the Department
o, Health became aware of its pres
ence. General sanitary measures were
promptly carried out. The cases found
were removed to the hospital and their
clothing disinfected and suspects were
kept under careful observation. with the
result that the outbreak was soon under
control and the disease disappeared.
At the time of the outbreak of typhus
fever which occurred in the sos the
Department of Health was unable to
provide proper hospital care for the
cases OF typhus fever discovered about
the city-almost entirely In the tene-
sar-y to keep many OF them under OBJ
servation in their own apartments. As
far as possible the sick were isolated
and cleanliness insisted upon. There
was but little disinfection, for the De-
partment Of Health had very limited
equipment for this purpose, yet with
these simple protective measures the out
break was successfully dealt with.
These results illustrate what the usual
sanitary measures can accomplish In the
presence of an outbreak of typhus fever
II successful results were obtained win
the limited facilities to which l have
referred, we may be assured that with
the hospital service and the complete
equipment now at the command OF the
Department OF Health of New York ana
other cities there Is no reason to believe
that the outbreak OF any OF the quar-
antlnable diseases cannot be promptly
and successfully dealt with.
Limitations OF Quarantine.
Every necessary and reasonable means