State control of tuberculosis.

  • Charles V. Chapin
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: State control of tuberculosis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

    30/68 (page 26)
    the physicians for (Hstrihiition to their patients, and tliis method is probaljly followed in most cities. In Buffalo tliev are sent to all cases reported, or to tlie friends of tlic patient. In New York City the sunnnei' corps of physicians who visit among the poor, distri- bute some o(),(JO(J annually. In Brookline, Mass., one is sent to every family in the town. In Minnea])olis one form of the circular is printed upon a card which is to be hung in the room occupied by the patient. It must be confessed that many of these circulars are not very ^vell prepared, exaggerate very much some of the means by wliich the disease is spread, pass lightly o^er others, and suggest many unnecessary and impossible things. ControJ of expectoyat'ion. At one time more importance was attached to the spread of tul)erculosis 1)y the inhalati(ni of the dust of the streets and public places than is at the present time. As a result of the view that tuberculosis is chiefly spread in this way, various ordinances have been adopted to ])revent indiscriminate expectoration. The first rule of this kind was that adopted by the Board of Health of New York City, May 12, 1896. By this rule it was forl)idden to spit upon the floor of the public buildings, of railroad cars and ferry-boats. Rules covering this sujjject have since been adopted l)y a large numl)er of cities and towns and by the State Board of Health of Indiana, but have not yet been incor- porated into statute laws. Many of the rules go much further than that of New York, and forbid spitting in omnibusses, hacks, carriages, vehicles, steam-cars, or any pul)lic conveyance, also in public halls,'assembly