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.

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    state, enough friends will finally be seciu'ed for the carrying out of more radical measures and the compul- sorv cleansing of those herds whose owners still per- sist in maintaining them as foci of the disease. The eradication of tuberculosis in animals, except as it is incidentally involved in the protection of municipal milk siip])lies, had best be attempted by state rather than munici])al aiithoi'ities. To sunnnarize what seems to be feasible for the state at present to attempt in the way of control of tubercu- losis, it may be said : First. Every state or city should require the noti- fication of the disease, and offer assistance in diag:nosis. Second. State and municipal health authorities should do everything possible to educate the people by publications and by verbal instructions, in all cases co- operating with and never superceding the attending physician. Thii'd. The spitting habit should l)e controlled as much as possible, and effort made to instruct and help the consumptive to care for his sputmn. Fourth. Municipalities should assist in cleansing premises occupied b\' consumptives. Fifth. Tlie state or the municipality, or both, should offer hospital facilities for the care of this disease. Sixth. If, j)ublic opinion will warrant, no milk should be sold except from cows tested with tuberculin. If this canncjt l)e done, effort should l)e made to induce dairymen to apply this test. Such work must, at present, be chiefly done by municipalities. Seventh. The state, by means of state officials, slioidd strive to secure the co-operation of cattle owners in the eradication of tuberculosis from their herds, and should test and pay for slaughtered animals.