History, Modern -- 19th century; Nineteenth century
One of the most remarkable features of modern protective medicine is
the widespread interest that has been aroused in the crusade against
tuberculosis. What has already been accomplished warrants the belief
that the hopes of even the most enthusiastic may be realized. A
positive decline in the prevalence of the disease has been shown in
many of the larger cities during the past ten years. In Massachusetts,
which has been a hot-bed of tuberculosis for many years, the death-rate
has fallen from forty-two per ten thousand inhabitants in 1853 to
twenty-one and eight-tenths per ten thousand inhabitants in 1895. In
the city of Glasgow, in which the records have been very carefully
kept, there has been an extraordinary fall in the death-rate from
tuberculosis, and the recent statistics of New York City show, too, a
similar remarkable diminution.
In fighting the disease our chief weapons are: First, education of the
public, particularly of the poorer classes, who do not fully appreciate
the chief danger in the disease. Secondly, the compulsory notification
and registration of all cases of tuberculosis. The importance of this
relates chiefly to the very poor and improvident, from whom, after
all, comes the greatest danger, and who should be under constant
surveillance in order that these dangers may be reduced to a minimum.
Thirdly, the foundation in suitable localities by the city and by the
State of sanatoria for the treatment of early cases of the disease.
Fourthly, provision for the chronic, incurable cases in special
hospitals.
_Diphtheria._—Since the discovery of the germ of this disease
and our knowledge of the conditions of its transmission, and the
discovery of the antitoxin, there has been a great reduction in its
prevalence and an equally remarkable reduction in the mortality. The
more careful isolation of the sick, the thorough disinfection of the
clothing, the rigid scrutiny of the milder cases of throat disorder,
a more stringent surveillance in the period of convalescence, and the
routine examination of the throats of school-children—these are the
essential measures by which the prevalence of the disease has been very
markedly diminished. The great danger is in the mild cases, in which
the disease has perhaps not been suspected, and in which the child may
be walking about and even going to school. Such patients are often a
source of widespread infection. The careful attention given by mothers
to the teeth and mouth of children is also an important factor. In
children with recurring attacks of tonsillitis, in whom the tonsils
are enlarged, the organs should be removed. Through these measures the
incidence of the disease has been very greatly reduced.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account