THE
CHEM AW A
A M E R IC A N
REGISTRATION NECESSARY
T U B E R C U L O S IS C A S E S S H O U L D RE R E P O R T E D
EGISTRATION and reporting of living cases of tuber
culosis, in a manner similar to the reporting of other
infectious diseases, is now required by state law or
regulation of boards of health in 33 states and terri
tories out of 53. Five years ago only 14 states had
legislation on this subject. The increase is looked
.
uP°n as a sign of marked progress in the anti-tuber-
C ?S,S
bv The National Association for the Study and Pre-
xi.n ion of Tuberculosis, which issues a bulletin on this subject to-day.
Based on figures obtained from cases of tuberculosis reported in Cleve-
and. New York, and other cities where thorough registration is employ
ed, is estimated that for every death from consumption in the United
“ tates, of which there are on an average 200,0(10 annually, there are
constantly more than five living cases, making at least 1,000,000 i„ all
Of this million cases, it is estimated that the health authorities have re
cords of not more than 100,000 to 150,000. or one in every eight or ten
and that, for the great majority of cases recorded, no hospital, home or
dispensary care is provided. Practically nothing can he done to control
the spread of tuberculosis in the unreported cases.
Of the 33 states where reporting of cases in required, adequate or
reasonably complete records are kept in not more than eight Twenty
state and territories have no laws or regulation requiring the reporting
"m " n T ' °SIS a‘ld
'"°St ° f theSC States consl'i>iption is not classified
officially by the’health authorities as a cummunicable, infectious di
sease. These states are, Arizona, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida
' ah° ' Illlnols' Iowo' Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nevada
New Mix,co, North Carolina, North Dakota. Ohio. Philippine Islands’
South Dakota and Wyoming. Special laws requiring reporting and
registration of tuberculosis have been passed in Colorado. Connecticut
District of Columbia, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan. Mississippi
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York. Rhode Island and Vermont
In twenty other states, tuberculosis is included in the lists of infectious
diseases that must be reported by physicians.
In concluding its bulletin. The National Association says: “ Report
ing of living cases of tuberculosis to the local and state health author
ities in the first requisite in any adequate campaign to control the di
sease. No efforts to prevent the spread of consumption con be success
ful until the actual living cases are both known and properly cared