How 
Manufacturers Can Help to Prevent the 
Spread of Tuberculosis. 
Published for Gratuitous Distribution by the Pennsylvania Society 
for the Prevention of Tuberculosis. 
TRACT No. 4. 
Tuberculosis is the most prevalent disease of civilized life. 
It causes over one hundred thousand deaths a year in the United 
States alone. One of our fellow citizens dies of it, on an average 
every five minutes; and for everyone that dies there is untold 
suffering and inexpressible sorrow and heartache. What a 
terrible plague. “ What an affliction of our people.” But the 
plague has existed from time immemorial and we have grown 
hardhearted. We have become stoics in the face of an enemy 
whom we did not know how to conquer. 
Tuberculosis is most generally recognized by the people 
under the form of consumption. It however also manifests itselt 
under many other forms, chiefly marasmus, white swelling, 
scrofula, lupus, meningitis and peritonitis. Its great prevalence 
has earned for it the soubriquet “ Great white plague.” 
Science has at last discovered the secret which makes it 
possible to abate this decimating pest. Tuberculosis can be 
stamped out in a comparatively short time by the practical 
application of the knowledge which has been obtained about the 
disease within the last few years. It is now demonstrable that 
the disease is contagious and consequently preventable. The 
contagium resides in the broken down tissue given off by a 
tubercular subject in the form of expectoration or discharge and 
is strictly confined to it. Prompt sterilization of such infectious 
matter, before it can gain entrance into the bodies of the healthy 
is all that is necessary for the prevention of tuberculosis. 
In practical every-day life the best way to guard against the 
spread of tuberculosis is to insist that all persons who have or How to Prevent the Spread of Tuberculosis. 
may have tuberculosis of the lungs spit into spittoons or spitcups 
and wipe their mouths with paper handkerchiefs. The use of 
linen or silk handkerchiefs or of cloths of any material as recep- 
tacles for expectoration or for wiping the mouth after expectora- 
tion, is a most pernicious practice and should be discouraged and 
prohibited as far as possible. The reason why this practice is so 
fraught with danger is because every time the handkerchief or 
cloth is used the dried infectious particles which it already con- 
tains are set free into the air. These may not only reinfect the 
patient but may infect the persons with whom he comes in 
contact. 
Owing to the tedious and long-drawn out course of tuber- 
culosis the majority of persons suffering from it are compelled to 
earn their living during the active stage of the disease. Con- 
sumptives are therefore to be found in all our places of industry, 
in our stores, in our factories, laundries, restaurants in short every- 
where where human effort ministers to the wants of others. In 
all such places their presence, unless precautions are taken, is a 
source of danger to fellow employees and to the public at large. 
What is the remedy ? At first blush it appears so harsh as 
to be forbidding. It is not so however. In the first place the 
danger can be much lessened by the enforcement in workshops 
and stores of certain simple rules. Employees should be forbid- 
den to expectorate anywhere except into spittoons. In order 
that such a rule can be enforced stationary spittoons should be 
placed where they can be conveniently used by the employees 
and yet not be seen by the public. In stores such spittoons 
might be placed in closets or boxes. For wiping the mouth 
paper napkins should be supplied. This trifling precautionary 
measure would almost do away with the danger of spreading the 
disease among fellow employees and customers. 
A more efficient and more humane preventive measure, 
however, would be some provision for the rational treatment of all 
consumptive employees. A person suffering from typhoid fever 
or some other severe illness is promptly removed to a hospital 
and everyone’s charity, the City and State included, is enlisted to 
maintain1 him there until he is well or dies. Why should not the 
same be done for a person suffering from tuberculosis ? All that How to Prevent the Spread of Tuberculosis. 
is necessary is to arouse the public conscience to a full recogni- 
tion of the duty involved and it will be done. A fair proportion 
of consumptives could be cured and restored to lives of useful- 
ness by prompt and early treatment in a properly equipped 
hospital. The majority of them would no doubt die, but the pre- 
vention of the spread of the disease among their fellow employees 
and the public would be accomplished by their removal to a 
hospital, and they would at least be humanely cared for during 
their illness. Employers of course cannot do this work by 
themselves, but they can help do it. 
Organized effort is being made to bring relief to this large 
class of sufferers and to prevent the extension of the disease. 
Let every employer contribute his mite to the movement by 
giving intelligent, thoughtful consideration to hovv he can lessen 
the evil among his own employees and the aggregate result will 
be most gratifying. The Pennsylvania Society for the Preven- 
tion of Tuberculosis will always be glad to cooperate with 
employers either by supplying tracts free of charge or giving 
information on any subject desired. 
Should you desire to become a member of the Pennsyl- 
vania Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, you can do so 
by sending your name and one dollar to the Treasurer. 
Address 
Treasurer of Pennsylvania Society for the 
Prevention of Tuberculosis, 
Academy of Natural Sciences, 
Philadelphia, Pa. Substances that can be used as Germicides 
in Spittoons and Spit Cups: 
1st. Carbolic Acid. A strong solution should be used. II 
economy is not an object a 33 per cent, solution should be used. 
A weaker solution, from 1 5 per cent, to 20 per cent, will answer 
however. 
2d. Corrosive Sublimate. This should always be used in 
combination with tartaric acid, citric acid, or some other prepara- 
tion that will prevent the coagulation of albumen. The strength 
of the solution of corrosive sublimate should be one to five 
hundred. 
3d. Ordinary Lye out of which soap is made. A strong 
solution of this should be used. 
TRACTS PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY : 
Tract No. 1. 
How to Avoid Contracting Tuberculosis (Consumption). 
Tract No. 2. 
How Persons Suffering from Tuberculosis Can Avoid Giving the Dis- 
ease to Others. 
Tract No. 3. 
How Hotel Keepers Can Aid in Preventing the Spread of Tuberculosis. 
How Storekeepers and Manufacturers Can Help to Prevent the Spread 
of Tuberculosis. 
Tract No. 4.