King of Prussia, PA - - Interesting things can be found in the archives of the New York Times, according to http://bedbuglaw.blogspot.com . In a 1913 article headlined "TUBERCULOSIS GERM CARRIED BY BEDBUG," alarms were sounded over statements made by Dr. J. Wallace Beveridge on Dec. 12, 1913 at the Conference on Safety and Sanitation.
The article begins with this noteworthy passage: "For the first time perhaps in medical history a warning has been sounded against the bedbug. . . as a potent factor in the transmission of tuberculosis."
However, http://bedbuglaw.blogspot.com notes that when reading through the article, Beveridge, at least as quoted by the New York Times, does not offer clear scientific proof that TB is, in fact, carried by the bugs. But he states his firm belief that bedbugs should be driven from the city's and the nation's homes. Whether any research by Beveridge exists is unknown.
Now, was Beveridge off his rocker or ahead of time? Did he know his stuff? Was he a careful researcher? Consider this headline and subhead also quoting Beveridge and from a 1912 edition of the New York Times.: "ALCOHOL'S APPALLING EFFECT ON INFANT MORTALITY; Dr. J. Wallace Beveridge of the Cornell University Medical College Declares That the Consumption of Spirituous Liquors by Parents Materially Reduces the Birthrate, Particularly That Its Use by Mothers of Babies Results in Infant Disease and Death."
A fascinating footnote in bedbug history or was Beveridge onto to something? His observation may has led to a DDT onslaught. For more information this and other bedbug (bed bug) news, visit http://bedbuglaw.blogspot.com.
