New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-17
TO STUDY ITS SOCIAL ASPECTS
CHARITY ORGANIZATION SOCIETY APPOINTS
A TUBERCULOSIS COMMITTEE.

CHARITY ORGANIZATION SOCIETY APPOINTS
TUBERCULOSIS COMMITTEE
The Charity Organization Society has become
interested in the prevention If the spread OF
tuberculosis. and at a meeting yesterday in the
United Charities Building. in Fourth-ave-, APP
pointed committee the prevention of tu-
berculosis consisting of eleven physicians and
fourteen others who especially interested
in the social aspects of the disease. The COM
mittee consists of DR.. Herman NJ. Biggs. DR..
Joseph d. Bryant. DIR. J. H HuddlestOn, DR.
E. G. Janeway. Dr.. s A. Knopf DR.. T. Mitchell
Prudden, DR. Andrew H. Smith. DR.. e L. Pru-
deau. DR.. Egbert lie Fevre Or. Henry Herbert.
Professor W. G. Thompson. Health Commits
sioner LederIe Charities Commissioner Folks,
Professor F. H. Ciiddings. Eugene A Philbin.
Charles F. Cox. Edward T. Devine secretary
of the Charity Organizatio Society: Robert
Hunter, Herbert 5. Brown. Mrs James E New
comb. Mrs. Frederic s. Lee. Miss A B. Jennings.
Miss Ella Mabel Clark and Miss Lillian d.
Wald. President Robert W De Forest Of the
Charity Organization Society. and Otto T. Ban
nard are ex officio members Of the special COM
mittee which will be enlarged as the work
deveIops in various directions
In many respects the methods of work adopted
by the new committee will be similar TO those
which were employed by the Tenement House
Committee Cooperation will be sought. not
only with charitable agencies of all kinds. but
with city departments and State officials. The
committee in a statement says:
The first task will be exhaustive investiga-
ton of some of TIL social aspects of tuberculosis
There already in progress in many labora-
tories Investigations OF meteorological char
acter, and in many hospitals and sanator1a
there is opportunity for clinical study and IN
vestigation into the physical aspects Of the dis
ease. Little attempt. however. has been made
TO establish the relation. for example. between
infected living apartments and the victims OF
the disease. in the possibility of recovery CT
improvement resulting from improved diet ana
improved light and air when patients are
treated in their own homes. nor has there oeeh
any systematic effort to ascertain how far the
infection can be prevented by Instruction IN
the nature Of the disease and in the precautions
which should be taken prevent its spread
In several foreign countries and in some parts
of the United States. well as in CANADA, there
have been organized societies for the prevention
of tuberculosis their chief function being the
dissemination Of leaflets and of information IN
other forms concerning the communicating or
the disease and the necessity OF CONSCIENTIOUS
care on the part Of consUmptives. especially "a
the danger Of splitting in Railways, puonc
conveva noes or on the street Educational work
of this kind is of III. utmost importance. and the
committee will undertake TO carry on sncn
y ork a large scale at the same time mat us
Investigations are in progress .
In cooperation with the relief agencies u
is hoped that much additional information may
he obtained concerning the desra bility OF max
ing an entire change IN the physlcal enVHV ~.
T1ent Of those who are suffering from lne ar
ease even when this involves considerable man
riaI OUTLAY The financial burden imposed py
the existence o. twenty thousand ccnsumptlves
in Network CITY alone is enormous, ana on
the financial side alone. therefore. IT may oe
found good investment 70 cure tupeIculosI'
in its ipcipiant stages. rather than 10 allow Al
most the entire number. as ar present, 20 os
come a burden either upon their lnneolate
family upon the public Inc comnnlIIee espS-
ciaIIv wishes 10 emphasize the TACT tnat tn1'
movement is not in any sense one against CON
sun1ptiyes or one that will be permitted N any
way 10 increase the already great hardsnlps Oh
their lot - l.. ,
In some quarters there is tendency TO exas-
garata the danger Of casual contact with tu-
barcuIosis patients. 1t is believed that there II
no coca sion for any panic or puohc appLs @
sion from the existence in community OF cOu-
surnntive patients provided reasonable degree
~ nrrdAnce is exercised Complete isolation or
all cons1Ir1ptfves would be an utterly iInpraC-
ticabIa and bsurd proposition Undue restralhe
rpon the liberty Of patients in moving IToii.
60 r1scs To another or any such general dread
az the disease as will make IL more d1frcnt TOT
those who have tuberculosis. have had 'uneIcu-
losis but have been cured or Tor those NhO = -
ir1nroying and are conscientious IN caring TOT
-beir own sputum. thus preventing the ln1ectIo"
of others to find employment. IS to % oepre
Gated. ..-..z - tho
social aspects of tuberculosis. the objects OF re
COMMITTEE have been formulated in part as roi-
lows: .. 49, +,,bsr-
cuIosis is a communicable. preventaole ana cur
able disease. .-,i,-
The dissemination of knowledge concerning ING
the means ana methods to De aooP'eu 'o' U
prevention Of tuberculosis o.. o,,;5.
6, aciaI hospital sanatorium and dlspensary, "a
ciIties for consumptive adults ana So uiO-S
and whereabouts children among the poor
Tho inftia ton and encouragement OF Hnedsuie =
1T taDd 70 prevent the development OF
scrofuOus and other forms or tuDerc"lou' 49,
eases.