Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-22
TO PREVENT CONSUMPTION
Executive Committee of Associated
Charities Receives Reports

The executive committee of the Associat-
of consumption met at S11 G street north
west on Wednesday afternoon, October q,
Reports were received from the five SUBJ
committees follows:
Or. klngSman chairman of the commit
tee on printing and it's distribution, report
ed that pamphlets on the prevention of
consumption are to be secured partly from
the health department and partly at the
expense of the committee, for distribution
through the public schools the various pub
lie departments and places where many
people are employed. He stated that ac-
ton i'll this matter was waiting upon the
securing of funds by the finance COM
mittee.
Surgeon General Walter Wyman of the
marine hospital service chairman of the
subcommittee on laws and administration
mailed a written report, stating that 1.-The
consideration of the matter assigned to nv
committee has been the subject of much
thought and some writing. Any attempt
to make report at this time would be
premature. 1 desire. to make it plain to
the committee that the matter is receiving
close attention, and 1 hope to be able to
make a report in the near future"
Dr. ID. Percy Hickling, chairman of the
subcommittee on lectures reported that
he had received appeals from three
tilultIItS iOI lectuitS On tfie prevention OF
consumption. He stated that his commit
tee gould provide attractive program
and that the cost of these lectures would
be $50 or IS each, the. amount necessary
to provide a stereopticon and an operator
to display the pictures provided by the
committee and also to pay for printed mat
ter announcing the lectures. Although the
funds in the treasury are not yet sufficient
to meet these expenditures, DR.. HickIing
was instructed to go ahead and have these
lectures given, with the expectation that
the funds will be secured
Mr.. Thomas w Smith, chairman of the
subcommittee on finance, reported that no
funds had been received through the gen
eral agitation of the subject in the news
papers, and stated that he would send out
few personal letters of appeal. The ex-
ecutlve committee decided that only about
500 would be needed for the work this
winter, and they concluded that there was
no doubt as to the securing of this small
amount from philosophical citizens.
Or. William {. Woodward chairman of
the general committee, stated that the
average number of deaths from consump-
ton in the District of Columbia is 100 and
that progressive decrease in the number
of these deaths is already observable DR..
Richard kingsman had also observed not
only that the deaths from consumption are
decreasing In number, but also that the
general public interest in the prevention
OF this disease is growing rapidly. He
stated that physicians having an in
creasing number of inquiries to. the
precautions against contracting consump-
ton, and as to the means by which the
| disease may be wiped out.
Gen. George NJ. Sternberg, chairman of
the subcommittee the care and treat
ment of consumptives, reported that he
had written the District Commissioners
asking them to favor the erection of a
special hospital for INDECENT consumptives
on the site already secured for municipal
hospital. The general submitted the reply
he had received from the District Com
! missioners. 1t included the following state
ment:
Among the chronic cases the most i'm
portant because the most dangerous to
The Commissioners laid the facts respect
ing all these classes of cases. dwelling
especially upon those Of tuberculosis, be-
fore the. committee on appropriations of the
last Congress. They represented the great
need of the INDECENT sufferers from tuber-
culosis for proper public care, and the
fact that in the absence OF proper pro-
visions for them they remained in their
houses and We're necessarily great and
constant danger to their fellow citizens.
1.-The Commissioners directed attention to
all the facts collected and arguments pre-
scented by the board of charities in its sew
eral reports upon the subject, In favor of
beginning the construction of municipal
hospital, which should embrace as one of
its prominent features accommodations and
equipment for the care and treatment of
tubercular patients; the Commissioners
urged that this should be done, but the
committees on appropriations were not
ready to act upon the matter. The Com
missioners will present it again at the next
session of Congress- >"