Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-31
DISEASE PREVENTION
Avoidance Of Tuberculosis
Theme Of Discussion.
EDUCATION URGED
ADDRESSES By DRs. KoBER.
srERNBERa AND WOODWARD.
The Question Considered From Sanitary
Standpoint and Methods Suggested
for Abating Consumption.


The movement recently inaugurated in
this city to combat the spread of consump-
ton and other tubercuiar diseases was
discussed at a meeting held at the Ebbitt
House last evening. The addresses were
delivered by Mr. Charles F. Weller, gen.
eral secretary of the Associated Charities;
DIR. George NJ Kober, dean of the medical
faculty of Georgetown University; former
Surgeon General George NJ Sternberg of
the army; DR.. William C. Woodward,
health officer of the District, who is also
chairman Of the committee on the preven-
ton of consumption Of the Associated
Charities; DIR. D. Percy Hickling, chairman
of the committee on public health of the
Board Of Trade, and Surgeon General Wy
man of the public health and marine hos
pital service.
The first address was delivered by Mr..
Charles F. Weller, on the subject of "Edu-
cational Measures" Mr.. Weller said:
1.-THE modern message that consumption
Is communicable, durable and capable of
being absolutely prevented is more dra-
matte. impressive and important gospel
than the news would be that wars could
be stopped and all the armies Of the world
disbanded. tuberculosis" he said, causes
one death In every seven throughout the
world. and one death in every three of
and sixty. 1t is four times more deadly
than scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhoid fever
and smallpox combined"
The speaker said that lack Of magma
ton is responsible for the fact that the
public lie not yet intensely interested in the
eradication Of consumption. He recon-
mended such educational work in Wash
ington as the committee on the prevention
of consumption organized by the Charity
Organization Society Of New York is car
rying on in that city. Pamphlets should be
distributed in schools, factories offices and
homes. Lectures should be given wherever
opportunities are offered. Pictures should
be used especially, both in printed mat
ter and in the form of stereopticon
views. which would appeal to the magma
ton of the people and make them see how
millions Of the deadly tubercule bacilli may
exist in a single splitting of one consump-
tive, and If the splitting is allowed to dry,
may enter the air, be breathed into the
lungs of other people and thus cause the
disease to spread
Mr.. Weller alluded to the fact that the
New York committee on the prevention of
subscriptions for its first years work. while
the similar committee recently organized
In Washington obtained only $40 in answer
to its recent appeal through the public
press He suggested that additional finan-
cial support is greatly needed by the Wash
ington committee of which Health Officer
Woodward Is chairman, and Mr. John Joy
Edison treasurer.
DR.. Kober's Theme.
'The Civic Care and Treatment of Tuber-
culosis" was the topic assigned to DR..
George M. Kober. DIR. Kober said it is
certainly true that tuberculosis is a pre-
ventable disease, and If the methods recon-
mended by sanitarians, including the
prompt disinfection Of the sputa, were gen.
orally adopted, this disease, or, rather, it's
germs, would soon be eradicated, but until
this is accomplished by the educational
methods outlined by Mr.. Weller We must
expect the presence of germs and CORE
spending danger from infection.
1T should be remembered however"
continued DR.. Kober, that in addition to
the germ there must also be suitable soil
for It's growth and development. Such
soil is usually found in persons of feeble
physique, victims of malnutrition, whose
vitality has been lowered from any of the
numerous causes which are afioat, whether
1t be previous attack Of sickness or lack
OF pure air, sunlight or proper food
when the germs of tuberculosis are in
hailed or ingested with food it becomes a
struggle between the microbial invader and
the tissue cells, and the result depends
upon the survival of the strongest cell,
hence the importance of terrifying the sys-
tenn by proper food and environments,
which cannot fall to improve the nutrition,
and therefore also the resisting power Of
the body to the invasion, multiplication and
effects Of the germs.
Tuberculosis is far more prevalent in
dark damp and insanitary houses The
only reasonable explanation for this is that
the ubiquitous tubercle bacillus, which Is
destroyed by few hours exposure to sun
light, finds here suitable environments for
its growth and vitality; dark and badly
ventilated houses are also usually damp,
and damp air abstracts an undue amount
of animal heat from the inmates and in
consequence produces catarrhal affections
OF the respiratory passages, which, In turn,
favor the Invasion of the tubercle bacillus.
For all these reasons DIR. Kober considers
the condemnation of houses unfit for hui
man habitation and the substitution of
sanitary homes Of the utmost Importance.
Healthful Homes Lower Mortality.
1.-THE erection of healthful homes for wage
earners has everywhere lowered the NOR
tality rates This is especially true Of the
Peabody houses and the metropolitan
dwellings in London and judging from