The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-10-22
Prevention of Tuberculosis
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81 Organization Society
BY iPAUL&kENNApAY; -.: ~
Ii Fedl:leration'Iist,

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The worldwide movement for the
Of tuberculosis which has
been gaining such tremendous head
way within the past two years in this
country has recently been given fresh
impetus by the active corporation
which the Central Federation Union Of
New York has rendered to the COM
mittee on the Prevention of Tubercu-
losis, and by the opportunity which !
those two committees now have in con- |
junction for placing before all of the |
locals Of the Central Federation Union |
information in regard to the dangers
and the safeguards of which much
more must be generally diffused before
an ADEQUATE handling of the difficulties
of the situation in New York can be
hoped for.
In the city of New York, as indeed
in all large cities, the situation Is very
bad, notwithstanding the fact that
great improvements have been made;
so great, in fact, that the death rate
from tuberculosis for the old city of
New York is now over 40 per cent
smaller than it was in 1881. This re-
duction means that last year with
population of 2,186,000 there were ac-
tually 122 fewer deaths than there had
been from the same causes in 1881 with
population of 100000. This reduc-
ton having taken place largely in those
parts of the city which were the heal
thiest and where a reduction was least
needed, and, in addition, the improve
| ment having been least at those ages
| where consumption is overwhelmingly
important as cause of death, feeling
| of satisfaction is not to be too freely
INDUCED in, and hope for the future
may only be had as these results,
tremendous as they are in certain par
ticulars, may point a sure course along
which our efforts may be directed in
the future.
Great as is the problem in the city Of
New York, great have been the achieve
ments. Tie board Of health has by it's
persistent and effective efforts gained
for itself an enviable reputation in 9TH
err states and countries which have
been trying to reduce the ravages of
this "great white plague" this disease
of the tenements.
The new tenement house department
has contributed considerable portion
to the general good by exposing to the
public gaze the foul conditions under
which portion of the population were
compelled to live, by letting in sun
light into many of old dark, interior
bedrooms, and by enforcing without
fear or favor and with the vigorous en-
dorsement Of we'll nigh all the citizens,
the provisions Of the tenement house
law which do away with the filthy air
shaft and abominable school sink; that
require that every room shall have a
window and every department it's wat
err closet.
These and small parks, the enforce
ment of child labor law, and better
wages have, with many other forward
movements, consciously or not helped
to reduce the ravages Of tuberculosis In
New York City, but still this: captain
sof the men Of death takes Of: Of nearly
one-thirds of all the workingnen who
die between the ages of Is and a
years. Still it forces the stricken trade
union man down through the wasting
months of his sickness from full earn
ing capacity through period when
less and less can he command strength
for his usual work, and when more and
more he needs that strength that he
NAV secure extra nourishment and per-
haps fresh air in more expensive rooms
until. in not a few instances, through
descending scale of employments ne
at last reaches the point Of actual de-
penedency
Tuberculosis is indeed the great
enemy Of society, working it's grea test
, havoc among the laboring men and
: causing a direct loss in sick BENEFITS &c
the unions which must be tremendous
"a loss which with the present limited
methods of classification unfortunately
can not be ascertained.
| 1t was with a realization Of this that
, the Central Federation Union took ur
, the fight few months ago, instructine
it's committee on sanitation to actively
co-operate with the committee on the
Prevention Of tuberculosis for the
Charity Organization Society.
Since then numerous talks
unon tuberculosis have beer
given before various locals of the
Central Federated Union, and arrange
ments are now being made for
thorough and systematic discussion
Of the Importance Of this question tt
trade union men before much larger
number Of the local unions. These dis
cussions, for such they really are, thu
audience often putting questions anc
talking almost as much as the speaker
of the evening, have very little of thu
medical about them, the aim being tt
bring out the facts which it Is i'm
portant for the layman to understand
such as the prevalence of the disease
the danger of splitting, the value O.
fresh air, a warning advertised "sur'
cures, and directions as to the proper
treatment of the disease.
! Ignorance is the great ally of tuber
( culosis. It is confidently expected
) therefore, that we shall see no un
( certain results from the spread Of thi
) movement among other trade unions
{ in New York and other cities. Alread!
) much has been done along these line
!. by the unions in Boston in corporation
: with the Boston Society for the Relic
and Control of tuberculosis. It is t.
, hat Gil will no T.