The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-10
HEARD ADDRESSES
 ON TUBERCULOSIS
Dr. c. c. Jones, Eli ?. Smith
 and pr. Phillips Spoke
RESOLUTIONS WERE PASSED
Talks of Three Men Will Be Published In Pamphlet Form So That All Teachers May Read
 Them.

l l uo JeHerSOn county I6dcnerS aSSO- citation in the first meeting of the new i term yesterday morning heard three addresses on the subject of 'Tubercu- losis." Those who spokke on the sub ject were Dr. c. c. Jones, Eli P. Smith and Dr. J. H. Phillips.
 Dr. Jones, in discussing the disease from the point of view of physician, said, in part:
 We know today that not to hered- itary taint, but to household infection is due the appalling destruction of fam l flies by this sinister disease. The phy- sician of today is in command of such forces of healing as promise cure in many cases if the sufferers can be early and properly cared for, where rest and food and fresh air and sun shine are available.
 But the appalling death rate from 1 tuberculosis continues. It is little lower here and there, it is true, but the disease still affects well-nigh one half of the human race, causes the death of fully one-tenth of those who pass away in the United States, and kills about one-third of those who per ish between the ages of 15 and 45-the most useful and productive period or life"
 '0rhe reasons for the continuance of this malady and the untold misery and suner- ing which gather about 1t are threefold; q. The people at large do not under stand the ways in which the disease IS spread and are ignorant of the simple measures for its avoidance 'i2 Many are careless or totally ind1f- ferent to the risks of sanitary unclean- ness.
 "3. The facilities for the care of the poor and friendless who are stricken are entirely inadequate.
 '"rhus the larger proportion of the vlc- tims of tuberculosis are hopeless in sight of the hope which science holds out to all And thus each uncared for sufferer is left to become a source of fresh in- lection to his fellows.
 Mir. Smiths Address. He termed tuberculosis as a "house disease, propagated and generally com municated in close rooms. which are with out sufficient ventilation or other hygen- ic safeguards"
 MT. Smith spoke on how to treat the disease as follows:
 | The question which should address | itself to the teacher ls this: That means should be adopted to reasonably insure | the safety of my pupils from tubercu- | losis? First the teacher should under | stand the real definition of the disease and | the causes which lead to it, as already set I forth above-that it Is a house disease, l propagated and generally communicated | in poorly ventilated rooms and that It IS 1 spread through the sputum of it's victims. | Then he should know that Its prevention l lies in the proper ventilation of the rooms,
 an adequate amount of sunshine, ample
 breating space for the pupils, and the ex- i ercise of care in the depositing or sputum
 by the pupils, seeing to 1t that they al-
 ways use cuspidors which contain water l and whose contents are destroyed from I time to time, preferably by burning. "Sunshine and fresh air are the sworn 1 enemies of consumption.
 Dr. J. H. Phillips superintendent of the Birmingham public schools, spoke on tho
 question as 1t appeared to the teacher. He emphasized the importance of clean 1 liness and ventilation, and spoke also l of the opportunity of the teacher to get 1 a practical understanding of the disease.
 He stated that they could learn very l little from a study of the technical or 1 theoretical.
 l Dr. Phillips spoke of the question of
 the spread of the disease germs through l books and said he deplored the fact that books were handled carelessly and allowed l to catch the germs. He did not think. l however, that there was sufficient cause for alarm on this phase of the subject Resolutions Adopted.
 After Dr. Phillips had concluded his | address the following resolution was in- 1 troduced by Prof. R. V. Allgood of Avon dale and unanimously adopted
 "Whereas, the Jefferson County Teach | ers' institute fully recognizes the inn portance of popular education on the sub l feet of tuberculosis and the adoption of | methods for It's prevention and suppress sion therefore, be 1t
 Resolved, That we cordially endorse the organized movement which has been | begun in this state by the formation of the Alabama Anti-Tuberculosis league to
 accomplish these purposes and to secure
 such legislation as may be deemed nec-
 essary and feasible to the end that the public health may be more securely safe- guarded.
 Resolved further, That we urge our
 members to affiliate with the Alabama Anti-Tuberculosis league and accord It their earnest support"
 The meeting voted the speakers their
 thanks and appreciation for the talks. The motion was made by Prof. F. M. Mo- Neil and was unanimously adopted. Prof. J. M. Dill of Bessemer then moved that a committee of five be appointed to
 circulate the addresses throughout the
 county.
 The motion was adopted and the fol-
 lowing were appointed as the committee: Prof. J. M. Dill, chairman; Prof. A. 10.
 Handley, Prof. E. L. Patton, Prof. J. w.
 Letson and Prof. L. P. McKinnon. Mrs. J. D. Matlock, president of the ] ladies society of school improvement. spoke briefly on the work being done in
 improving the schools throughout the
 state and county. She suggested that
 the teachers in each community form a
 school improvement society for studying and bettering the conditions in all pub
 lie schools The suggestion will later be
 taken up by the teachers.