The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-07
Mass Meeting of State
 Wide Interest. APPEALS TO PEOPLE
PreventiveS of Dreaded Dis
 ease Are Suggested.
President of Medical Association Lends Movement for Education of Masses and Alabama Legis- lature will Be Asked to
 Help.

An organized movement against the rayages of tuberculosis in the state or Alabarpa was last night organized by members of the Alabama Medical As- sociation and citizens of the State who are deeply interested in the suppress sion of the rapidly increasing scourge.
 Necessity for such action was dwelt upon by the doctors and the iaymen in short but earnest and practical speeches and a campaign Of education for prevention of the disease was opened that will no doubt in snort time develop into large proportions.
 The scene of laying the plan of pat tie against the tuberculosis germs was at the auditorium of the Girls Hlgh School and the time was originally set for o'clock last night The scene suggested anything else but wasting consumption. Hardly a week ago, the hall had been decorated for the class day exercises of sweet girl graduates and the decorations had not heen re- moved Lofty notices were hung on the walls and graduation flowers were on the stage, where bespectacled phy- sicians discussed ways and means of crushing the baccilli.
 The crowd was slow in assembling. But before the meeting was called to order a representative Montgomery au- dience which included a number Of women and doctors from every section of Alabama, was present.
 Numerous NOtables Present.
 In the array of forces against the tuberculosis baccilli was found pr. E. L. Bondurant of Mobile, the youthful but brainy President of the State Med Acal Association; Eli P. Smith. Asso- eiate editor of The Birmingham News, who has conquered the germs in his own case and wishes to do so for oth- CTS; Dr. R. NJ. Cunningham, Lieuten- ant Governor of the State, who has not ceased to be a good doctor since he became a successful politician, and many others of more Or less T n0tabil- Ity.
 The meeting was called to order al s:45 o'clock by Dr. w. H. Sanders, State Health Officer, who suggested that in asmnch as this tuberculosis con. ference was being held under the au' spices of the State Medical Association that the President of the Association he asked to preside over the delibera' tions of the body. Dr. J. N. Baker oi Montgomery was chosen as secretary.
 Dr. Bondurant said that everyone who is alive to the times Is interested in he suppression of tuberculosis and in inc time, when definite steps should he taken to battle with the ravages ot inc dread disease. He considered this occasion a most momentous one and be- ueved that it boded good for the peo- pie of Alabama.
 pr. shoII Introduced.
 He called on Dr. E. H .Sholl of Bir- minEham. pr. Sholl Is a physician of the old school He has the flowing beard, the kindly look, the professional cut of coat, and the soothing voice-the type of family physician that is dis appearing. He said that it Is the pur' pose of all men, as far as possible to blot out infectious disease. On Dec. 12 1894, he introduced a resolution in the Jefferson County Medical Association that all physicians inform the County Health Officer as to every case of con- sumption and the condition of the pa tient in their practice. He emphasized the point that only with conjoined eff fort of the medical men could success in heading the ravages of the germs bt attained.
 The State organization of the doctors is all important in this regard, said Dr Sholl, and 1t is from the statistics oi that organization that a basis for the fighting material can be secured. Tn Birmingham during the past year, there were 141 deaths from consumption and in Jefferson County, outside of Bir- mingham, there were 215 deaths. Con- sidering that some of these were wage earners, he impressed on the audience the importance of heading the disease from a financial viewpoint He said that the people are no longer to be beg gars before the Legislature, but they will compel the Legislature to expend money to stop the ravages of the dis ease. The Legislature of Pennsylvania has appropriated several thousand dol lars for this purpose.
 Dr. Bcndurant said that the doctors would be powerlcss in any effort to fight tuberculosis in an organized man . ner if the citizens of Alabama did not assist. He called on F. P. Glass Gene ral Manager of The Advertiser to speak
 Mir. Glass Speaks.
 MT. Glass said that thero is no doubt as to the seriousness of the tuberculosis situation, there Is no doubt as to It's in- fectious nature. and there is no doubt as to it's increase in the entire coun- try and in the South, which was once regarded as practically immune. With the freedom of the negro and his inabil- ity to properly take care of himself, construction began to make itself fe't fin the South. Now the white people stand in constant danger of catching the disease from their servants and from their laundry. Tn the white peo- ple only rests the solution for stopping the disease. Prevent Is far better than cure. and the people look to the doctors to suggest to the legislature the
 
 of the people must take hold of the sit uatipn and cooperate with the medical men in the work. He assured the au- dience of the sympathy of the press
 pr. Jones of East Lake.
 Dr-C C. Jones of East Lake. was the next speaker. He said that If the lay men took hold of the situation to any great extent it would have great force with the doctors. The solution of con- trolling tuberculosis Is a work of edu- cation and this work must not be at- tempted with the older people It must be inculcated in the younger genera tions School teachers, ministers, and editors must endeavor to show to the people how to live SO that the spread of the disease can be prevented.
 It had been suggested to him by a prominent negro physician that if the present death rate from consumption among negroes continued. the race question would be solved, for in short time there would be no negro race But while the negroes are falling vic