The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-01-21
Says DR.. D. D. Grout Of State
tuberculosis Commission.
TO CRUSH OUT DISEASE
In Communication to The Times Or.
Grout Tells Some Facts That Re
veal Necessity for Edu-
cational Work.

The following communication from
Dir. Don d. crout Of Waterbury, presi-
dent Of the Vermont State tuberculosis
Commission, is Of very great interest
70 the people of Barre 1t also states
the position Of the Commission relative
to the campaign against tuberculosis
which is now being conducted in Yer
mont,
Waterbury, Jan. is, 1905.
Mr.. Editor-Sir:
My attention has been called to
an article in a recent number OF Tho
Times, regarding tuberculosis in Barre,
prompted by statement made TO the
city council by Health Officer DIR. Joe
w. jackson. The doctors statement was
correct and timely, and shows that in
his official capacity he is observing not
only the letter, but the spirit Of the
law. More health officers of this kind
are needed in Vermont The editorial
remarks thereon show that the editor is
made of the same material, and is act
uated by the same spirit. The article
referred to says shat the State Board
of Health has taken up the work and
from now on promises to spread the
gospel by means of public lectures, etc.
While it is the duty Of the said board
to consider this matter in a general
way, it is the special work Of the State
Tuberculosis Commission to spread the
gospel by means of public meetings,
held, one at least, or more, in every
county in the state each year; bv pub
lie lectures on this subject by different
members of the Commission; bv distri.
button among Che people of pamphlets,
documents and circulars upon this sub
ject; by articles in the public press.
etc.R (part Of Sec 3 Of the act under
which the Commission was estabishedl.
That the work might be expedited, and
that these meetings might be held where
most desired, circular was sent to
most Of the newspapers in the state o
few weeks ago with the intention of
calling the attention of the people to
the work Of the Commission, and the
Tact was announced that such meetings
would be held in any town or city that
expressed a wish for one, on conditions
that such town or city should provide
suitable place for the meeting and
make an effort to get out respectable
audience. A copy of the circular was
sent to The Times. The Commission
win be pleased to hold such meeting
in Barre some time during the month 81
February, if the people there will express
such a wish to Health Officer jackson.
Meetings have been arranged TO be
held at Vergennes, Jan. "a, Waitsfeld,
Jan. ~, Stowe, Feb. /, Cambridge, Feb.
3, and Bradford about Feb z.
That there is need of missionary work
\. L.. ID . III
evident. In the state at large, during
1908, there were 1.2s deaths per thous
and Of the population, from tuberculosis
lthis was about "A per cent smaller
than any former year@; in Barre during
1904 the proportion was nearly twice as
large, This is partially accounted for
from the fact that so large proportion
OF the population are stone cutters. Ac-
cording to the last United States census
reports the death rate from tuberculosis
among stone cutter headed the list Of
fifty-three occupations given.
The death rate in Barre from this
cause will continue 70 increase, unless
great efforts are put forth and radical
changes are made in the methods Of
carrying on the work in the stone sheds.
II Is fact that has been demonstrated
many times that each case of consump-
ton infects one OF more people Conse
quently if the stone sheds continue to
produce their usual number OF victims,
and each one infects some member of
his household, and in time this one leaves
one or more victims, it is very evident
what the result viii be in time. This
can and should be checked, for tubercu-
losis Is not, as was believed few years
ago, a mysterious and inevitable fate.
DON ID. CIRCUIT.