The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-04-16
Interest in Tuberculosis.

Great scientific interest attaches to the coming annual meeting of the National Association for the Study and Proven tlon of Tuberculosis. which will take place in this city on the 18th and i9ih of May So widespread and so deadly has become this disease that 1t Is now generally re- ferred to as the White Plague Sur geon General Wyman of the United States marine hospital service has received nu- merous letters from health officers on this subject especially on that branch of it which relates to the spread of the disease by travellers on the various railroads Dr. S. J. Crumbine secretary of the Kansas State Board of Health. thus writes
 The geographical position of this state is such, lying immediately east of the health resorts of the Rocky Mountains that 1t could probably be asserted that there is scarcely a transcohtinental train going west the year round that does not carry It's one or more passengers offict- ed with tuberculosis. seeking the life giving and healthful resorts of Colorado New Mexico and arizona. With little or no convenience for the proper disposal of the expectoration of these people. if must be selG-evident that these cars are in a chronic state of infection Time and again l have personally observed a con sumptive in a day coach where there were no cnspidors provided coughing and expectorating upon the floor These peo- pie being of low vitality and afraid of draughts and cool air while travelling re- quire that the coaches be closed which adds to the danger of infection to their fellow passengers. The constant vihra- tion of an ordinary railway coach is free and which is admittedly the carrier of the bacillus of tuber culosis."
 Dr II NJ RrnplspO of Do,,I of the Minnesota State Board of Health has been assigned to read a paper be- fore the association on "Infeetion in Transportation" and as Dr. Bracken has made an exhaustive study of the suh- ject, he is expected to present data of the greatest importance. In connection with the above meeting. Dr. Wyman has called meeting of the executive officers of the State Boards of Health for May Ia.
 Have Unusual Facilities
 It is regarded by the scientists who ex pect to be in attendance as especially for. tunate that while ,.ie meeting is in nro- gress they will have unusual facilities Tor studying the latest Improvements in the ventilation and sanitation of railway passenger cars. Simultaneous with inc meetings of the health specialists will he the meeting of the International Railway congress, with it's great exhibition of cars and railway appliances. for which Con gress has granted the use of the White Lot In the exhibit will be many de- vices Tor the ventilation and heating of passenger cars. matter that is just now being widely discussed by health boards. scientific men, and railroad authorities Numerous tests will be made in inc presence and under the direction of dis unguished health officers from different parts Of the country The tests will con slst of series of experiments to demon strate how quickly and how completely the ar in passenger coaches can he changed, 1t being the already expressed opinioh or scientific men that public health demands an entire change Inf air at least once in every six minutes