The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-05-25
THE FIGHT ON CONSUMPTION.

The "white plague is the enemy
against which the forces of a powerful
society are to be turned. The organi-
cation will hold it's first annual meeting
in Washington, D.. c., May IS and 10
and it includes some of the ablest
physicians in the country. The pres
ident is DR.. Edward l.. Trudeau of Sar-
anac Lake, N. Y, man who las given
much time to the study of consumption
and is, in fact, an authority on the di
sease and the methods of treating
patients afflicted with it. DR.. William
Osler, whose name has been before the
public very prominently because Of his
odd "chloroform theory" is one of the
vice presidents. Here it may be, said,
in passing, that DR.. Osler is in truth
one of the ablest men to be found in
the ranks of the physicians Of the
country. He is also student of con-
sumption and other similar diseases and
his membership in the society which
aims at decreasing the number of vic
tins of this white plague adds
strength to that organization.
Among the directors are DR.. Arnold
G. Klebs of Chicago, Dr.S. A. Knopf of
New York, DR.. Leonard Pearson of
Philadelphia, DR.. S. E. Solly of Colorado
Springs and Gen. Walter Wyman Of
Washington. In addition to the doctors
who will be present at the meeting in
Washington there will be several lay
man who will take an interested and a
useful part in the proceedings.
The Importance of the society cannot
be overestimated. The "white plague"
has reached such point that it cannot
l,,,, 5>en ;1a tinn nnr.
ing the last few years, for instance, it
has been gaining enormously and in
order to fight it it is necessary that all,
doctors and laymen alike, realize the
danger and unite to do all in their
power to ward it of. Among the sub
jects that will be discussed at the
Washington meeting there may be no
ticed the progress of the sanatorium
movement in America; infection in
transportation; channels of infection
in tuberculosis; serum, the blood in
tuberculosis, the relation of tuberculo-
sis to life insurance, open air treatment,
climatic conditions, etc. Infection of
transportation will be discussed not
only from the point Of view of the
physician but from that of transporta-
ton companies.
1t is anticipated that great good will
come from this meeting. 1t is the first
of it's kind ever held, and the bringing
together of so many distinguished men
who have made special study of this
dread disease will bring out much that
will be of great value to the medical
profession and it may result in giving
Legislators information of the highest
value in framing laws dealing with the
subject.
Much has been lately said in the
public press about the danger of infec.
ton in cars used for the transportation
of passengers, and there has been 9
decided movement toward requiring
better ventilation and sanitation in all
such cars. This will be one of the
most important questions discussed
tuberculosis has practically spread
over all the country, and it's rapic
spread has been laid to the infection il
transportation.
For generations it has been believed
that no cure existed for the disease
but many eminent men now hold that i
can be cured. The first great object
however, is prevention, and the means
by which this much desired end may b.
reached is now engaging the attention
of very many of the physicians, of thu
country.