The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-11-26

ON THE INTERNATIONAL TuaER.
cuLosis CONGRESS MAKES
A REPORT.

ners' Hospital at Fatrmont, who was
commissioned by Governor Dawson to
attNnd the American International
Congress on TuberculosisY has made
his report. The meetings were held
in New York city, on November a.,
Is and 10 in connection with the Med
ico.Legal society. DR.. McDonalI's re-
port to the Governor is as follows:
Hon. VIM. o. Dawson.
Charleston, West Va.
Dear Sir
Acting on your commission as del
egate to the American International
Congress on tuberculosis. l beg 70
report that as such, attended the
meeting of this Congress which
were held at Hotel Astor, New York
City, on November 14th, 18th and
10th ut, in connection with the
Medico.Legal Society Of New York.
And may add in this connection that
of a number of delegates appointed
from this State, DR., G, D. Lind, OF
New Richmond and myself were the
only ones in attendance.
The congress was composed of a
few members of the Medlco-Legal
Society, representatives from several
soutrl-American governments (chief-
" persous who we're representing
their governments in various capacl'
ties in New York;. and few dele
gates, members OF the medical pro
fessIon. from few States appointed
by their respective governors.
Friction between the medical and
legal professions, which apparently
had origin at some former meeting
or possibly In the organization OF the
congress was in evidence during the
entire session: the medical profess
sion assuming the study of tnbercu'
losis to be their work and the legal
fraternity that while the medical
men could study the subject all they
chose, when OF came to any lesisla'
tioD they should have charge of the
entire affair.
Nothing was added to the general
knowledge of the subject In either
prevention of treatment, nor couli
/ find any thing which this congress
has ever done in any way toward any
progress along these lines.
The main line of friction being
toward the adoption of resolution
asking, in substance, that depart
ment of Public Health be added to
our National Government. which be-
ing along the line Of work OF rep
resentatlvc bodies such as the Amer
can Medical Association, was concur
red in by all present
At the election OF officers for the
ensuing biennial term, 1t having be-
come so apparent that the medical
profession had been giving all the
attention 10 the real work of the
congress, Dr.. Arrien, president of the
Louisiana State Board of Health, was
unanimously chosen as the president
and five members of the madIcaI pro.
fession, Of whom I was one. were,
chosen as acting vice presidents, TO
this list was added a very long list
Of names Of prominent men, presi-
dent, Cabinet officers, Senator'S, Con-
gressmen, Governors. etc, who would
be willing 10 lend their names to the
organization having for its object any
measure Of relief for this or following
generations from the ravages of the
Great White Plague.
Personally am convinced that
effective work along these lines can
only be accomplished by concerted ac'
ton by all the States through their
boards of health, considering tuber.
culosis as an infectious AMI conta-
gious disease. compulsory reporting
of such cases to boards Of health,
reports Of such cures by localities,
for instance by counties. 10 the pub
lie and, Stale boards of health to give
to the medical profession The plan
of treatment Of such cases by the
doctors In each country, And would
suggest a plan of education for the /
people to which ! have given quite
a lot of study and which met with
entire approval at this congress, that
of having each State board Of health
prepare. with the best medical
knowledge oBtainable, a treatise on
easily read and under
stood. dealing with the methods of
Infection, prevention. hygiene, neces-
sity of early diagnosis, ETC., to be
taught in our public schools the
point being to educate the people SO
that they will think of 1t as they 90
Of smallpox, diphtheria, typhoid fe.
yer, etc.
have long thought that our pub
lie schools we're not doing their full
work until the pupils are as thor
nughly instructed in hygiene and the
proper care Of the body as we'll as