The Washington herald., 1907-06-09
international Congress to
Meet in Washington.
WILL DISCUSS TUBERCULOSIS
Renowned Physicians, Hygienists,
sOcioIogists. and Humanitarinns
from All Quarters of Globe VIII
Hold Session in American Capital
Next Year-NatiOns Interested.

EElfIltlilE EttiEi NNSFS Vel itFiG III <NAAi'A
ica. when a large number Of distinguished
men from all parts Of the wOrld-physi-
clans. hygienists, sociolOgists. and hu-
manitarians. will assemble TO discuss the
problem Of tuberculosis.
This great gathering will be organized
under the name Of the international Con
gress on tuberculosis. and will hold its
sessions from about September % to Oc-
tober 10 It viii number several thou
sand members and delegates, and the
visitors 20 Washington on account Of the
congress, it is predicted. will number
thousands more
The directors and council Of the Ma
tional Association for the Study and Pre-
ventlon Of tuberculosis include the most
noted authorities on tuberculosis in this
country. and they are. moreover. body
Of wise men in public affairs Their plans
contemplate something far broader than
a convention Of scientific men. They ex-
pect 70 have a tuberculosis exhibition.
which, up 10 its date. will surpass In va
riety and interest anything Of the sort
ever attempted.
One Method of Education.
This method of educating the public on
this subject is employed in many for
eign countries. and in this country It has
Of late become we'll known through the
popular exhibition Of the national asso-
citation. and Of the New York tuberculo-
sis committee. During the three weeks
while this exhibition IS in progress. visi-
tors can learn what is going on the world
around in the fight against tuberculosis.
The exhibition will be open and free TO
the public at all times. and its contents
will be as interesting 10 the man in the
street. or TO the high school pupil. as to
the savant
The International congress will provide
IN the exhibition a great collection of in
teresting things, but the congress itself
will be a great collection Of interesting
persons. Many of the distinguished au-
thorities on this subject ih Great Britain.
Germany. France. Sweden Russia, Japan.
Italy. and South America, who are widely
known by name in this country. will visit
the United States at the time not only
for the purpose Of discussing tuberculosis
in the scientific sessions, but also to make
public addresses in Washington and other
cities.
Work of organizing.
The work Of organizing the international
congress has been intrusted by the
national association 10 special commit
tee. consisting al present Of Or. Lawrence
Flick. Of Philadelphia; DR. Vincent Y.
e n
Of New York; DR.. J. J. Walsh. Of Phila-
delphia; Dr. Lawrence Litchfeld. of Pitts
burg, and Dr. Charles J. Hatfield. of
Philadelphia The committee has ap-
pointed a secretary general, Dr. John s
Fulton Of Baltimore. who has opened an
Office in the Colorado building. in Wash
ington, and he will devote all Of his time
TO the organization Of the congress.
Such men as H. c. Frick. Henry Phipps.
Henry L. Higginson. Martin Maloney,
William p. Henszey. and George Blumen-
thai are giving their financial support TO
the movement, and have contributed to-
ward the fund of Slooeo0 which is being
raised TO carry through the congress.
The last International Congress on Tu-
berculosis met in Paris In 1905. at which
time the American delegates invited the
Congress to hold the next meeting in the
United States President Roosevelt sec
onded the invitation. through Mr.. Nc
CoImick, the Ambassador TO France, and
the invitation was accepted with a great
demonstration Of enthusiasm. While Il
was generally understood that President
Roosevelt acted unOfficially. the govern
ment is actively interested in the Inter
national Congress on tuberculosis
Government Interested.
Its interest became manifest as soon as
the national association called the matter
10 the attention Of the Secretary Of State,
and February . a memorial. asking for
the necessary authority and means, was
sent 20 the United States Senate, bear
ing the Endorsement Of seven out Of the
nine members Of the Cabinet. Among
foreign governments the International
Congress is already looked upon as OF
high importance, and most foreign govern
Inents will be officially represented at
the meeting in Washington
This occasion viii excite extraordinary
interest not only among physicians and
Illt lfltlllfftA cetlbtlS NttllA4l Easy AlbLdEltf
Of Washington, but VIII be hardly less
attractive to ,sociologists, for in this
country the tuberculosis problem has
taken a strong hold on the leaders in or
ganized charity. many of whom have be-
come leaders also in the anti-tuberculOsis
movement
Another class Of visitors likely 70 attend
in numbers will be the veterinarians. In
proportion 10 their number # is prob
able that the public health officials and
the hospital and sanatorium men will be
on hand I'm largest force.
Preliminary Organization.
In the work Of preliminary organization
the committee has adopted policy which
seeks 70 make the characteristics Of our
political structure quite clear TO the foreign
visitors The committee is not sending
its invitations directly to private indi-
viduals who are interested in tubercu-
losis. nor to institutions, nor 10 organiza-
tions. official or unofficial, but invita-
tions are being given to governors Of all
the States. requesting them in turn to
invite their municipalities and other
local agencies. either directly or through
some department of State government.
BY this means It is hopefthat the States
viii participate as units and that thus
they will give an account Of all the forces
engaged against tuberculosis within their
respective limits
The restriction Of tuberculosis IS a po-
litical problem. quite as much as It is a
medical nrohIer0 and bv extending IT'S
organization along official lines the con-
gress will probably secure the largest and
most enduring benefits to the country,
and at the same time represent the cOun-
try i'm the most favorable way 10 foreign
visitors.
An undertaking which will bring all the
energies now engaged in the worlds COM
bat against tuberculosis TO a focus in
Washington for nearly month will un-