Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-12
MEMBERS GRATIPIED
INTEREST IN THE STUDY OF
TUBERCULOSIS.

Members of the National Association for
the Study and Prevention Of tuberculosis,
the third annual meeting of which associa-
ton has just come to close in Washington,
were gratifed to learn Of the widespread
interest In the subject of tuberculosis and
how systematically and theoretically the
work of organization is being pushed for
ward. throughout the whole country. 1t
was reported that fifteen states are actively
working to prevent tuberculosis. while in
eight other states definite steps have been
taken which. it is expected, will lead to
similar organizations within the year. In
the opinion of the association, from the
point of view of state organization and
geographical distribution. the situation is
we'll in hand, with the exception of certain
of the southern and western states.
An. equally encouraging outlook is pre-
scented in the secretarys report of city or
CARNATIONS. Nine of these local commit
tees have been formed among cities of over
100000 population in the past year and
definite plans under way in Toledo, St.
Paul. Los Angeles and Fall River, SO that
Of the thirty-eight cities of this class only
San Francisco, Kansas City, Omaha, St.
organizations, and of these only Omaha and
Memphis are without plans for the early
formation of such organizations
While carrying on this work communities
of lesser population have not been neglected,
definite organizations having been formed
during the year in forty-two cities and
towns, Massachusetts and New Jersey
heading the list in this respect, each with
ten local societies. The movement for Or
ganization Is well advanced in twenty other
cities, and with the close of the associa-
tons third year there are found to be
twenty-three states and nearly 100 cities
and towns in which there are active socie-
ties or definite plans for forming such.
Has Come to Stay.
member of the association in speaking
of the meeting that has just come to a
close said: What the final results of all
of this organization and systematic work
will be 1t is not possible to tell, but it is
plain that there is here movement that
has come to stay and one which makes it
seem not unreasonable to look forward to a
very large reduction in the death rate Of
tuberculosis, if not to an eventual stamp
Ing out of this disease. The National As
ISOLATION, so long as it continues to attract
to itself the laity, will be building up pub
lie sentiment that will carry its program
through to successful issue. 1t will not
be unnatural II the first victories of this
campaign of education will seem of a ques-
tionabIe value.
AT first there will be an apparent in
crease in the death rate from tuberculosis,
following the observed facts, in some parts
of the country where this work has been
under way for some years. Then, a great
increase in registering cases will take place,
but these will be but additional encouraging
signs, for they will show that there Is be-
ing secured what is often so badly lacking
and what Is always essential to good work
along these lines, namely, q more careful
diagnosis of consumption by physicians
and an ability to detect it before it has adj
vanced to stage difficult to arrest"