East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-07-03
CONGRESS ON
TUBERCULOSIS
INTERNATIONAL MEETING
TO BE HELD THIS FALL.
Preparations for the Gathering Are
Engaging the Attention OF Every
Nation In the Civilized World
World Campaign TO BE Carried ON
Against the Great White Plague.

The International Congress on Tu-
berculosis which is to be held In Wash
ington September 21 to October H.
meets every three years and this is
the first time It has come to this
country. The last meeting was held
In Paris, France In 1905, and three
years before that the gathering took
place In London. 1t Is not likely that
the congress will convene In the
United States for great many years,
as the honor of entertaining II Is eag-
erly sought by the countries abroad.
Preparations for the gathering are
engaging the attention OF every en-
lightened nation. The white plague
is no respecter OF persons or of races
1t is not limited to any quarter of the
globe, and the common ground on
which Europe, Asia and Africa and
North and South America are meet
ing, is the belief that this disease may
be brought under as complete control
as smallpox, plague. yellow fever and
wide-awake peoples. Committees OF
arrangements for the congress have
been organized In every foreign coun-
try, and In every state in our own
land. In every section, plans are be-
ing perfected for representation in the
congress. A number of the foreign
governments have already announced
to the state department at Washing
ton, the names OF their official dele
gates; while others have acquainted
the secretary general of the congress
with their plans for participation in
the congress and in the great exhibi-
tion that will be held in connection
with the gathering. The exhibition
and the congress are to be housed in
the National Museum. adjoining the
Smithsonian. The exhibition promises
To be practically a worlds fair on the !
subject OF tuberculosis. 1t will show |
what Is being done around the globe |
I'm the fight against tuberculosis, from |
Alaska down to the Cape of Good |
Hope. from the Steppes OF northern |
Russia to the diamond fields Of |
South Africa.
Every State Represented.
Every state in the Union is expected |
to be represented in some way at the
congress. The governors Of 40 states
have authorized the secretaries of the
state board of health. the heads of
institutions, or other officials. TO ar
range for participation in the gather
ing In a number of states, travelling
exhibitions that show the conditions
in the respective states. and the meas
ures that have been taken TO correct
them, have been on view in the home
states during the winter, and will be
displayed in the exhibition at the con-
gress in Washington.
In nearly all of the states that will
be actively represented the prepara-
tions for the congress have walked up &,
the people to do something definite
to improve local conditions. In Mich
igan, for instance. where particu- j
larly aggressive campaign is being {
carried on, they had Tag Day re- {
Gently to raise funds to defray the I
expenses OF the preventive work that
is to be done in Detroit There is
great need for some place in which {
consumptlves can be properly cared
for, and the women of the city adopt
ed the tuberculosis Tag Day idea as
means of naising money to maintain {
visiting nurses and to establish a SAN J
atorium. The city officials were
speedily won to the women's way OF |
thinking. They turned over the city q
government for whole day and the I
women had complete control of the I
situation. The men yielded graceful Z
ly. Mayor Thompson issued a proc @
lamation setting aside June 2 as "Tu-
berculosis Charity Day."
The White Death.
The BLACK Death" and the "Yel-
low Death" levied heavy tribute of life
in times past the mayor said, but the :
people took warning and learned to :,
them successfully Today 1t :,
Is the white Death" that is making :,
terrible ravages and that can be :,
fought with as great success.
The people have taken alarm, he
and are banding together
to make war upon it; and Detroit is
getting ready to do its share, The D
mayor followed up his proclamation a
by giving Mrs. w. A. McGraw, the
chairman of the committee OF women, u
4 huge floral key to the city. Next u
4 great mass meeting was held in the cl
Detroit Opera House. In preparation al
'or the real tagging, the city was d. W
;trlcted; some OF the members of the
committee with their associates were
placed In charge of each station and
sub station and on Tag Day every o.
body who came within hailing dis IN
ance was held up for a contribution. 81
apparently nobody refused, and every la
nan, woman and child who ventured c'
,ut on the street was tagged" in the Ia
rood of the cause. Something like ~
$4,000 was turned over to the tag
yers during the day, and this means
hat visiting nurses can carry comfort
o some of the sick consumptives in re
heir own homes and that start at IN
east, has been made for sanatori- A
I'm. sd
Interest in the international congress III
N tuberculosis is not confined to ply Di
icians. Every phase Of the scientific
tudy of tuberculosis as IL affects hui
nan beings will be discussed by ply "
icians, surgeons and specialists in sy
very field. But equally important or
'laces on the program have been as tn