The Washington times., 1908-08-25
WAGING CAMPAIGN
ON TUBERCULOSIS
International Congress on
Consumption VIII Convene
Here Next Month.

Every thirty-six minutes there is a
death from consumption In the State Of
New York" is the remarkable state
ment which viii appear on one Of the
charts to be shown in the New York
section OF the international exhibition,
which VIII be a feature of the Interna-
tional Congress on Tuberculosis, which
convenes in Washington next month,
until the time Of this Washington ex-
hibition this particular chart with many
others viii be shown by the New York
state Charities Aid Association at thir-
ty-six fairs to be held in all parts Of
the State.
Figures Surprising.
To many, the death figures given here
will be surprising and even startling.
The great majority Of people have no
conception OF the awful ravages Of this
disease. OF the sorrow. suffering.
misery. destitutiOn. and squalor that are
left in the tran Of the Great White
Plague" More profound still Is the
ignorance Of the nature OF the disease.
Believing and regarding 1t as hereditary
and incurable humanity has. from time
immemorial, suffered tuberculosis TO
rage unchecked, but now, however,
thanks 30 science, It has been known
Tor some twenty years that this plague
is not only not hereditary, but that IL
IS durable in the early stages, and most
important Of all, that it is preventable.
perhaps more so than any other germ
disease
To disseminate our present day knowl-
edge Of the means and methods Tor
checking and securing control over
THIS scourge, an educational campaign
was carried on in nine cities OF tii5
a CT ii
people living in the country should get
the message also; to them should be
impaired our Information about the dls-
ease, IoS though IL is not geneIdtly
known that IN the small towns and ru-
raj districts tuberculosis Is almost as
prevalent IA proportion TO the popuia-
uons as IL Is In the large cities, sun
such Is the case, however, as mas Deeh
determined from an examination OF the
vital statistics of all the towns and
villages of the State.
Crusade in Country
The county fairs offer a splendid op-
portunity OF reaching the people Of tho
rural districts. and Of bringing home
10 them the essential facts about this
disease. its nature, its extent, how it
spreads, how it may be cured and pre-
vented. over 100000 people, It is expect
ed, viii hear the gospel of the anti
tuberculosis crusade.
Each exhibit viii be made up Of maps,
charts, diagrams. models Of weli-lighted
and ventilated factories, together with
models of sweat shop WCrk-rOoms, and
dark, poorly ventilated bed rooms
where the consumption germ finds an
excellent breeding place. Pictures or
dispensaries, hospitals, ana sanatOria
where cOrsumptives are treated. radio
graphs and photographs of healthy and
diseased lungs viii be shown. Scores OF
short, terse, pointed texts VIII be dis
played about the exhibit
Nothing grues9ne or Objectionable has
been allowed 10 creep into the exhibits,
so no one need stay away on that ac-
count. The tone Throughout is opti-
mistic for IL has been felt that in a
great, tremendous campaign like this,
the greatest, perhaps. that evtr has or
ever viii be carried on by preventive
medicine, optimism is a prime Tequi-
site.
one of these travelling exhibits will
be a feature OF the world exhibition
20 be held at Washington.