Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-20
The White Plague Campaign.


paisn which is getting under way against
consumption will Danish from the world
the white plague, just as the black plague
the red plague and the yellow plague
have been extirpated where people Cd
serve common sanitary laws.
AS the date approaches for the opening
of the International tuberculosis congress
It has been Interesting to follow the pro-
ceedings at Dublin of the British Asso-
citation for the Advancement of Science.
tuberculosis, human and bovine, was the
chief topic of discussion. Much was also
told Of the work done and doing by the
Womans National Health Association
founded by Lady Aberdeen. Both these
organizations are pressing the war
against consumption In various ways and
each acts on the assumption that vast
deal Of the consumption from which the
world suffers is communicated to the hu-
man race through tuberculous beef and
milk.
At the annual conference Of the British
Sanitary Inspectors Association at Liver
pool the prediction was made by Sir
James Crichton-Browne. the president,
that within thirty years tuberculosis in
The campaign against the scourge must
be pressed in America with system and
ardor. The work must not be left to
physicians. physicians societies and the
medical journals. All organizations of
men and women should enlist for the
war. One hundred thousand persons die
in the United States every year from
tuberculosis. An enemy that Stays 100000
human beings a year Is everybody s
enemy.
There is no reason why the ministers
throughout the country should not help
along the campaign of education. They
have the influence and could do valiant
work. All human organizations-fratern
organizations, charitable organizations,
legislative bodies, commercial clubs. wo-
mems clubs, farmers Institutes and
oranges and the public schools especially
could help further the good cause.
The health movement has already made
favorable advance and win gather I'M
petus as the public become enlightened
and take hold. In the District Of Column
bia the anti-spitting ordinance was a step
in advance. A few years ago splitting in
cars was a common practice. Now this
and when committed the offender is apt to
be punished. Sidewalk splitting has not
altogether gone out of fashion with a
certain class Of men, but the practice is
being restrained.
The room or house in which a consump-
tive dies Is now fumigated by the health
authorities. A public sanatorium for
tuberculosis patients has been erected.
Popular lectures have been given in a
way to reach classes that even the press
does not reach. The open air and high
feeding treatment has been given wide
publicity among people who read and
without question has saved many lives.
Penal and eleemosynary institutions take
such precautions and administer such
treatment as they can. With the recogni-
ton that tuberculosis Is an infectious
germ disease and not mysterious and
necessarily mortal hereditary disease an
immediate advance was made.
In the neighboring states of Maryland
and Virginia the intelligent people are
awake and the others are being aroused.
Maryland has an effective tuberculosis
commission and also a law requiring the
ferers from the disease.
Under the administration Of Gov. Stuart
the Pennsylvania legislature appropriated
81 100000 for the establishment of sana-
toria and dispensaries and the state has
entered On vigorous work against the
plague. In most of the American states
the authorities are treating this question
as one Of supreme Importance.