Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-04
Agreed as to Benefits From
tuberculosis Congress.
EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE
Best Results Will Follow Awaken.
ing to Danger.
GREAT GOOD DONE THIS CITY
Public Interest Stimulated in Cues
tons of Hygiene and Proper
Treatment of Consumptives.

Treatment of Consumptives.
AS to the general results of the tuber-
culosis congress the physicians in attend
ance and Washington physicians gener-
ally seem to agree that they will be great
est in their effect on the general public.
The prominent doctors connected with
the battle against consumption are
thoroughly pleased with the results of
this greet meeting. They feel that the
sessions have done more than those of
any pr vious congress to stimulate general
interest In questions of hygiene. sanata-
ton and treatment of tuberculosis pa
tents.
When questioned on his views DR..
George NJ. kober said:
The congress is SO close a hand and
have been so intimately connected with
the active work that it is hard for me
TO get a view in just proportions of all
that has been accomplished. I should
say however. that one of the most import
ant If not the most important thing in
connection with the work was the way
that public attention has been called to
the necessity for hygiene and santa
ton. 1t will give great stimulus to the
teaching of these subjects in the schools.
Education for the Public.
'Of course We know and have known for
a long time the predisposing causes OF
tuberculosis. bad SAINT attn, improper food
long hours and the like. but the present
meeting has turned the attention of the
public to those things and that is what
is needed. The playground idea is an
other essential feature that goes hand
in hand with preventive and curative
treatment"
Surgeon Cen Walter Wyman Of the
marine hospital service said:
"One of the greatest effects of the
congress will be In stimulating public In
terest in hygiene and sanitation. This
congress was better attended than any
previous one at which have been present
The papers read in section were of per-
manent value and the discussions almost
as much SO. When the proceedings are
printed it will make a great text book
that will be a standard Of tuberculosis.
Helped by the Press.
THE attention given to the congress
by the press was important for 1t is the
public that we need to reach and edu-
cate.
The visit of the President to the con-
gress was a very happy event and his wise
speech showing bis great personal interest
in the subject will do much to rivct the
attention of the whole world on the meet
ing and its conclusions. The whole thing
Is a great cause for encouragement to
those waging the fight against tubercu-
losis"
Former Surgeon General Sternberg of
the army said:
II thingh one of the most important
effects of the congress will be the edu-
cational influence Of the exhibits upon
the public In general"
Benefit ALI Mankind.
DR.. D. Percy Kicking. clinical profess
or of surgery of the Georgetown Univer-
sity and physician in charge of the
Washington Municipal Hospital, and who
is also chairman of the subcommittee on
membership of the tuberculosis congress,
of men who have been devoting their
energies to the suppression of tubercu-
losis. who have come from all parts of
the civilized world. will be Of the greatest
benefit to ali mankind. The Worldwide
physicians comprising the congress bring
with them not only results of laboratory
and pathological research upon the
human aspect of the disease, but they
confer with those who have been study
ing the destructive effects of the tubercle
bacillus upon animals, as we'll as the
effect in the causation Of the disease
among men.
They also brine to the attention of
the public the best methods of educating
the people against Sthe ravages Of this
disease. which will ultimately lead to its
entire eradication.
The immense amount OF material in
the form of papers. specimens and dis
cuSsiOns which have been brought before
the different sections of the congress
would seem to show that the successful
fighting OF the great white plague cannot
be obtained from the Laboratories or from
public sanitation. but must rest in the
homes and The environments In which
each individual case may be found
These startling facts seem to
show conclusively. not only death rate
which is equal to One-seventh of all the
deaths which occur throughout the civil
lied world. but for each death there actual
" exist at least ten cases of the disease
in its second stage. which is now known
to be its most fatal form
In addition TO this. the results which
come from'the examination Of bodies after
death would show that very few persons
reaching the age of forty years have
escaped infection from this disease
Recoveries Due to Timely Treatment.
These facts in my judgment" Dr.
H!cknng continued. show clearly that
the large percentage of recoveries is due
10. the good hygienie surroundings and
careful early treatment which large
number of cases receive. and that the
fatal cases. are only those which violate
the laws OF health and nae.-ct the first
stage which marks the early onset of
the disease. Therefore the environments
OF each case of tuberculosis can DE i'm
proved by the Intelligent and active work
of those who are brought in contact with
The sufferer.
The remedy VIII be found in the
knowledge or the people rather than In
the secrets OF the laboratories or special.
ISIS Therefore. educational methods are
Inc ones upon which we must depend for
the solution OF the tuberculosis problem
ana this is what the international con-
Sress has done and will continue 10 do
Publicity a Great Help.
DR.. William f. X. Phillips dean of the
George Washington University medical
department, said the greatest value to h.
derived from the congress is the general
publicity IL has given to the subject Of
tuberculosis and the public education that
will follow.
People who never knew what tubercu-
losis was now take all manner of precau-
tons against the disease because OF the
publicity given through the press which
is resu ting in the greatest good" DR..
Phillips said.
The congress is valuable" he contin-
ued, because ii gives men interested in
particular line Of work with which the
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