The Robesonian., 1908-11-19
THE CONSUMPTION FIGHT.
Record-Breaking Time Being
Made-An Institution Being
Established Every Other Day
in United Sites.

MaOe-An institution beng
Established Every Other Day
in United Sites.
oress service of the National Association for the
Study and Prevention of tuberculosis.
Every other day sees a sanato-
rum, association, or dispensary
for the treatment or prevention
Of tuberculosis established in this
country, is a statement issued
to-day by the National Associa-
ton for the Study and Proven
ton of tuberculosis. During the
of September and Octo-
Der, 16 associations, 10 sanatoria,
and 5 dispensaries were started
or provided for in the United
States, making a record of
in anti-tuberculosis
activity never before equalled in
any country Of the world. The
stimulus for this wave Of philan-
thropic endeavor has been deriv-
ed largely from the recent Inter-
national Congress on TuberculO-
sis.
From one end of the country to
the other, men and women of all
ranks and classes, are rising up
to fight in the battle against tu-
berculosis. Including the recent
ly formed societies, there are at
the present time, 211 associa-
tions for the study and preven-
ton of tuberculosis in the United
States, with a total membership
of over 10000, all engaged in an
active war on consumption.
Never before in the history of
the country, has such an army
been massed to fight against dis
ease. And, with the present
rate of increase sustained, it is
estimated that the army will be
doubled in size within a year
On January l, 1905, there were
in the United States only "a as
sociations for the study and pre-
vention of tuberculosis. By Jan.
uary 1, 1909, there will undoubt.
edly be 25O such associations, ar
increase of over 800 per cent.
The States which lead in the
number of associations are, Mas
sachusetts with 26, New Jersey
with 22, New York with 19,
Michigan with 16, and Pennsyl
vania with IA. Thirty-five OF
the forty-six States have one OF
more associations.
These associations are all phil
anthropic in organization, anC
are composed of physicians anC
laymen, both men and women.
who are anxious to see the num-
Der of deaths from tuberculosis
reduced. That such organiza
tions are Instrumental in saving
life, may be seen from the re
duced death-rates in severa
States and cities. In Boston
the death-rate was reduced from
| 21.7O to 18. 46 per ten thousand
largely through the efforts of thu
local association. In New York
it is estimated that the cam
paign against tuberculosis ha
saved to the city annually a
least 5000 lives. In Chicago, {
similar reduction in the numbe
of deaths from tuberculosis ha
been affected.
At the head of the great cam
paign being carried on through
out the country, is the Nations
| Association for the Study an,
Prevention of tuberculosis, wit
President Roosevelt as one Of it
heads and with nearly 200
members in every State. in tn
Union. Allied with the Nation;
body, are 27 State Associations
who are fighting tuberculosis
their various States. And unde
these State organizations, or il
dependent of them, there al
nearly 200 associations in tt
principal cities Of the country.
The increase in the number
sanatoria at the present time,
also particularly noteworth
since the need for beds for tube
culous patients is evident in e
cry State. There are, at Il
present time, $50 senatorial al
hospitals making special prov
ion for tuberculous patients, al
the entire bed capacity of all
these institutions is but Is, OF
When it is considered that the
are in the United States, at les
45O, 900 people suffering frC
tuberculosis, 1-3 of which nu
- Der ought to be in sanatoria
hospitals, the lack of proper /
- capacity is very evident.
g The dispensary movement, {
- of the later phases in the ar
tuberculosis campaign, is also
ceiving a great impetus. F.
I'd years ago, there were only
dispensaries in the United Stat
sc at the the present time, there
c., 165, and new ones are be
established at the rate of ont
week. These dispensaries
places to which anyone i
thinks that he has the disc;
may go and be examined
given proper advice and tr
ca ment free of charge, or for a Y
small sum. The emphasis
these institutions has been lai
a regular and sanitary life on
part of the patient, and on
sleeping in the open air.
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