The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1908-10-08
WASHINGTON letter.
dSHIHS UUH uOUUO1'
(From our regular correspondent.)

Congress which is in session in
Washington is likely to have wide
influence in this country on the war
against the dread disease. So re-
cent is the discovery of tubercular
bacilli that there is not man pres
ent at the Congress but who well re-
members it's entire history DR..
Koch, who was the original discov-
erer, is himself present. Notwith-
standing the fact that the progress
in eliminating the disease is consid-
cradle, as shown by the exhibits of
all nations on view at the Conven-
ton, as compared with the work yet
to be done it is trifing Some start
ling figures given by Prof Irving
Fisher of Yale at one of the sessions
demonstrate the immensely of the
task still before the profession and
should prove an awakening to the
public of the necessity of wide and
concerted effort of all classes if the
white plague is ever to be eradicat-
ed.
Prof. Irving has gathered stats
tics which show that consumption
kills $4,000 persons in the United
States every year. This is equal to
the deaths from scarlet fever, ty
phoid, diphtheria, appendicitis, men
nights, diabetes, smallpox and can
Ger all put together. AS it takes
about three years for the disease to
run it's fatal course he estimates the
minimum cost of the items of doc
tors bills, medicines, nursing and
loss of earnings for each victim at
$24 90, while the possible earning
power if life were not cut short is
put at eight thousand. If this is
multiplied by $4,000, the number
of those afflicted, it reaches the al
most incalculable sum of $1,000
100000. He calculates that of this
amount four thousand millions fail
en- the family, friends, or physicians
of the victim and concludes by as
sorting that if one quarter of the
lives are to be saved it would be nee
essary to invest five billions of dol
lars. Less than one per cent. of
this money is now being used for the
purpose. In preparing this coldly
statistical review of the loss in dol
lars and cents the professor does not
forget to mention the more import
ant cost in broken heal is and disap-
pointed lives which cannot be meas
ured. Five million persons now in
the United States are doomed to fill
consumptives' graves unless the cru
SADIE can be made more effective.
In another papet on the diet for
consump!ives he upset one Of the
theories upon which many sanatoria
are now working, namely, that the
victim of pulmonary tuberculosis
must be fed and over fed and stuffed
like Strasburg geese. From the
experiments of Professor Chitten-
den of Yale, who has demonstra' ed
that athletes have greater strength
and endurance when taken off of II
meat aud egg diet, he has proved TO
his own satisfaction that consump-
tives do best on a moderate diet of
non-proteid foods.
The agreement between this coun-
try and Great Britain that letters
to England, Ireland, Scotland, and
Wales will need only two-cent
stamp instead of fve-cent as here
tofore went into effect Thursday.
At present the new rate of postage
applies only to the British Isles but
eventually it may extended so as to
include all of the British possessions
and it may be that in few years
one may send letters to South Afri-
ca or India for the same postage
that is required for letter to be
delivered in ones home town. The
remarkable reduction in rates was
agreed upon between the two ma
tions as the best means of promot-
ing commercial and friendly relations
between the United States and
Great Britain and it is quite certain
that before long Germany. France
and Italy will be asking for SINH
lar arrangement with regard to let
ter mail in those countries. Post
master General Meyer is entitled to
most of the credit for the change.
Whenever you have cough or cold,
just remember that Foley's Honey and
Tar will cure il. Do not risk your
health by taking any but the genuine
1t is in a yellow package
T. A. Hulett, S. Londonderry; C. L.
Burbank. Bondville
Badly Cut by Broken Carboy'
A serious accident occurred at the
store of the Burlington Drug Co.
Friday when Joseph Cote was bad
ly cut by q broken carboy Cote