Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1908-10-02
WILL FIGHT PLAGUE
GREAT GATHERING OF NOTABLE
MEN IN WASHINGTON.
FOES OF TUBERCULOSIS
Secretary cortelyou Opens the Con.
gross and Thirty Foreign SO.
cieties, Including Dr.. Koch,
Make Response.

one of the most notable gather.
ings ever assembled In the ma.
tional capital, when medical scientists
representing every civilized natl On
united with their brothers in America
In an effort to solve the problem Of
how best to cope with tuberculosis.
The occasion was the official opening
Of the sixth triennial international
congress on tuberculosis. ~
{. The great auditorium of the new Ma.
tional museum was filled with men
who have consecrated their best tai,
ents to the study of tuberculosis, rep.
resentatives Of the sovereigns Of for,
eign countries, high officials of govern
ment. The keynote Of every utter
ance reflected the hope that the day
is not far distant when medical
science shall triumph over the great
scourge.
Notable Men Present.
When Secretary Of the Treasury
Cortelyou, as the personal representa-.
tive of the president of the United
States, officially declared the congress
open, there were grouped on the plat
form such distinguished men as Dr.
Robert Koch, the discoverer of the
tubercle bacilli; DR.. A. Calmette Of
Paris, Prof. Bernard Bang of Den
mark, DR.. Arthur Newshole of London,
DR.. G. Sims Woodhead of Cambridge,
Eng: Or. Clemens Won PirQuet, Dr. II.
W. Philip of Edinburgh, founder of
the first tuberculosis dispensary;
Prof. l.. Landouzy, Dr. N. Tendeloo of
Leyden, DR.. Simon Won Unterberger,
honorary physician to his majesty's
court of st. Petersburg; DR.. Camilo
Callaja of Madrid and many others.
Among the members Of the diplomatic
corps present was WI Ting Fang,
the Chinese minister.
When DR.. Koch arose to respond in
behalf Of the German government
there was a remarkable demonstration
in his honor. men and women waving
hats and handkerchiefs for nearly five
minutes.
Welcomed by Mr.. corteIyou.
The official welcume on behalf of
the United States government was ex-
tended by Secretary Cortelyou. His
address evoked warm and frequent ap-
plause. Then followed the responses
of the official representatives of 80 for
eign countries. When his name was
called, DR.. Koch declared that the
German takes particular interest In
all that tends toward the solution of
the tuberculosis problem and that his
government would watch with the
keencst interest the deliberations of
this congress. The tuberculosis situa-
ton IN Germany, he said, has become
distinctly favorable during the past
three decades, the mortality from
tuberculosis in Prussia having been
reduced practically onehalf.
DR.. Jee, the Chinese delegate, de-
ciared that Notwithstanding tubercu-
losis has strong hold upon his coun-
try, his government was doing little
for the prevention Of this disease. He
expressed the hope that the next con.
gress would be held in China. At the
conclusion of the responses to Score.
AeAA WI tSiS ou . u'lu CSS lIC COuSIeSS
adjourned and will not again meet in
general session until October g. The
afternoon was devoted to the delibera.
tons Ct the various sectional meet
ings where number of addresses
were made.
Death Predicted for 100000.
Washington.-That 100000 people,
now living in the United States, are
doomed to fill consumptives' graves
unless something is done to prevent
it, was the startling declaration of
Prof Irving Fisher of Yale university
in an address on THE Cost of Tuber.
culosis" before the International Con.
gress on Tuberculosis Tuesday. Prof.
Fishers address, which was the fea.
ture OF the day, created a sensation
among the hundreds who listened to
his statements. 49,.
Prof Fisher further declared that
the $4,000 persons who die of con-
sumption annually in this country
cost, in hard cash, over $1,000. 900, 900
year. ~ ,....