The Washington times., 1908-09-29

That the annual toll OF tuberculosis
\ in the United States is 15s,O00 lives and
4 more than billion dollars in money.
I WAS the startling statement made this
/ morning by Prof. Irving Fisher, Of Yale
/ ~ iversity, before three hundred physi-
clans at the International congress OF
( tuberculosis.
/ Five million people in the United
/ States are doomed 70 nj consumptives'
/ graves unless something IS done to pre-
| vent it, he said.
| In six section rooms and in the big
I assembly hall at the new National BIu-
scum building, hundreds OF famous ply
+ sicians from all nations and from every
I part Of the United States gathered and
/ listened TO tie reading Of a score OF
papers, many OF them drawing forth
lively discussion and some variance or
I opinion
Discuss Many Subjects.
The subjects ranged over the entire
subject Of tuberculosis. in all its phases.
from the most abstrUse problems which
are confronting the seekers for a
SDeciic. 70 the questiOns with which
the sanitarians are 6e2ling IN their
every day battle against the spread
OF the disease.
each speaker characterized the meet
ings IN the section rooms. each dele
gate showing a willingness TO listen to
Z what HIS felIow-worker had 70 say, and
then, II he differed, he did not hesitate
10 say so
Prof Fisher, who is sn expert on
diet. read two papers today. IN the first
he brought out the startling statements
regarding the cost Of the disease, and
in the second he dealt with ''DIat in
/ Pulmonary tuberculosis" In the lat
ter he upset one OF the theories upon
which many sanitoria are now working.
that the victim OF the disease must be
satiatea with food. Contrary to the
general opinion. he believes that meat
and eggs should be eaten but sparingIy
by the cOnsumptive-
Cost Of Disease.
Prof Irving Fishers paper. pointing
out in startling manner the EreaC
cost Of the dread disease in lives and
money, attracted close attention.
According 20 Prof Fisher. the great
. white plague" costs. in hard cash. over
S1,O00O00060 year. He estimates that
consumption kills 1855 every year in
, the United States This is equal 20 the
{ deaths from typhoid fever. scarlet fever.
betes, smallpox. and cancer all put to-
gether. Then again. it generally takes
; three years 70 die, during which time
J the victim can earn little or nothing
Finally. the scourge picks out its vic
! Tins when they are young men and
= young women, at the very time they are
beginning 10 earn money The minimum
cost Of such stems as doctors bills. med
I icines, nursing. and loss OF earnings BE-
= fore death amounts 10 over s. 40 in
each case while the earning power
which might have been" II death had
not come brings the total cost 10 al
If this is multiplied by the 1SS. .Ooo
deaths. we find the cost IS bigger than
the almost incalculable sum of $1,000. .00o.-
90 Prof Fisher estimates that over half
/ OF this cost generally falls on the luck
less victim himself, but the cost 20 others
/ than the COnsumptive is over $40 ,O00, 90
Il would be worth while to the com
mUnltys he shows, in order 20 save
merely a quarter Of the lives now lost
by consumption, TO invest &,500.000. 600.
At present only a fraction Of / per cent
OF this money is being used 10 fight
: But an ounce Of prevention is worth
a pound Of cure, and Prof Fisher be
lIieves that Isolation hospitals for
iinCurable cases IS the best invest
ment of all. because in this way the
prevented from spreading the disease
/ by careless splitting in their homes
and neighbOrhOCd-
Prof. Fisher confined his paper 70
showing the cost in actual money, but
e pointed out that the cost in broken
4 hearts and disappointed lives. which
lCannOt be measured in money, Is
imuch more important Five million
= people now living in the United States
3 are doomed to Ill cOnsumptives'
, graves unless something is done 10
: prevent IL. As each death means
u anxiety and grief for whole family.
/ he estimated that there viii be over
4 10000, 900 persons rendered miserable
Z I by these deaths
II his paper on diet for consumptives.
Prof. Fisher said that many Sanatorfa.
e an over the world are beginning TO see
Y that .'stuiIinS-' the patient is not good
= for him This IS a reaction against the
extreme over-feednS, which has fattened
. corsurnptives like StrasburS geese-and
! perhaps had the same effect on their
livers II has made them look strong
but feel weak The reason so many
sanatoria and physicians are beginning
to realize this fact IS due, according 70
q Prof. Fisher, 10 the influence Of Prof
I { Chittenden, Of Yale, as we'll as TO
!