Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-28

knowledge on the subject and is furnish
ing us with most valuable data.
Congress has provided for the estab-
l1shment of a hospital in the District of
Columbia for the treatment Of INDECENT
persons suffering from tuberculosis. The
Fifty ninth Congress during It's first ses-
sion made provision for an investigation
as to the prevalence of tuberculosis
among the Indians and the desirability of
| establishing sanatoria for the treatment
of Indians afflicted with tuberculosis.
Legislation, by States.
THE legislatures Of number Of the
states have, within the past five years,
provided for the creation of state commits
sions for the purpose Of making investiga-
tions as to the extent Of tuberculosis
within the state, and the best means Of
prevention and treatment. especially with
| reference to the establishment of sana
| toria. These provisions have in a num-
| Der of instances resulted. in the establish
ment Of state senatorial for the treatment
| of tuberculosis. In several notable in
stances men Of large means and wide In
Huence have lent their support to the
| movement. On the whole. 1t may be
stated that the people of the United States
are keenly interested. and vast amount
of work has already been accomplished.
which, in amount and character, COM
pares favorably with that Of other coun-
| tries.
referring now to the movement at
| large, the International congress on tu-
| berculosis, held in Berlin May, 1890, was
| the first one held with general interna-
| especial value because of its stimulating
influence and the fact that 1t publicly
| represented the Endorsement of govern
| ments of the work. This Berlin congre ss
and the peace conference at The Hague
were the most notable events of that year.
| The former must be considered the more
important of the two. inasmuch as its ef-
forts were directed against an ever-present
enemy of mankind. while war is only an
unfortunate incident in the history Of ma
| lions.
THE menace Of tuberculosis from n.y.
gienic and economic standpoint Is de-
| monstrable In many ways. 1t is remark
able that yellow fever, Notwithstanding
the many panics 1t has produced. has not
caused in the United States in the past
115 years as many deaths as occurred last
year from tuberculosis. BY figures given
for the United States. 1t is estimated that
proximately 100000 deaths from yellow
| fever, whereas tuberculosis is estimated
to have caused 100000 deaths last year
alone. The mortality of tuberculosis is
further emphasized when compared with
| the bubonic plague In India. which has
not. since its first outbreak In 1885, caused
as many deaths in that country in proper
tion to the population as were caused by
| the same period.
Record Of Death.
Statistics show that tuberculosis in the
past four years caused more than three
times as many deaths in this country
as occurred In action and from wounds
received during the entire period of the
civil war.
THE above facts are Of great signih-
canoe. and have contributed to q better
understanding Of the need of preventive
| measures. These congresses have at the
same time contributed to a saner atti-
tude with respect to the victims Of the
disease. its contagiousness, and the meth
cd Of dealing with it.
portance Of such international medical
congresses. This congress In its sew
eral sessions has stimulated the crusade
against Tuberculosis In England, Germany,
| tries 1t has been held. and from these
countries its influence has been extended
In greater or less degree to many others.
| In our own country the necessary prepa-
had a most wholesome effect In awaken
ing interest and enlisting support in every
state of the Union. The creation Of state
committees for representation here has
encouraged the organizations in each
state. and the work already accomplished
by the more active will prove an incen-
tive and encouragement to those who be-
cause of this meeting. for the first time
are impressed with the necessity for AMIR
native and effective action.
"But, as In all such International meet
ings, there Is another aspect which is also
important. and that is the good that re-
suits from bringing together from all
parts Of the world for the interchange OF
views the leaders in such a crusade. You
meet upon common ground. You touch
elbows in a common cause. II there are
any small differences of opinion they dis
appear In the broad discussion Of themes
that enlist q common sympathy and sup
port.
I'm his letter to DR.. Flick. accepting
the presidency of this congress. President
Roosevelt emphasized this aspect Of the
conference in these words:
The International congress on tubercu-
losts is in the interest Of universal peace.
BY joining In such warfare against a
common foe the peoples Of the world arc
brought closer together and made to bet
ter realize the brotherhood OF man: for q
united interest against common foe fos-
tere NniXarsai friandahip. Our country