The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-10-09
WORSE SCOURGE THAN WAR ;.
KILLS 6O,000EVERY YEAR
corteIyou Tells Doctors of the
Horrors of tuberculosis.
LEADS THE BUBoNIc PLAGUE
Roosevelt Regards the International
Congress as in the Interest OF
Universal Peace-Scientists As
sembled at Washington, ID. c.

Washington. D. tuberculosis
in the last four years has caused more
than three times as many deaths in
this country as occurred in action and
from wounds during the Civil War.
The statement was made By George
B. Cortelyou. Secretary of the Treas
ury. in officially welcoming. in the
name of President Roosevelt, the del
egates to the sixth triennial Interna-
tional Congress on tuberculosis, in
the National Museum. Mr. Cortelyou
said:
ESPECIALLY am I commissioned by
TIE President 70 assure the delegates
from foreign lands that orr neonle
gratefully anrrecia e not only the in
te-ost but the spirit Of cordial good
will which their governments have
shown and which their presence here
testifes.
The menace Of tuberculosis from
a. economic standpoint is demonstra-
he in many ways 1t is remarkable
that yellow fever. notwithstanding
the many ranics it has produced, has
not caused in the United States in the
past lis years as manv deaths as
occurred last year from tuberculosis.
From figures given by the United
States II is estimated that since the
year t792 there havs been approx
mately 100000 deaths from yellow
fever whereas tuberculosis is esti-
mated to have caused 100000 deaths
last year alone. The mortality of
tuberculosis Is furth 81 emnhasized
when compared with the bubonic
plague in Irdia. which has not. since
its first outbreak in 1896. caused as
manr deaths in that country in pro-
portion to the population as were
caused by tuberculosis in the United
States during the same period
Statistics show that tuberculosis
in the last four years caused more
than three times rs many deaths in
this country as occurred in action and
from wounds received in action dur
ing the entire period of the Civil War
The above facts are of great sig
nificance and have contributed to
better understanding of a need of pre-
ventive measures. These congresses
have az the came time contributed to
a saner attitude with respect to the
victims nf the disease. its contagious
ness and the method OF dealing with
II.
we can hardly overastimate the
importance of such international
medical congresses. This congress
in its several sessions has simulated
the crusade against tuberculosis in
England, Germany, France and Italy.
in each of which countries it has been
held, and from these countries it's
influence has been extended in great
er or less degree to many others. In
our own country the necessary prep
arations for this gathering have al
ready had most wholesome effect in
awakening interest and enlisting sup
port in every State of the Union.
In his letter to DR.. Flick, accept
ing the presidency of this congress,
President Roosevelt emphasized this
aspect of the conference in these
words: The International Congress
on tuberculosis is in the interest of
universal peace. BY joining in such
a warfare against 4 common foe the
peoples of the world are brought
closer together and made to better
realize the brotherhood of man. for
united interest against a common foe
fosters universal friendship.