The Ordway new era., 1908-04-10
CONGRESS ON TUBERCULOSIS.
Great International Gathering to BE
Held at Washington Next Fall.

Congress on luDefCulOsls 10 Il" N''
of more than passing interest to TINS
country.
Very gradually science has extended
its SWAY over the ailments that N'N
the human body until even the worst
of the contagious diseases have been
brought under control. while others
like the Cnce-,lrcadcd smallpox. has
been all Tut eradicated. tuberculosis
is the last OF the infectious diseases III
which it las been been possible to dem
onstrato Il cure as possible. No SPECIFIC
has been found. but the application "'
the healing virtues of rest, good to""'
and "A life in the open air day ana h!Eht
in a suitable climate. have proven 'l.
fcCtive in restoring 10 health many per
sons for whom formerly there would
have been considered no possibI" nope
of "A cure The development OF the
sanaturium idea is u logical outcome
and this was followed by IN" iorina
tion Of a national association for me
study ami prevention Il. tuberculosis
lastly there have been formed stat" or
gauizations. subsidiary to IN" national
and International associations. all
working toward the one end, the pre-
ycutiOn and control OF tuberculosis.
one hundred and fifty thousand per
sons die each year In the United States
from this disease alone; an average "i
800 each day. II We were in the midst
OF a war thar sacrificed that many men
in battle IErrr would 20 up from all
over this land protest to terminal"
the fearful carnage so emphatic that
those in authority could not do other
wis, than heed But. We nave grown
aCcusl med to This rNaC'lnE toll Of III"
and iIa train OF attendant human mis-.
cry. even " hen its victims iall al IN"
age Of thelf greatest usefulness tn IN"
state. when their earning power is the
hiEhes' when they mean The most {"
their family and 10 the community AT
large. and when they have the most
to It's, lu- themselves
Tn, withdrawal from III" ranks "i
industry hy inyalidlsm and death dn"
10 tuberculosis represents a money loss
10 the United States ot over Sinn"n".
uUU per auuuW. an approximate loss ni
s. per year Tor every man. woman aua
child In tho nation or 81 pr. aunum
for the ay.-uu, family From an eco
uomic point uf view "" "ducai" chill.
drcn M luhlIr expense that they may
De OF cr .airr value 10 the S'aI" when
they attain to manhood and woman
hood. AMI NAV be- the better fitted 10
succeed ~ whatever line ul industry
they Chpas. TO take up. And vet. after
all the years spent in the public school.
the time spent on each one by trained
Instructors and tn" Wungy spent In
pcrfeCtinE this - stem Of education. ""
neglect - take ih" precautions that
Will insITo an adcGuai" return for this
lime and E.uucy spent. by our neglect
OF protective sanitary and hyEi"UiC
measures the ignorance and careless
ness that makes easy ths contracting
uf an iuSldIUUs. infectious diseas" like
tuberculosis \ business proposition
permitting sEch an annual waste either
In human life or money would net he
tolerated i0r a day. and prompt. effect
i've steps would b." taken tn correct tn"
condition that permitted such waste.
fulUcs@. The state is all Of us. and the
OrcliCally We strive to secure n" great
cs; good 20 the greatest number. This
nee less less Of life and economic
waste is pruyenIiblr. but the prevention
is not the work of any one individual.
nor even al association composed Of "a
few: II Is the work Of the state OF the
nation. Universal knowledge Of the
existence OC these conditions. OF the ab.
sulutC fact that threc-fourths Of the
deaths from tuberculosis are prevent
able. with a resultant saving Of millions
of dollars. must become general knowl-
edge throughout the country in order
TO insure success.
The spread OF tuberculosis is through
either 4 contaminated food supply. or
the inhalation of the germs Of the dis
ease 10 be found floating in the air, at
tachCd to minute particles OF dust
In the lungs OF most Ccnsumptives
there is process OF destruction taking
place all the time: the tissue broken
down by the action Of cle tuborClc ba-
Cilli finds its way into the brOnchi Of
the lungs. and is there couEhed up and
spit out. This broken down. waste ma
terial is loaded with millions of the
germs of tuberculosis. Most perish on
exposure % light, air and sunshine, but
large number on drying become at.
tached to particles of dust ami float
in the air subject to gusts Of wind and
the disturbance created by traffic,
ready to be inhaled by the passerby.
Breathed into the lungs they lodge in
air cells little used, and here multiply
rapidly and begin their work OF de.
struction that gradually spreads
throughout the whole body.
Some municipalities have laws that
prohibit sritting on sidewalks, in the
corridors of public buildings. public
conveyances and the like. In many in.
stances these laws are out poorly en-,
forced. Il at all. Due to the indiffer.
ence of officials and ignorance of the
infectious nature of the disease. that
Is almost criminal.
Associations. local. state and ma
tional, have been formed to correc,
these conditions. and to enforce laws
that will control the spread Of the in
lection. An international congress
with members in every civilized coun
try of the world. meets once in every
.