New-York tribune., 1909-05-15
DIR. OSLER HOPEFUL
TALKS ON TUBERCULOSIS.
Tells of Ways to Fight Disease
Bruce and Cannon Speak.

Washington. May I-That tuberculosis is no
longer problem the doctors alone, that it will
probably take two three grenerations TO reduce
its ravages to the rate at which typhoid fever has
been regulated and that the public must be awak-
ened to greater sense of its responsibility in COM
batting the disease was the substance Of an ad-
dress by DR.. William Osler at a public meeting to-
day OF the National Association for the Study and
Prevention Of tuberculosis. Others who spoke
were Ambassador Bryce and Speaker Cannon both
of whom urged children's Fairgrounds as a means
of keeping them in the open air much as possible
DR.. Osler congratulated the association on the
work 1t had done, the three principal things accom-
pished having been. he said, the awakening OF
the public the loosenpg up Of the money bags OF the
legislatures and of phanthropic persons and the en-
listment of and who thoroughly In
earnest in the campaign. He dwelt at length On
the need of money TO carry on the work, ana
favored small subscriptions. ranging from 10 cents
to S. It was essential he declared, that the pub
lie should get in the habit Of contributing to so
great cause. One of the most important prob
lens in dealing with the disease. he said was i'm
proving the social condition Of the poor.
Three things remain TO be DONE, said DR. OslAT
The first is keep the public awake. the second
TO obtain more money. and the third 10 arouse the
interest IF more men and women, because the CAM
paign is one no longer entirely for the doctors"
Whether tuberculosis will be finally eradicated.'
he said, is open question. It is a foe that
is very deeply intrenched in the human race. Very
hard it will be to eradicate completely, but when
think of what has been done in generation,
how the mortality in many places has been reduced
than 80 per cent-indeed, in some places 100
per cent-it is a battle of hope. and so long we
fighting with hope the victory is in sight"
Ambassador Bryce praised the men of science,
because he said. they belonged to all the people
They more of a link and bond of union be-
tween peoples than even men of letters. because.
he said. there men OF letters who use
their pens not for the purpose Of promoting friend
ship, but rather for promoting suspicion and dis
trust between nations. He declared that no man
Of science ever used his efforts for any such un-
worthy purpose. There is of science
ne continued, feel that his duty is to
truth and humanity, and who does not feel in
spired with thought that it is for all humanity
that he is aboring.' He gavs statistics regarding
the campaign in Scotland and Ireland against
tuberculosis showing that the death rate had been
largely reduced. He paid high tribute to tho
medical officers Of the United States in stamping
out yellow fever in Cuba. and characterized it as
one Of the greatest of scientific achievements
Speaker Cannon in characteristic talk. aroused
the audience TO laughter when, turning 10 LIZ
Osier he said:
Or Osler I have reached the age OF sixty-one'
and shake my fist in your face"
DR. Osler laughed heartily this defiance of his
old age theory.
sneatinp seriously Mr. Cannon alluded to the
DAYS of his childhood when the science of medicine
was in its infancy, when bathtubs were almost
,nheard Of, and when the snow would sift throueh
the cracks Of the country home and cover 'no'e
living in bed before the time for rising. we hau
riant,, of fresh air then on the Wabash. ana
everywhere on the frontier before the rah'oauS
and We didn't have TO construct open porches' ne
said. He bade godspeed 10 the reclchl P'oie go,
for attempting TO prevent disease he favored
more Fairgrounds for children. but urged that 'ne
legislator be dealt with gently II ne dld not uo
everything that was wanted OF hlm' "heH YOU
consider that much of his time must be USED III
making an assortment of the truth from the pre-
tence.'' -, a..,o-
That there is a tendency to overrate the oaheet
-, ob,drer from milk from tuberculous catue WIS
the view expressed in paper by Drs' heiFS L.
x Shaw and Arthur T. Laird, OF Albany
1,,,a .o,,ou-,ns officers we're elected: President
Dr = G. Janeway New York; first vice-presioe"'
Dr Edward T Devne. New York; secohd VIC
,res,dept DR. Henry Sewall. Denver; secrelaLs'
= H., Rarton Jacobs Baltimore; treasurer Dr.
George NJ Sternberg. Washington; executive com
roittee Dr william IL Baldwin. DR.. herman NJ
piqgs Dr Edward T. Devtne. Homer folks Dr'
George NJ. Kober, DR. John II. Lowman' ana III
Joseph Walsh