The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1909-01-28
TUBERCULOSIS MEET
Convention Held In Charlotte
Organize for determination
PLAN A VIGOROUS WARFARE
Assembled to Make War on the Great
White Plague,-TubercuIosis, its
Prevalence, Costliness aud Fatality
Remedies Pointed Out.

North Carolina Convention for the
Prevention of tuberculosis, assembl-
ed. After the preliminaries were
done in due form the doctors plung-
ed into their subject with great earn
estness and zeal. Space will per-
NIT of only the gist Of the arguments
in favor Of a vigorous warfare
against the "great white plauge."
DR.. J. P. Monroe said Tuberculosis
is the greatest enemy of modern peo-
ole and that it must be exterminated.
He held out hope to the afflicted that
cures are possible.
DR.. Harper said that it is esti-
mated that tuberculosis fatalities ex-
coed those of war, famine, plague
cholrea, yellow fever and smallpox,
all combined.
It was set forth that even in our
own nation $50 people die daily of
the disease and that North Carolina
shares only too fully in the proper
ton.
Its courses are understood to be,
hereditary tendency, lack of suffci-
ent clothing, living in infected houses
(which should be disinfected) lack of
ventilation, lack of cleanliness, un-
sanitary environment, lack of
proper food, etc., which can
be summed up in the term, Ignorance
on the part of the people as to the
nature of the disease and the means
of prevention and cure of it.
Poverty was given as a cause and
a result of the malady.
The cost of the dread disease as
brought out is an eye opener. When
it is considered what is the average
earning capacity of victims, together
with costs of treatment while linger-
ing, an average estimate of $4,000
each is placed. Probably 100000
people die in the United States every
year of this malady. Thus $1.600,-
100000 worth of productive energy
is cut off from our nation every year.
The remedies advocated So unani-
mously and forcibly are popular edu-
cation on the subject, means of treat
ment Of patients and power to en-
force laws Of health.
To educate the people DR.. Williams
advocated a small, well bound, neat
book Of about so pages, composed
in readable, attractive style, also a
smaller printed pamphlet as we'll as
other forms OF literature. These
should be gotten up by the legisla-
ture and distributed by county CO.
operation. These books should be
taught in the schools, the teacher
having had suitable training, and
also frequent lectures should be de-
hvered IN the schools on the subject.
Hospitals, sanitariums and colonies
seem to be the means of treatment
for infected. These, it was set forth,
should be maintained partly at least
by taxation in order that no ono
would wait too long to apply for
help through a feeling Of dependency
but could claim it as a right.
To any objection on the score Of
eostllness is rebutted the immense
loss now sustained by the ravages Of
the disease.
A city like Wilmington it was es-
tlmated, would have about 80 deaths
agar. The cost Of the sickness and
death, together with the earnings Of
these persons in normal conditioi
and average life being about $4,000
would bring the city'g loss up to
$4,000 annually. 1t is estimated
too, that in a hospital or sanitarium
at a cost of SITS, the average life
Of the afflicted would be heightened
by ten years.
It is a recognized fact that there
are those who would not submit tC
laws Of safety to their fellow mer
such as burning all sputum and tax
ing treatment where such could eff
fectually benefit them and be 6
means Of safety to others. In sucl
cases law and its proper execution
was thought a necessary expedient.
Among contributors Of papers, etc.
were DR.. I. W. Faison, Charlotte; Dr.
J. F. Brooks, of Aberdeen; DIR. Will
liam NJ. Jones. of High Point; DR.
s. Westry Battle. U. S.. n, DR.. W. J
NcAnnallv, of High Point; DR.. A
J. Crowell, of Charlotte; DIR. Jane
A. Burroughs, of Asheville; D1
Charles T. Harper. of Wilmington
DR.. John Roy Williams. of Green's
boro; DR.. W. \. Lambeth, of tn
University of Virginia; DR.. Charlie
H. Minor, and DR.. Paul Paquin, o
AsheviIIe.
What the Convention Was.
1t was not ii doctors convention
The doctors were the leaders an
teachers, bat the membership of III
North Carolina Society for the Pre-
vcntlon Of tuberculosis is made u
OF all the citizens in the State VIII
want to see the determination of Tu
berculosis and will band themselve
together and give a little time an
MONEY to carry on the war. Th
membership fee is $1.00 per year an
every citizen Of the State should b
enrolled. Send your name and gil
TO DR.. c. A. Julian, Thomasvill'
n. C..
Four Articles in It's Greed.
l. tuberculosis is our create: