Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-09
SUMS UP YEARS WORK
Association for Prevention of
tuberculosis
SUBMITS ANNUAL REPORT
Campaign of Education Among
Young People of Washington.
LECTURE COURSE BY NURSE
Distribution Of Literature-Books
Supplied to Schools-Home and
Dispensary Rules.
LECTURE COURSE BY NURSE

in all directions OF the city In a concert
ed effort to control and eventually STAMP
out the dread white plague" In addi-
tion to caring for patients already affiict-
ed with the disease the association has
instituted a campaign OF instruction
among the younger generation and 9TH
ers. and the results so far have been
very satisfactory.
Briefly summarized the work OF the as
ISOLATION accomplished during the year
may be classed under the following diff
ferent heads:
Supported a dispensary for the exami-
nation and treatment of tuberculosis.
Helped to support two nurses who gave
their entire time to visiting tuberculosis
patients.
y Maintained tuberculosis class. which
! received its financial support from the
Church Of the Covenant.
introduced nurse into the public
schools who lectured on tuberculosis &c
: the children of the fourth grade and over
Arranged 26O lectures and distributed
1900 leaflets giving information and In
struotion concerning tuberculosis.
Placed 5000 primers" on tuberculosis
in the public schools as text books. AND
supplied the books to other cities desiring
to use them in the schools.
Discussion of Conditions.
In speaking of tuberculosis conditions
generally, among the white and colored
races OF the city. and the value of edu-
cational campaigns to the rising genera
ton, Gen. George NJ. Sternberg. president
of the association: says:
There Is a. decided reduction in the
mortality among the white population of
the city in every five-year period since
1850. and less notable reduction
among the negro population since 1880.
nNA~ toll
. ity along the colored people Is due TO
greater susceptibility of this race.
The difference Is probably largely due
to insanitary housing CONDITIONS. disslpa-
} ton. insufficient nourishment and other
factors which prevail to greater extent
among this class of the community than
among the whites. Ignorance and poverty
are the most potent allies Of the tubercle
= bacillus. and in order to accomplish Inn
portant results in the way of prevention
il will be necessary to carry the cam
paign into the siums of the city.
ITO educate the adults in this class
OF the population is difiicult matter,
but the children are compelled to attend
the public schools and they should there
be taught the essential facts with refer
ence to the cause, prevention and cure
of this disease, which continues to claim
In the city of Boston the reduction
: in mortality from consumption during the
!. past thirty years has been more than JO
per cent. There has also been very
notable reduction elsewhere in this coun-
try and in various parts of Europe.
I'VE are therefore justified in express
ing the belief that this enemy of the human
, race may ultimately be conquered. The
practical extinction Of tuberculosis should
be the work of the twentieth century, and
largely of the present generation. BY the
united and persistent efforts OF the edu-
Gated classes this may, no doubt, be &C
complished."
Importance Of Education.
In the opinion OF the officers OF the as
ISOLATION. the educational work is prob
ably the most important of all the labors
undertaken. from the fact that the anti
tuberculosis propaganda spread about the
city reached persons who would not
otherwise become familiar with the dis
ease unless they be stricken themselves.
and learn of its dangers during treat
ment. The educational campaign reaches
the younger generation in which lies the
hope for the future of a successful bat
tie against the disease. The work also
does untold good in the matter of pre-
caution and proper methods of living.
One of the notable features of the edu-
cational campaign is the lecture course OF
an association nurse in the public schools.
These lectures are twenty minutes long.
fifteen minutes being taken up with the
minutes devoted to answering questions
from pupils. The following day the chill
dren lectured to are required to write an
essay on what they remembered of the
lecture.
= This particular work was first under
8 taken the latter part of the school term
OF the last year. and carried on only In
the colored schools. Its success was SC
pronounced that the course will be con-
tinued this year in all the schools.
A specimen. of an essay on one OF
these lectures written by colored school
child in the lower fourth grade is con-
tanned In the report.
&, Distribution Of Literature.
Other features of the educational work
consists of the distribution OF primers
among the school children. public lee
lures and the circulation OF anti-tuber-
culosis literature. The primers are de-
signed for children above twelve years
Of age. and were written by a profess
sional member of the association. These
hooks are also supplied to schools In
other cities upon application.
In the general distribution of the anti
tuberculosis literature local agencies OF
three industrial life insurance companies
offered their aid. and through the medium
were placed i'm communities where they
would do the greatest good.
In the dispensary treatment Of tubercu-
losis patients the association has its own
dispensary at 1913 III street. and works
In conjunction with similar dispensaries
at the Casualty. Emergency, Georgetown
and Homeopathic hospitals. The city
In divided into Ave sections. with a dis
pensary In each. and all tubercular pa
tients coming under the direction Of the
association report to the dispensary near
est their place Of abode.
>. Work Of the Dispensary.
The report declares that a large part
OF the work among tubercular patients
must be done in the home. and to fur
Their the ends of treatment advised at the
dispensaries nurses are employed and
visit the homes regularly. Necessary
medicines. emulsions. bedding. clothing
food. car fare and sanitary improvements
are furnished when the means OF the
patient are lacking. The number of visits
paid TO the dispensary of the association
for the year was 1.949; number of new
cases at the infirmary for the year, 357
and 2O6 cases were diagnosed as not tn
berculus.
Eighty-three patients discontinued theil
visits to the dispensary during the year
either through removal to hospital oil
because OF death. The number Of visits
paid by the associations Nurse for tho
year were 9.114. There were SIS nurse
cases for the year and 1S3 deaths re
ported. OF a large number OF prem
ises examined by the nurses. 2O6 were
reported TO the health department fol
fumigation.
For patients who are looked after IN
their homes a relief fund has been SCI
aside from which all manner of relic
. items are paid for. even to furnishing
cash when the patients are compelled Il
give up employment to undergo treat