The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-01-08
TUBERCULOSIS CAMPAIGNS
GREAT PROGRESS.
more Work Done Last Year Than
Ever Before.


United States exhibits the most remark
able progress that any movement for
social betterment has ever shown in this
country. During the past year. the
amount of activity and the number Of
people who have been reached Wy this
activity has been far in excess of similar
work that has been carried on during the
four years previous
Measured by dollars, the campaign
against tuberculosis in the United States
during the year 1908, has cost well over a
million. Measured in the number of
workers, the campaign has enlisted hun
dreds Of thousands in its ranks. Measured
by the number Of institutions and organ
izations that have been established during
the year 1908, more work of this sort has
been accomplished than during the entire
period before Jan. of the year just
closed. For instance, before January I,
1905, there were only 10 dispensaries in
the United States providing special treat
ment for tuberculous cases Up to the
year 1908. this number had increased TO
slightly over 100. During the year 1913
alone, over 100 dispensaries providing
special treatment for tubercnlous patients
have been opened The number of
tuberculosis sanatoria and hospitals open
ed in the year 1908 is more than 80, a
figure which is four times that of the
amount of progress shown in this line in
any other year before 1908. The number
of associations having for their object the
study or prevention of consumption, es-
tablished during the year 1908, totals up |
to 100, which figure again is more than
the entire number which bad previously
been established in the United States.
But not only in the number of ins;i. |
tutions but also in the variety of people |
interested and in the increase in workers, |
can the progressed the anti.tuberculosis |
campaign be measured. Never before in
the history of the United States have SO
many movements cooperated aud alliedsto |
fight the common foe, the white plague
Never in any single year have so many |
different organizations and so many diff |
ferent ranks of people been stirred 10
activity in a meyement for the better
ment Of the condition of man, as during |
the year 1908. For instance, during The
past year from one end Of the country 10 /
the other, the labor unions aud working
men have been startled to realization of
the fact that consumption is disease
which affects them. and they have been
arming from east to west for the fight
against this common foe. Hand in hand,
the movement of the labor unions has
been the stimulus given to the clergyniar
and the churches throughout the country.
Never before have so many sermons on
tuberculosis been preached from the pull
pits of the various churches of The
country. The schools. too, have been
aroused both through special institutions
for the treatment of tuberculosis children
and by means of special instruction to the
children in the regular grades in the
schools. Hundreds OF children have been
instructed on the dangers of tuberculosis.
State Legislatures, government officials,
business concerns, factory owners, social
workers, men and women Of all sorts of
classes have during this past year been
aroused to renewed interest in the cam
paign against consumption.
OF the influences which have contribut
ed to produce this result, probably the
most weighty, has been the International
Congress on tuberculosis which was held
in Washington during the latter part of
September aud the first part OF October,
attracting, as it did, the attention of men
and women in every State in the Union.
Representatives were present from almost
every section of the country, and the
benefit derived from this inspiring gather
ing has doubtless given the greatest i'm
petus to activity in the fight against con-
sumption that this country has ever ex-
perienced. The National Association for
the Study ana Prevention of tuberculosis
by means of its constant propaganda and
its two travelling exhibits, has also helped
to contribute to the success of the CAM
paign. Particularly is this so in regard
to the work being carried on in the
South. The Red Cross Stamp Campaign,
with its rs. 900. 900 stamps, has been one
of the greatest mediums of education on
tuberculosis as well as means of raising
money that has ever been used in this
country.
The managers of the campaign against
tuberculosis are realizing that they have
a hard fight ahead Of them, aud every
means that will bring home to the
ignorant the gospel Of health is being
employed. It is safe to predict that with
Aha nrasank rate ef innraasa II, nnai.,ifs,