The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-04-06
WAR ON CONSUMPTION.


Consumption is receiving nearly
one-half mile OF publicity a week. is
the unique statement which the Ma
tional Association for the Study and
Prevention OF tuberculosis Issues.
According to some recent statistics
complied by that body. the various
newspapers OF the United States
printed articles concerning tubercu.
losis. which. when measured. amount.
cd to over $4,000 column inches OF
space in two weeks.
The investigation which the Ma,
tional association conducted included
all OF the daily and weekly newspa-
pers throughout the United States as
well as some OF the larger journals
and magazines. In the two weeks
which were taken as a standard. Il
was found that 51,557 column inches
OF space wore devoted to the subject
OF tuberculosis. II all OF this matter
were gathered together at one time,
II would make newspaper the or
dinary size OF Ss9 pages printed solid,
without any advertisements, all on
the subject of tuberculosis. If 1t were
arranged In one long chain, 1t would
make single column OF matter four
hfths Of mile long and two and one
quarter inches wide.
Among the numerous agencies
which are today Joining In the fight
against tuberculosis, such as the
school, church and labor unions, the
press is In the foremost rank. Never
before In the history of American
journalism has the press taken such
lively and continued interest in a sub
1ect pertaining to human health. When
It Is considered that tuberculosis
alone kills nearly 100000 people in
the United States every year, and that
there are at the present time at least
100000 cases Of this disease In the
various parts of the United States. a
sufficient warrant for the activity of
the press is given.
Not only is the campaign being pro-
NOTED by the weekly and daily press,
but it has also been taken up by the
various magazines, weekly story pa
pers, trade journals. religious papers
and others OF a similar nature. Even
the foreign papers are Interested A
bulletin sent out recently by the Ma
tional association was printed In Eve
different languages. An instance of
the readiness to cooperate in the
noted in the experience of one prom
inent weekly journal which deyotes It.
self entirely to philanthropic and
charitable subjects. Seven years ago,
when this paper started to publish
items on tuberculosis, a number OF It's
readers considered 1t extremely bad
policy, because Of the apparent indif
ference and repugnance Of the sub
ject Today such articles are read |
eagerly and thoroughly.
The National association declares |
that consumption will never be wiped |
out until the prevalent ignorance con-
cerning this disease is overcome. To
combat successfully this lack Of knowl-
sdge, immense amounts of literature
,f various sorts are being distributed
Within a years time
thousands Of tons Of leaflets, agBre-
eating over one hundred million
pages. are distributed by the various
engaged In the warfare
against tuberculosis. But more than
all Of the individual agencies, the Ma
.ional association believes that the
press Is the greatest means of edu-
,ating the masses concerning this dis
,ase. II the present rate of interest
IN the part Of the newspaper world
1t is estimated that within
| few years every man. woman and
,hild In the United States will have
earned the simple doctrines OF tu-
,erculosis.