Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-02-08
Joint Session ofLegislature was Held
to Hear Addresses

ST IN THE NOTWITHSTANDING
e ENSUING YEAR-APRA 80 HAS
RcULosls SUNDAY IN THE STATE
| ate only wholesome food, and much tc
his surprise found that lie was gaining
in strength and weight, and was becom.
ing cured of the disease. In the winter
of 1894 he built 4 cabin in which tc
spend the winter, despite contrary ad.
vice from physicians, and demonstrate
ed to the world that cure could be
effected. In time outdoor treatment
was adopted generally to cope with
this disease.
The speaker also told of the new so
cial problems which have arisen and
of the laws. of restraint that have beer
passed in some States These have hdt
a salutary effect upon the conditions
of those having tuberculosis Throughout,
the country. Their good has resulted
principally through tile education OF
the masses, as practically the only
good the laws do is to call the attention
of the public to their provisions.
Need for Legislation.
I'm Our own state little or nothing
has been done to check this CROWN,
diseases, and it goes on uninterrupted
Out of every 100 deaths in the state OF
North Dakota, ten people die of tn.
berculosis and this condition is due in
no small measure to the almost crimi-
nal neglect of the law-making bodies,
whose principal duty is to look aftc,
the welfare Of the people. The legisla-
ture is too busy appropriating money
looking after the health of glandered
horses, tubercular cattle and sheep,
and has done little for the afflicted
men and women and children"
The speaker concluded his remarks
with an appeal for more legislation
looking for the betterment of the public
health.
Dr.. Grassick introduced
DR.. Grassick of Grand Forks, super
intendent of the state board of health,
was then introduced, and told of some
of the things that the board had been
doing in anti-tuberculosis work. He
said
"'lhe question of tuberculosis is one
OF the live questions of the day. 1t has
been stated that tuberculosis is one of
the most deadly diseases. That is so.
But it is also one of the most durable.
Ninety per cent of the people who
die have been found to have been af-
hicted with tuberculosis in some form
at some time. Only ten per cent of the
deaths have been attributed directly to
this disease, however, and therefore
there have been eighty per cent of these
cases have been cured. 1t is with the
other ten per cent that we have to
deal.
at has been learned that eighty-fve
per cent of this ten per cent can live
Since 1882, when DR.. Koch discovered
the bacillus tuberculosis, a method OF
treatment has been discovered which
has revolutionized the number of cures.
The speaker then told of the work
that has been done in European coun-
tries and also i'll this country. in re-
ducing the death rate from this dis
ease. In the United States since 1882
the death rate from tuberculosis has
been reduced over 40 per cent. There
is no reason why in twenty years the
death rate in the United States can.
not be reduced over fifty per cent. This
may be accomplished in two ways:
How to Reduce the Death Rate.
l. The education of the masses as to
the cause. preventability and durability
|of the disease.
2 The establishment of sanitoria
These sanitoria have two-fold object
(a) They take the unfortunate pa
tients and cure them.
CD The dissemination of knowledge
by those who have been cured.
These two methods working together
will i'll time eradicate the disease.
Dr. Grassick then briefly told of the
organization of the North Dakota Anti
Tuberculosis association at Bismarck
two years ago, Of its raising funds by
the sale of Red Cross stamps and seals.
He also told of what the association
had accomplished with the small amount
of funds at its disposal. 1t has distri-
buted throughout the state over 50, 1000
pieces of literature bearing upon the
anti-tuberculosis work. It sent letters
to seven hundred ministers containing
outlines of an anti-tuberculosis sermon
and $50 of the ministers responded to
their request, thereby reaching over
Is. 900 people. At these meetings other
literature was distributed, thereby
reaching an additional $1,000 people.
And the association has in view other
work of a similar nature.
Governor eurke's Remarks.
Governor John Burke, who has been
one of the firm friends of the anti
tuberculosis movement in the state, was
introduced at the conclusion of DR..
Grassick's address.
The governor said that he wanted to
give word of encouragement to this
great movement which was spreading
throughout the state and nation. He
called attention to the fact that con-
servation was the keynote of the pres
ent day.
Conserve the People.
But of what use," said the governor,
is the gold in the mountains, the iron
in the hills, or the timber in the for
ests, unless we have healthy people to
populate them? The greatest conserya-
ton is the conservation of the people.
Whatever may be said against them,
the doctors have certainly done a great