New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-31
FIGHTING WHITE PLAGUE
Progress Reported to Anti
Tuberculosis Organization.
COSTS OF DISEASE HEAVY
It's Eradication Declared To Be a
Work in Which Laymen
Must Take Part.

Washington, May 3o-Steady progress In
the nationwide battle against the great
white plague was shown to-day In the
papers read at the opening sessions of the
annual meeting Of the National Association
for the Study and Prevention Of Tubercu-
losls. Many distinguished physicians and
scientists were present
! Professor Irving Fisher Of Yale, who
spoke before the sociological section, est-
mated that the annual actual monetary los:,
to society from tuberculosis, without count
! ing the losses to the victims of the disease
themselves, exceeded $500 900 a year. The
! figure for this social loss would reach at
least $50, 900. He added
!. II in the same way we calculate the losses
! to the victims themselves, including losses
before death and the capitalized earning
| power cut of by death, we reach stu
| larger sum. making the total loss Wen
above A billion year. These cold calcula-
| tons take no account, of course, of the fact
that mans own life is worth more 70 him
| than the earnings he expects 1t to bring,
and that the loss OF monetary support IL
! rot the CHIEF loss which widows and or
phans suffer from the death of loved hns-
! band and father Nor does the calculation
/ take any account of the impairment Oh
working efficiency in the years preceding
| the breakdown from tuberculosis.
Professor Fisher said that about $1,000,
000 a year was now being spent in lighting
! tuberculosis in the United States, and when
several times this amount was Invested
! the beginning of the end OF the great White
plague might be expected.
Frederick l.. Hoffman. OF Newark. y. j..
described the treatment and care Of tuber-
culous wage earners in Germany and
IA. efforts I'm their
behalf had greatly reduced the death rate.
| The good work Of the East River Homes
Foundation. established in New York
through the generosity Of Mrs. William Is.
Vanderbilt. sr.. for the prevention and cure
OF tuberculosis was explained by Or. Henry
, l.. Shively. Of New York
! In a paper read before tho advisor ccun-
| ell Of the association, Or. Charles o. Proost,
cx-state health officer of Ohio. advocated
official control or tuberculosis by national
/ state and municipal authorities. Its cradi-
cation. he declared should b" considered
q governmental problem.
| Colonel j J.. Ludlow Of Wiuston-Salem.
/ y G.. discussing the share Of the layman
/ in the auti-tubcrculosis campaign. said:
Tho degree of prevalence 80 tuberculosis
| in a community or city does not meaSur"
/ m" standard ot medical practice But, IT
Is a correct and infallbl" index 81 tho
| private and public hy2ienic habits and con
! ditlons Of ~" community. II ~ the disease
! barometer OF wrong living and drfcCuN'
| sanitary environment only 20 small de-
| gree MAY ", hop" tur It's solution by t''
| physician or by the most aggressive pubic
! health officers without the dctiv" co-gpcra
! ton and support ~ other municipal oitlc'alS
! and hy ~" general public as We'll
pr. Iamo- Alexander Miller. Of Rcllo'u"
/ Hospital New York, spoke of the a'ti'"
( cooperation of physicians m th" hght
AGAINST tuberculosis and Of their oppor-
( tuuiiios &" mouli pubic opinion in matters
/ - health.
Before the clinical section tho death rat"
| from tuiercuiosI. Was discussed h' 'Tr.
! Hermann VI. .Blgg-. Of the 81" York 'lt'
| Department ~ Health lie showed that
| the ,Dath rate IN Now York had decreased
| from, "a u l.ol 10 10 m 1911. IN Boston
! lrou,,. 2. H. l.,. and IN Philadelphia from
| 80 tr ~ while IN chicago ih" rate m
/ creased from az 10 100.