Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1912-07-18
TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATION
HELD LARGELY ATTENDED
PICNIC IN WEST VALLEY, LAST
SATURDAY
Ideal Weather and Interesting Ad-
dresses by Drs. Wattam and Brat
rud, Senator Peterson of Moorhead,
Co. Attorney Eckstrom and Others.
Fifteen Automobiles Leave Warren
for the Picnic Grounds

The Marshall County Anti-Tubercu-
losis Association held largely at
tended and very enjoyable picnic last
Saturday on the farm of Abel Ander-
son in town of West Valley. 1t was
the first picnic in the history of the
county, as far as we know, given by
men and women interested in combat
ting a most dreaded disease and pro-
noting of the cause Of good health.
1t is not always that picnics are held
with such a noble and humanitarian
purpose in view.
Arriving at the picnic grounds, a
shady and charming spot on the banks
of Middle River, the picnickers first
exchanged cordial greetings with one
another, coming as they did from diff
ferent parts of the county. A COM
mittee had been appointed to prepare
coffee for the entire party and when
the precious nectar was ready, the
picnickers grouped themselves around
their respective lunch baskets. The
long ride in the pure, invigorating air
had developed good appetites, but,
thanks to the good ladies, there was
enough and more than enough to sat
isfy the pangs of hunger in everyone
All will agree that no menu was ever
better relished.
After the dinner an interesting pro-
gram of speeches was listened to.
Rev. G. Wahlund, president of the
county association, presided, and he
called upon Rev. F. N. Anderson of
Warren to open the meeting with
reading of the scriptures and prayer.
Next he called upon DR.. G. S. Wattam
who is the pioneer in anti-tuberculosis
work in Marshall county as we'll as in
the state of Minnesota. The doctor
responded with an excellent and in
structive talk on the subject to which
he has given so much thought and at
tention without any remuneration
whatever. He told Of the ways and
means employed in combating the
disease and how it is possible to re-
duce the number of cases and in time,
perhaps, wipe out the disease alto
gether. Sweden, England and some
other countries have succeeded in
lessening appreciably the ravages of
the disease. All should understand
that tuberculosis is germ disease,
that it is not hereditary, but is trans
missible from one person to another
principally by means of the sputun
from those having the disease also
that it is durable disease in it's first
stages. No one should feel that it
is a disgrace to have tuberculosis, as
it is possible to contract the disease
without any fault of ones own Those
having the disease should not attempt
TO hide it, but should inform a pnysi-
clan in order that curative measures
may be taken and necessary precau-
tions to prevent the spread of the dis
ease among other members of the fa-
mily and the neighbors. DR.. Wattam
also spoke of the various means en-
ployed with view of educating the
people about the disease, for instancel
the organization of county and town.
ship antituberculosis societies, inter-
esting teachers and pupils in the!
work, scattering anti-tuberculosis lit |
erature and most effectively by theI
employment of visiting nurses, as has
been done in our county. In order TO
fight the disease successfully it is nes
cessary to have the hearty co-opera-
ton of everybody in the community.
The doctor also told about the sana-
tarium at Walker where cases in their
incipient stages are being treated,
and Of the necessity of establishing
county sanatariums where those too
far gone may be cared for and iso-
lated from others. A person having
the disease should receive the most
tender care and sympathy that it is
possible to extend