Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-06-01
7 DISEASE
THEME OF EXPERTS
mbers of National Association for
he Study and Prevention of
tuberculosis Read Papers


ton, May 31-Wlth medical
fic experts from all parts
try present. the eighth an.
hg of the National Associa-
e Study and Prevention of
convened here yesterday
itorinm of the New viii.
The meeting was the most
|nded in the history of the
h, great interest being
pc delegates in the various
Abe discussed during the
ON.
hdress was that of Fred
b. chief statistician. of
Insurance Company,
s Fluctuations to the as
the White Plague over
)crease of the disease
It year and discussed
and Care of Tubercu-
ners in Germany
was followed by Her
Ehief medical officer of
city department of
&c on the tuberculosis
rge cities. demonstra-
bf a comparative table
the plague and Irving
professor of Econom-
paper on the econom-
culosis.
addressing the socio-
the association, stat
htment Of tuberculosis
wage earuers has long
seriously considered
Government. He said
BE indeqnlcy of existing
methods and means for
N of invalid members,
those suffering from tu-
the lnngsi the insurance
sstrA.Ishet public. sana-
efr own eNense,, or fur
|hds at reasonable rates Of
for the establishment of such
stions by municipalities or larg-
er administrative communities On ac-
count of the fact that tuberculosis of
the lungs Is one of the chief causes
of physical impairment, with result
ing loss of earning power the activity
of these insurance institutions in the
field of preventive effort and cure
have been largely centralized upon
the most important disease. The
treatment and care is without expense
TO the patient. who is, however. reduir-
ed to have made not less than two
hundred weekly contributions to the
invalidity insurance fund In addition
to the patients care financial support
is provided for the patents family
so as to relieve him nom personal
anxiety and bring about the best pos
sible conditions for cure.
The effect of this systematic aid of
tuberculosis wage-earners is shown in
the steady decline in the death rate
from tuberculosis in the German En-.
pire as a whole. Taking a group of
large German cities, we note that the
death rate from tuberculosis per TO-
600 population has declined from BAG
in 1884 to 17.9 in 1903 and that il is
now lower than the death rate of a
similar group of American cities,
whose rate in 1910 was 1S.5."
In his paper on THE Death Rate
From tuberculosis in Large Cities"
DR.. Biggs said in part
There can be no doubt that the
rate of decrease in deaths from tn.
berculosis in numerous countries and
cities has been propor.ionate 10 the
activity and energy with which the
campaign for prevention has been
carried on.
1T will denoted that the only ono
of these large cities in which there
has been an increase in The death
rate from pulmonary tuberculosis Is
In Chicago. The most remarkable do.
crease, not only in the general death
rate but in the death rate from pulmo.
nary tuberculosis has taken place in
London 1t may be noted that the
death rate in Paris is more than three
times that of London and twice that
of New York and Berlin.
AS has often been pointed out. the
ai'hcnlties in the way Of prevention
are far greater in New York than in
any other large city, bu. the results
which have been attained I'm these re.
cent years everywhere. where active
campaigns have been carried on, are
certainly most encouragIng"
The paper on Revised Estimate of
r' Economic Cost of tuberculosis"
by Prof Fisher reviewed for the
sociological section the statistics OF
tuberculosis since 1908. when prof
Fisher gave report ON this subject
before the international Congress on !
At that time. he show.
I'd that tuberculosis costs the country
over billion dollars a Year OF which I
" least $44o,0o0,OOO and probably I
much more borne by others than the '
'ictims OF the disease These costs
include the costs Of sickness and loss !
f earnings suffered By The families t