Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-19

disease, the incipient, the moderately
advanced, and the far advanced ana
....tu tnal IN me moderately advanced
form of the disease not over - per
cent. of the patients We're durable, So
that the fight to be successful must
be made in the first stage.
The objects of the local association
are two, declared the speaker. eduea-
ton and prevention. Inspection by
spurtuh, the common drinking cup and
the exposure of raw Vegetables ON
sidewalks and in stores AS method
of control he cited the disnfection OF
houses where cases of tuberculosis had
occurred. This cannot generally be Sc
cured without strongly insisting upon
the matter with the local Boards of
Health. as it is optional with them.
one of the first things necessary in
fighting the great white plague in
community like this is organization,
said the speaker. In the organization
should be included people who will
work together. The committee or
board of directors of. such an organic
alton should be small not over five or
seven. The selection of influential bus
mess and professional men in such an
organization was emphasized.
Dr. Downes then took up the work
in Waterville and stated what had
been accomplished in preventing spit
ting on the street and in dealing with
fhe tenement problem. entire families
frequently being found afflicted with
the disease in these tenements. A few
typical cases of the 200 handled by the
association were described and in one
case it was related how an entire fam
lily had been saved from the disease by
the work of the association.
The work should he Il campaign of
education of the public that the dis
ease can he prevented. Lectures and
the sending out of pamphlets are helps
along this line. The work of the local
district nurse was even more import
ant than the work of the dispensary
and the physician. In the care of the
dispensary only one man should have
a controlling voice in the management
of The dispensary.
THE three things to do in starting
the work are to hire a district nurse,
start a freerdispensary. and employ
competent man and pay him for his
work." said the speaker. The day
camps, night camps and small sana-
forums in connection with the local
work were also mentioned and tho
small sanatorium particularly adyocat-
ed.
Dr. c. r. Campbell, president of the
local organization, spoke. of the start
which had been made in the matter
Of tho formation of a local organ1za-
ton fund of 5000 has been raised
- 4 lie.
He urged the men present to join the
association. if not for the sake of their
own children, for the sake of other
mems children.
1t was stated that a constitution and
bylaws would be presented for adop-
ton at a later meeting. A tentative en-
rollment was suggested to become ef-
fective when the constitution was
adopted and a paper was passed for
signatures.
Rev Brian C. Roberts, DR.. II. w.
Miller and DR. A. G.. Young discussed
briefly the matter of State and local
statistics as to the death rate from
tuberculosis.
Norman L. Bassett stated that the
formation of an organization as pro-
posed meant the expenditure of about
$1,000 year. Dr.. w Johnson spoke in
condemnation of the methods employ
ed by the grocerymen of displaying
their goods outside the stores without
proper covering. He stated that n
movement was on foot to have an or
der put through the city council to
prevent the display of fruit or gro
ceries without proper covering.
4 vote Of thanks to DR.. Downes for
bis interesting address was passed
lust before adjournment.