Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1913-02-15
WHITE CAR CRITIC
ISA NOT JUST ONE
Says Director Of Maryland Tuber-
culosis Exhibit.
FALSE STATEMENT ALLEGED.
The Attack Made BY "JOb-0" Az
fOrds Good Advertising Op-
porlunity.


In last tvening's issue (Fridayl Of
the Evening Capital. there appeared
a criticism of the exhibit car of the
Maryland Tuberculosis Association.
and the conditions prevailing therein,
Although reply to a criticism which
is both unjust and petty tends to
lower the dignity of the exhibits
which is in Annapolis TO aecompli sh
most worthy and important pur-
pose, as Director of the exhibit can
feel justified in making a reply,
principally because Of the excellent
advertising opportunity which il
affords.
In order to clearly and readily
understand the nature of the criti-
cism, let US consider the very last
sentence which is strikingly irreie-
want to what precedes "A chart
shows there were more deaths from
tuberculosis in Maryland in 1910
than in 1904. in which year the
greatest number of deaths in the
State took place. A mere glance at
this sentence shows very obviously
that its author is attempting to deery,
not only the exhibit, hut the very
crusade against the disease itself.
Does it not reveal the attitude Of
the writer before he had so much as
entered the car? IF his statement
were true one would still feel sus-
picious of his stand, but the fact that
it is absolutely false indicates that
- al k1n.~
worthless. There is only one chart
in the exhibit. presenting the number
of deaths from tuberculosis for 1904.
This chart is captioned Deaths
from tuberculosis in Rural Mary
land and shows a decrease of lI2
deaths for 1910 over and against the
number for 1904.
Let us turn to another statement:
"The temperature was somewhere
in the eighties and the only ventila-
tion was by means of three ventila-
tors such as you find in the top of
car. By actual count there were
eighteen people in the car and at
least one in three had a cough.
1t seems to be frst-class opportu-
nifty for the sick 90 spread disease to
the we'll.
BY trial, have been able, at no
time, to attain temperature of 72
degrees F, after closing all doors,
windows and ventilators and turning
on full steam for one hour. The car
has too much window surface for the
steam pressure. / admit that the car
might have been uncomfortable, but
heat in itself is not unsanitary, pro-
vided the ventilation is adequate.
Also, it is necessary to maintain a
tmperature slightly above normal
when the door of the car is constant
ly being oDened. What, with the
frequently opened door, the three
open ventilators and the eighteen Wis
itors, six of whom We're coughing,
the car was far better supplied with
pure air than the majority of railroad
coaches, with their 60 to 80 occu-
pants, twenty to twenty-six of whom
are coughing (same basis of computa-
tion). ALI other references to un-
sanitary conditions in the car are not
worthy of consideration, because they
are untrue.
Our friend generalizes to the ex-
tent of separating the visitors to the
car into three classes one Of which
he calls the curious. Let me suggest
two more classes. The first class
comprises those whosaIso are curious
and, at the same time, pitiably criti-
cal and extremely superficial in their
observations. Unfortunately there
are representatives of this class in
every community. l have had some
slight experience with them and
hav never known ons to contribute
a red cent or to lend a helping hand
to ameliorate unhappy conditions of
| humanity. If the members of this
class could be persuaded to loose their
tight grip on their pocketbooks, prob
ably we could equip our exhibit car
as a modern sanitary hospital
ward. = although how it could be done
in railroad coach, and what possible
purpose it could serve | am at a
loss 20 conceive
Let US hope that law, the "sur-
vival of the fittest, will continue
/ to reduce the ranks of this class.
/ The second additional class | sue-
| gest, includes those who are seek.
ing for information and who are
intellige ntly appreciatiye of efforts
to help them, but who do not rea.
lie how important it is that the,
take stand against tolerating con
ditious that beget disease. It /.
this class especially whose attendance
to the exhibit is solicited.
At this point ! desire to express
my appreciation to the author of th,
article We have been considering. fo
the publicity he has enabled me I,
give the exhibit car. To date tb,
attendance has exceeded ]. 400. larg
percentage Of whom have expresse,
their belief to me that the exhibi
has brought much benefit during il
short stay in this community. tn
prospects for the remaining days .
our visit are especially bright.
4.FF1 r-rssr