Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-27

Ell manu- IL you 40 give the matter
some thought, and if better still you
will read the literature that is sent
out from other societies like ours you
will find that it is the experience Of
ALL that the beginning of any tuber-
culosis campaign is always slow and
hard, and that results do not begin to
appear as one would wish, until after
several years of work and agitation.
1t takes time to overcome bad habits
and customs and prejudices. Streets
and public places must be kept free
from the danger of the promiscuous
expectorator, homes must be kept in
a sanitary condition, as well as shops
and other places Of employment.
Houses where there have been cases
of tuberculosis must be carefully flu
migated. asses should be reported to
our local Board of Health in order
that proper precautions may be taken,
and that the dispensary may know if
the case is being properly attended,
and if not, whether or no, the services
of the dispensary are needed and will
be accepted. No case of tuberculosis
ought to be in our city without attend
ance either by the regular practitioners
or the dispensary.
1t should of course be well under
stood that the dispensary does not in
any way interfere or wish to, with
the practice of our local physicians. It's
services are free to those who are in
need and cannot pay and 1t aims sole
Iy at discovering and treating cases
which otherwise might have no medi-
cal treatment, and which if not so
treated and instructed, will become po-
tential sources of danger to the whole
community.
But as we reported last year at the
annual meeting one dispensary like
ours with it's small staff, efficient as 1t
is. cannot do all the work that must
be done. before it can be said that Au-
eusta has it's anti-tuberculosis cam
paign well in hand. The league must
have the solid backing of the citizens
of Augusta. not only financially but
morally. We hope that the ministers OF
the city will make good use of the
material that has been sent them for
use on tuberculosis Sundy, which is
Nov. %. Those of Us who are so for
t,Inate as to be well and strong, should
care for our conduct and our property
in such a way as shall make for the
VI obNA SSS
infection or spread of the disease
THE individual who has tuberculosis
must be made to realize that his affilc-
tion is easily communicable, unless he OBJ
serves certain simple sanitary rules, and
also that unless his case has progressed
too far he may recover health ana
strength under proper treatment. we
need a place where patients can go Tor
day treatment, returning to their homes
at night. We need, too, so long as we
have no hospital of our own, funds for
sepdinp needy patients to State institu-
tions for treatment. We must have med
ical inspection for our schools, ana we
need open-air schoolrooms where the
child with incipient tuberculosis-and this
child is a very important concern IN
eampaign against tuberculosis as may be
readily seen-may have the advantage Of
open-air sessions.
The league has not done as much as 1t
ought in the way of publicity for educa-
tional purposes during the last year. We
did send out several thousand tubereuio-
sis Don't" cards with Information about
tuberculosis and "a bfaef statement OF
what the league had done and was try
ing to do but aside from this our educa-
tional work has been much less this year
than that of the previous year. 1t is per-
haps wise that we have not attempted to
do more, for we should have needed more
money than we have had at our disposal
for such purposes. This year if we can
secure the necessary money, we could ana
ought to devote more attention to this
side of our work In this connection we
ought to call attention to the value of a
Red Gross seal campaign. Last year we
had none, as it seemed best for us not to
attempt it, A few seals were sold in the
city by the school children and the re-
suits were such as to lead us to believe
that if there We're some way of arrang-
ing for such a campaign this year that
1t would result not only in a considerable
sum for our treasury but also do much to
call the attention of the public to our
work We must not forget in our enthus-
iasm and eagerness to work for the Red
Cross work abroad that We have our own
Red Cross problem here at home, and
that tuberculosis is deadly and per-
nicious foe with which we must contend.
even though there is terrible war wag-
ing in Europt
1t will be a hard winter, and hard
winter means cruel suffering and impov-
erishment from which spring evils. many
of which are contributory causes favor
able to the development and spread of
tuberculosis. We do not belittle the need
in Europe, we do not suggest that there
be any lessening of our enthusiasm or
of our efforts to aid the suffering peo-
pie of the nations who are engulfed in
the great war. but we do ask you, and
all the citizens of Augusta, not to forget
the poor, unhappy victims of the Great
White Plague, and the urgency of main
tanning the best agency that we can for
their relief, and the protection of our
city from the dangers of it's spread.
In conclusion we desire at this time to
make public acknowledgment on behalf of
the league of its appreciation and its
gratitude to all those who have in any
way aided the league in its work during
the last year Mr.. Macomber has guided
us with his wise counsel, and aided us
with his loyal service. Mr.. Dudley has
carefully guarded our treasury, and
Blaine Owen has kept in close touch with
the dispensary. Given the same support
from the public-spirited citizens of Au-