The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-06-02
HEALTH CRUsADING


Maryland tuberculosis Association
to Garry on Statewide Educa-
tional Campaign and to
Organize County
Branches.
The Crusader of Ye Olden Time
came in coat Of mail on horseback.
The Health Crusader of to-day, how.
ever, comes in shirt-sleeves and in
an automobile. It is in this latter
fashion that the Maryland Associ-
alton for the Prevention and Relief
of Tuberculosis will teach the peo-l
pie of Maryland this summer about
the causes, dangers, and treatment
of tuberculosis, the existing and con-
templated Accommodations in the
State for those having the disease
or predisposed to it, and methods of
preventing it. In 1915, according
to the records Of the State Depart
ment of Health, 1888 people in
Maryland were carried off by pull
monary and 1aryngeaf tuberculosis.
Outside of any humanitarian COM
siderationsi the poential economic
worth of these $3.50 lives to the
State, had they not been seriously
infected with the disease, would run
up to millions of dollars, while if the
progress of their disease could have
been checked in a reasonable time,
a large portion of this sum would
have been saved.
A few years ago, the Maryland
Association with the cooperation Of
the B. & O. Railroad, sent a railroad
exhibit coach, accompanied by a.
lecturer, over large section of the
State. This car was visited by
several thousand people. This was
before the automobile came into
before the automobile cine into such
general use, especially for education
al purposes. Keeping pace with the
spirit and needs of the time, the
Association this year purchased
Ford car with commercial body,
which permits the ready transpor-
tation of exhibit material, motion
picture machine and printed matter.
from place to place. The body of
the car is painted two shades of
gray; with chassis and lettering in
red. The doubla red tuberculosis
cross. the symbol of the organized
fight against the disease appears on
each side of the car.
The field work of the campaign
will be directed by Mr.. Alden Ander-
son, the Assistant Executive Of the
Association. Mr.. Anderson and his
Boy Scout helper Will demonstrate
one of the main phases of tubercu-
losis prevention by sleeping in the
open as they go along; the car will
carry tent, cots, and blankets for
this purpose. The county is to be
the unit of the campaign. In each,
county the cooperation of the news
papers, various organizations and
individuals prominent in some line
of health or social work will be
sought. With their assistance,
arrangement will be made to give
free motion picture show and
illustrated lecture on tuberculosis
for the general public, special
motion picture show and lecture for
the children, and to hold meeting
of interested people for the purpose
of organizing county branch of
the Association There are at
present active committees in several
counties which have their nurses,
dispensaries, hospitals and other
means for fighting che disease and
the plan has worked out so well
that the Association believes it well
worth while extending to statewide
proportions. Arrangements will be
made with each County Committee,
also, to act as agents for the Red
Cross Christmas Seals, which should
give the Committee sufficient funds
to finance their preliminary work in
1917. Some of the counties, where
the work is organized, are paying
large part, in some cases, all of their
nurses salaries out of the proceeds
of the Red Cross Seals sold locally
each year during the holiday season.
Exhibits will be placed where they
can be viewed readily by a large
number of people. Posters an
nouncing the time and place of the
shows and lectures, and printed mat
ter on tuberculosis will be placed in
stores and public buildings and dis
tributed at farmhouses and general
stores in the rural districts, through
out as large a part Of the county as
can be covered in two full days by
automobile. A brief health survey
will ha made nv Mr. Anderson at