Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-01
plIghed much. but the disease aeeompllghed

plished much, but the disease accomplished
more.
Now that the war has given a concrete
example Of its ravages, we have made
genuine headway against the scourge.
Through the central committee Of assist
ance for military tuberculosis patients, OF
which 1 have the honor to be president.
marked progress against the disease has
occurred, not only in military circles, but
in the civilian ranks of our people We
have branches of this committee in every
city In France, all doing noble work
1T has been and ever will be a campaign
of education that tuberculosis be known
for what 1t is, an insdious thing to be
fought and dreaded. We are now finding
a cooperation where before general
apathy, indifference and almost resentment
existed. Not only have we now num-
ber of hospitals and sanatoriums devoted
to the special purpose, but preparations are
made for a determined continual fight
after the war, in which we now happily
see an eagerness of cooperation among all
classes Of our nation, and for which we are
assured governmental as we'll as municipal
aid from every city in France.
Expects Prisoners to Be Infected
when our prisoners are returned to us
we shall undertake in each instance the
same education for the Individual now
being pursued in the cases of tuberculosis
patients already discharged from the army,
to the end that those who have contracted
the plague within or without France may
equally and intelligently combat it in
system of hygiene and sanitation. l have
high hopes in coming results. have per-
sonally visited every military tuberculosis
hospital in France during the last eighteen
months, and have noted more results during
that period than during the entire preced-
ing twenty-five years this work has been
so dear to my heart. Yet much as this
is, It is a veritabe nothing against that
which remains to be done, and which must
continuously be carried on for long term
of years, that as race we may become
at last as free from the white plague as
is the case in England and America.
I'm all my long life l have accomplished
no single thing of so much value to France
as the responsibility for law bearing my
name and dating from April Is, 1916. 1t
creates public dispens lries for combating
tuberculosis in particular and compulsory
medical attention for those suffering from 1t
in any stage, as well as generally promul-
eating social hygiene in every city and de.
partment In France. These dispensaries are
now understood as standing for the publ
good, and in no single case has it beer
necessary to more than open their doors t,
receive willing patients.
'rhe remainder of my allotted span Is to
be consecrated to aiding and fostering this
work among and for the people of my NJ
tion l am proud to make this statement
and as 1 look back into the past, preser
and remote, no two things are SO dear to
me as the actual existence of the law Leon
Bourgeois and the fact that here I'm Paris
the largest tuberculosis dispensary existins
under 1t honors me in bearing my name.
For nothing in a mans career, publi
or private, is of greater privilege than si
cere intent to benefit his race to give
greater strength, TO guard it against IL
secret encroach Of the least feared ana most
mortal disease that has ever fallen to tn,
lot OF human kind. would prefer that
after my death Leon Bourgeois be remem-
bered, not as he of politics and statesman
ship, but as one who had fought good fig
against great social evil, who had for
twenty-odd years utilized his every nov
to rouse the French nation against tuhar-
culosis' And l pray such may be the case, Z"