The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-05-10
WILL GUARD ARMY
AGAINST Old I. B.
Conditions in France Are
Appalling Declares DIR,
Briggs.
CBy Associated Prsss)

CINCINNATI, o., May lU!-Drasuc
measures for the control Of tuberculo.
sis in the United States army are rec.
commended by tho Committee of Three
appointed by the National Association
for the Study and Prevention of Tu.
berculosis at the request of the Coun.
Gil OF National Defense. Some of the
details Of the committees plans were
given here tonight by the chairman,
Or. Hermann NJ. Biggs, New York
State Commissioner of Health, speak
ing before the annual meeting Of the
National Association. The other men,
bers OF the committee are DR.. George
M. Kober, OF Washington, and DR..
Charles j. Hatfield, of Philadelphia.
Speaking of conditions in the armies
of Europe, DR., Biggs said: 1.-THE con-
ditions in France, where accurate in.
formation is available, are appalling.
1t is estimated that not less than 150,.
600 soldiers have been discharged from
the army because Of the development
of active pulmonary tuberculosis. Such
information as is available seems to
show that the conditions are the same
in other countries, excepting only Eng.
land and are particularly grave in
Austria Hungary and Russia. We are
also informed that the Canadian troops
have suffered severely in this respect.
"The incidence Of the disease in the
British forces has been much less
than in the other countries involved
in the war, owing to the deliberate mob
ilization of the British army, the thor
ough examination required, and the
great care exercised in excluding men
with suspicious histories or with symp'
lions or physical signs of pulmonary
disease, as well as the dow incidence
of the disease among the civil popula-
ton of Great Britain previous to the
war.
Experience in Europe seems to
have shown quite clearly that all OF
the diseases which formerly were
greatly dreaded in war, such as typhoid
and typhus fever, smallpox, cholera,
epidemic dysentery, ETC., can be readily
controlled by modern preventive meas
ures."
tuberculosis, he said, was one Of the
diseases that have taken the chief
place in producing disability among
the troops in the field. DR.. Biggs de.
clared that the measures adopted to
nreyent the introduction and develop
ment of tuberculosis among American
troops could not be too stringent. Such
measures he believed would spare the
United States the great loss in lives
and money and the army the great loss
in men and energy which other coun-
tries have suffered.
in the opinion Of this committee"
he went on, 1.-The work Of the Medical
Corps Of the army could be much IA
cilitated and expedited and this corps
already greatly overworked-could
be given much needed assistance, II
the services Of voluntary experts In
tuberculosis were employed in Varl'
GUS parts of the country in the exam
nation of those recruits for the army
who show any signs oF syMptOLhs su5
gestive Of pulmonary disease, or In
whom the history indicates its posi-
BILE existence.
1.-THE committee has made inquiries
and will'be able to furnish the War
department with list Of large mum.
Der of voluntary qualified experts OF
this character.
1--WE are Of the opinion from our own
experiences and our Interpretation OF
expert opinion in this matter, as well
as from the experience Of the armies In
Europe, that any man with even very
limited amount of pulmonary tu6er-
cuiosis which is latent or arrested Is
almost certain to break down under the
physical strain of military training and
army life and focus Of disease pre-
viously latent or arrested will almost
certainly become active.
systematic and complete periodic
determinations should be made Of all
troops within three months after en-