Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-21
7RA|SING FUNDS TO AID
TUBERCULAR PATIENTS
Virginia Tuberculosis Association to
Care for Men Rejected
by Army.
CASE OF FRANCE STRIKING
Since Outbreak of War Ravages
OF Disease Have Been Terrific, and
Nation Turned to America for
Help-Avoid Repetition Here.

Help-Avoid Repetition Here.
There arc two enemies at tho throat
of France to-day. and It is not agains'
the German army only that America IL
preparing on French soil to hurl hel
forces One hundred and fifty thousand
men of the French army have been re-
turned from the trenches with con-
sumption-almost two complete army
corps, at n time when every available
man Is under arms. Cnprepared. un-
equipped with tuberculosis machinery
and without tuberculosis forces, France
turned to America for counsel and aid
To-day second American army
financed by the American Red Cross
and the Rockefeller Foundation. fights
words of DR.. Herman NJ. Biggs. COM
missioner of health of New York State
threatens the economic future and
vitality OF the nation.
BY the end of December, 1915, sc. 0oo
French soldiers had been returned to
their homes with active tuberculosis
There had been practically, no anti
tuberculosis campaign in France prior
to the war. and there were no DOCTORS
no nurses, no dispensarics and no state
hospital beds for the care of these thou
sands of men. Special laws were
passed establishing tuberculosis dis
pensaries with trained social workers,
local and state governments. But
creating the machinery was slow work.
and the number Of consumptives re-
turned We're increased by the thou
sands.
Due de Richelieu was dispatched to
New York in May. 1915. to study the
American methods. The antitubercu-
losis forces OF tho United States placed
themselves at his command. But con-
ditions in France grew more FERROUS.
Men continued to be returned from the
trenches by the thousands, and to them
were added the thousands returned
from the German prisons with open
consumption. Cases increased in the
civil population. Tho state made large
appropriations. and 1900 hospital
beds were provided and dispensaries
opened In the most populous centers.
The disease was recognized by the au-
thorities to be grave menace to the
actual life Of the nation.
WAS FIGHTING FOE
WITHIN OWN HOUSEHOLD
In February. 1917, DR.. Biggs sailed
for France to make a study Of condi-
tions and advise with the French gov
eminent. His report aroused the civil
lied world. One hundred and nifty
thousand men had been returned from
the trenches: 10000 from German prison
camps; 1t was estimated that at least
10000 cases existed in the army: 1885,
600 cases among the civil population
in the territory overrun by the Ger
man army. DR.. Biggs places the total
for the whole OF France at 100000. and
states that this figure would seem to
be really conservative. For the care
OF this large army Of consumptives no
adequate machinery existed. One hum
dred and fifty thousand beds had been
provided and a few well-equippcd dis;
pensaries, but trained and experienced
wi t1t,
practically at death grips with the Ger
mans, was being overwhelmed by the
foe within her own household.
Tho American relief work has been
based upon DR.. BiEgs's report and
recomm endations. In July a commits
France by the Am erican Red Cross and
Rockefeller Foundation to organize a
campaign against tuberculosis. DR..
Livingston Ferrand, president Of the
University of Colorado, and ex-presi-
dent and leader Of the National Asso-
citation for the Study and Prevention
OF tuberculosis. is chief executive in
the campaign for the foundation, and
Homer Folks. secretary OF the State
Charities Aid Association. has general
charge Of the Red Cross participation
In the work. Their assistants have
been selected because OF special ex.
perience and special qualifications, will
as much regard as possible to the ter
ritory vacated by this service t,
France. In cable message received
from Mr.. Folks he states: IF the pres
ent rate OF progress can be maintained
1t Is possible that France will have II
Tour years, Notwithstanding advers.
conditions, an equipment OF agencie
for the prevention 'of tuberculosis ans
infant mortality. second to no stat,
In America"
AVERAGE FRENCHMAN PAID
SMALL ATTENTION TO DISEASE
The terrible conditions in Franc,
have acted as spur to every tuber
culosis association in America. Tn,
cause OF the trouble was not far Il
seek. There was no general campaign
and in France the average man gave M
consideration to the disease Thou
sands and thousands of cases existed
unsupported. in the civil popula ton
There were no sanatoria, no dispen
saries. no one considered early symp
toms-consump were i'll and died
100000 OF them each year. When tn,
German army was modified and wa.
hurled across Belgium. the French
army went into the field PRACTICAL,
to a man. There was no time for pre-
cautions-the disease which had beer
uncon sldered in time OF peace was prac
tically forgotten in the urgent tim
OF war. Thousands of consumptive
went into the camps and trenches
promptly broke down and were r.
turned TO their homes. Throughout tn
nation, however. the apathy about tn
disease was universal. There was n
organization. no equipment. The me
returned to their homes were v-jthou
remedy and without hope
Although France turned to Americ
and received the best she had to Civ,
there are thousands OF communities |