The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-12-12
MS RAvACE6
OF TUBERCULOSIS
,ntana Record-HeraId: Tom Da-

Jntana Record Herald: Tom Da,
), president Of the Butte Rotary
.iub, who is now acting as state di-
rector OF the Red Cross Christmas
seal sale, was the guest of th1 Hell
| ena Rotary club Wednesday and
presented the facts as they relate to
tuberculosis in this state and coun-
| cry.
The facts concerning tuberculo-
sis have reached such state that
they cannot longer be overlooked,
says Mr.. Davis, "and unless some de-
oermined effort is made to wrestle
with this great problem, America will
ind itself much worse off than they
did in 1917 and 1918, when over one
hundred thousand men from the ages
of II to 81 were found to be SO badly
infected with tuberculosis as to be
unfit for army service. That is not
The only thing about which we should
Oe concerned, for there are 1900
children dying each year in the Unit
erd States before they reach the age
Of five years from this cause-and
The tragedy of it is that all this, or
nearly all could be prevented. Few
of us realize the seriousness of the
situation until we are ourselves af-
iected-and then it comes home with
vengeance. Montana people do not
realize that there are more than 500
persons dying in our state from this
disease-because of lack of care and
facilities for treatment and isolation.
This is true notwithstanding the fact
chat the state institution at Galen is
functioning in remarkably affi-
cient way and getting fine results.
''The other day we were informed
that there were letters from twelve
men in Park county who had con-
tracted tuberculosisw hile overseas
or at least it had become active while
they were over there, who requested
nelp and for whom nothing was being
done because of the lack OF facilities
inthis state for caring for them. 1t
is the obligation of the State of Mon
tana to care for these fine fellows
who offered all that they were and
all that they ever hope to be for their
country. And this is not charity
such men would not accept charity
hI1f II ic oho 20
thing that they have given in service
in this war
Economically, it is one of the
most important" leaks" in our nation |
$5, 5,000,000,000 per year. One person
in ten dies from 'T. B."-a tremen-
dous, needless vast of the best men |
and women of the country the |
great majority of whom are between |
the ages of Is and IS. 1t is unuec- |
essary and crYle to permit this con-
dition to erist. tuberculosis is not !
hereditary nor incurabIe. The peo-
pie must be told these facts. Prop
er light, food and rest will arrest a !
great majority of the, ,cases-of which
there are 100000 active cases and
|, 100000 inactive cases in the United
States. This must be stopped and
only intelligent and careful handling
will do it. State institutions are not
avaible, and the people must not fail
n this work.
Christmas Seal Sale
The Montana Anti-Tuberculosis
society which is under the direction
If Mrs. Sara Mores of Helena, is do
ng wonderful fine pieve of work
n this state in fighting the spread
If tuberculosis. Their work is f.
lanced by the sale Of the Red Cross
christmas seals and 80 per cent of
he money secured is expended in
he state. The Christmas seal cam
'aign will be held from the first to
act enth day of December and will
'e headed by representative com
nittee of Helena people.
Harry Cunningham and Dr. o. NJ
4anstrum, two Of the members OF
he state committee of this work
Tfll devote much Of their time in the
'romotion Of the seal sale the slo-
an Of which is "A Penny for Health"
Tell it With Christmas Seals and
ave a Life"